India’s Space Agency Sets Sights on Asteroids
BENGALURU, India — The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said it planned on March 9, 2025, to launch a mission to study asteroids by 2027. That audacious push will occur at its spaceport located in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. The mission plans help unlock secrets of the solar system and will enhance planetary defense by exploring near-Earth asteroids.
A New Frontier for ISRO
India’s space agency is raising its game. Following the historic landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the moon, and docking satellites with SpaDeX, ISRO now has its eyes set on asteroids. The one in 2027 will study little space rocks near Earth. These asteroids may hold clues about the formation of our solar system. They also present dangers if they strike our planet. While ISRO wants to study their makeup and paths to protect Earth.
The agency has not yet named the target asteroid. But experts say it can be, potentially a near-Earth object (NEO), like 2015 XF261 that China also intends to investigate. ISRO’s mission will use a space craft to orbit the asteroid. That device will gather data about its size, shape, and materials. It builds off global efforts, such as NASA’s DART mission, to detect and deflect asteroids.
Why Asteroids Matter
Asteroids are more than simply space rocks. They are remnants from the solar system’s formation 4.6 billion years ago. Studying them teaches scientists about Earth’s past. Certain asteroids contain metals such as iron and nickel. Others may have water, which could provide fuel for future space trips. ISRO’s ambition could pave the way for asteroid mining one day.
Another incentive is planetary defense. In 2029, asteroid Apophis will come close to Earth. It is not a threat now, but it highlights the need for such objects to be tracked. “They can be dangerous, these asteroids,” Dr. S. Somanath, ISRO chairman, said. “We have to know their orbits and how to stop them if we need to.” Space safety: ISRO’s work could help India lead in the field
Building on Success
ISRO has a stellar track record. Chandrayaan-1 discovered water on the moon in 2008. India became the fourth country to reach Mars in 2013 when the Mars Orbiter Mission did the trick. The 2025 SpaDeX mission was representative of India’s ability to dock satellites in space. The asteroid mission builds upon these wins now. It’s part of India’s Space Vision 2047, which comprises a space station and a crewed lunar mission.
The PSLV is ISRO’s reliable vehicle for launching missions and the 2027 launch will use the PSLV. It will include instruments such as cameras, spectrometers. Those will map the asteroid and analyze its makeup. ISRO could collaborate with NASA or the European Space Agency (ESA) for this mission. Such partnerships have had success in the past, for example, with NASA’s and ISRO’s NISAR project.
What’s Next for India’s Space Program
It could make India a key player in the international space community. If successful, it could lead to a greater number of asteroid studies — or even sample-return missions. It could also give a lift to India’s private space industry, which is targeting $44 billion by 2040. That data from 2027 will benefit scientists around the globe. It could even inform future efforts to nudge asteroids away from Earth.
A giant leap is ISRO’s asteroid mission. It reflects India’s expanding role in space exploration. This spacecraft will head for the stars by 2027. The results may influence how we view our position in the cosmos — and how we defend it.