ISRO Plans 40-Storey Rocket to Launch 75-Tonne Satellite, Says Chairman V Narayanan

New Delhi, Aug 2025 : The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is preparing for a giant leap in space technology with plans to launch a 75-tonne satellite aboard a rocket as tall as a 40-storey building, ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan announced on Tuesday.

Speaking at the convocation ceremony of Osmania University in Hyderabad, Narayanan reflected on India’s humble beginnings in rocketry. “The first launcher, designed by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, had a lift-off mass of 17 tonnes and could place just 35 kg into low Earth orbit,” he said. “Today, we are conceiving a rocket that can place 75,000 kg in orbit. This rocket will stand as tall as a 40-storey building.”

Narayanan also highlighted ISRO’s expanding satellite programs, including the NAVIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation) system and the upcoming N1 rocket. In a landmark collaboration, ISRO will launch a 6,500 kg U.S. communication satellite using its own rockets. Additionally, the agency is preparing to place two key Indian satellites into orbit this year: the Technology Demonstration Satellite (TDS) and GSAT-7R, a dedicated naval communication satellite that will replace the GSAT-7 “Rukmini.”

Currently, India has 55 satellites operational in orbit. Narayanan noted that this number is expected to triple within the next three to four years as ISRO accelerates its space program. He also confirmed progress on India’s much-awaited human spaceflight mission, Gaganyaan, with its first test launch likely in December.

Meanwhile, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Air Force, one of the astronauts shortlisted for Gaganyaan, has recently returned to India after piloting NASA’s Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station. His experience, Narayanan said, will be invaluable for India’s first human spaceflight.

Shukla described his mission as “the first step in Bharat’s journey of human spaceflight” in a post on social media platform X. On Monday, he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the latter’s official residence in New Delhi and briefed him about his space mission.

Following their meeting, the Prime Minister praised Shukla in a post on X: “Had a great interaction with Shubhanshu Shukla. We discussed his experiences in space, India’s advancements in science and technology, and the Gaganyaan mission. India is proud of his feat.”

With these ambitious plans and achievements, ISRO is set to propel India into a new era of space exploration.