S. Somanath, the Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), has been in the news recently for a number of reasons. Here is a roundup of some of the latest news on S. Somanath:
In November 2023, S. Somanath withdrew the publication of his autobiography, “Nilavu Kudicha Simhangal” (loosely translated as “Lions that drank the moonlight”), after a controversy erupted regarding his alleged critical remarks about his predecessor, K. Sivan. Somanath had stated that he had written the book to inspire young people and not to target anyone in particular. However, some excerpts from the book suggested that he had tried to scuttle Sivan’s appointment as ISRO Chairman.
In October 2023, S. Somanath announced that ISRO would conduct three more test vehicle missions as part of the Gaganyaan programme. The first test flight of the Gaganyaan vehicle was successfully conducted on October 21, 2023. The three additional test missions will be used to test the vehicle’s performance in different scenarios and to ensure its safety for human spaceflight.
In September 2023, S. Somanath announced the successful test launch of TV-D1, a crucial experiment for the Gaganyaan programme. The TV-D1 mission was designed to test the performance of the Crew Escape System (CES), which is a critical component of the Gaganyaan spacecraft. The CES is responsible for safely separating the crew module from the launch vehicle in case of an emergency.
In August 2023, S. Somanath emphasized the importance of space technology for sustainable development. He stated that space technology can be used to address a wide range of challenges facing the planet, such as climate change, food security, and water scarcity. He also called for increased investment in space research and development.
