Sriharikota: The Indian Space Research Organisation, which is mulling manned space travel and a second Mars mission, is yet to decide a landing site.
Responding to questions about proposed interplanetary missions, after the launch of the GSLV here on Thursday, Isro chairman A.S. Kirankumar projects were being studied but no approvals have been given out so far. He added that preparations were continuing on Chandrayaan II and the Aditya mission (first Indian probe to study the Sun).
“We are working on developing new technologies required for the manned mission such as re-entry modules,” Mr Kirankumar said. He also said that new Insat-3DR satellite would not be viable in the search for the Indian Navy’s missing AN-32 aircraft, which vanished from radar on July 22 while en route to Port Blair.
Mr Kirankumar explained that it would be difficult for the satellite to pick up a signal from a sunken object. “The satellite can pick signals from objects on sea’s surface. There have been instances of people being rescued from remote places with the help of satellites,” he said. The next major launch for Isro will be the PSLV-C35 — with eight satellites on board.
Mr Kirankumar added that the space agency was gearing up for the launch of GSLV Mk III in the next six months. He said the objective was to use the vehicle twice every year.
