What is the story about?
India is taking another step towards its human spaceflight ambitions by developing a robust communication system for future missions. As part of the Gaganyaan programme, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is preparing a set-up to enable fast and secure data sharing, which is crucial for ensuring astronaut safety during space travel.
ISRO is planning to establish a dedicated communication link with a major European space centre to support its human spaceflight mission, Gaganyaan.
According to a report by News18, this initiative forms part of India’s broader goal of sending humans into space and eventually undertaking missions to the Moon.
For human spaceflight, constant communication between the spacecraft and ground stations is essential. Even minor delays in transmitting or receiving data can affect decision-making and potentially put the mission at risk. To address this, ISRO is working on a system that enables rapid and secure data transfer.
The plan involves connecting two key centres. The first is the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in India, which houses one of ISRO’s tracking stations. The second is the European Space Operations Centre in Darmstadt, Germany, which supports space missions worldwide.
These two centres will be linked using optical fibre technology. This method uses light to transmit data, making it faster and more reliable over long distances. It will facilitate the transfer of large volumes of mission data without delays.
In addition, ISRO will utilise a private network system known as MPLS, which operates independently of the public internet. This ensures that communication remains secure and stable. Specialised routers will be installed at both ends to manage and direct data flow efficiently.
The primary objective of this system is to enable real-time sharing of critical information, including spacecraft data, tracking details, and commands sent from the ground. For missions involving astronauts, rapid response times are vital to handle any situation effectively.
Sources told CNN-News18, “By collaborating with international centres and investing in cutting-edge communication technology, ISRO is strengthening its capabilities and moving closer to achieving safe and successful human space missions,” underscoring the significance of this development.
ISRO is planning to establish a dedicated communication link with a major European space centre to support its human spaceflight mission, Gaganyaan.
According to a report by News18, this initiative forms part of India’s broader goal of sending humans into space and eventually undertaking missions to the Moon.
For human spaceflight, constant communication between the spacecraft and ground stations is essential. Even minor delays in transmitting or receiving data can affect decision-making and potentially put the mission at risk. To address this, ISRO is working on a system that enables rapid and secure data transfer.
The plan involves connecting two key centres. The first is the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in India, which houses one of ISRO’s tracking stations. The second is the European Space Operations Centre in Darmstadt, Germany, which supports space missions worldwide.
These two centres will be linked using optical fibre technology. This method uses light to transmit data, making it faster and more reliable over long distances. It will facilitate the transfer of large volumes of mission data without delays.
In addition, ISRO will utilise a private network system known as MPLS, which operates independently of the public internet. This ensures that communication remains secure and stable. Specialised routers will be installed at both ends to manage and direct data flow efficiently.
The primary objective of this system is to enable real-time sharing of critical information, including spacecraft data, tracking details, and commands sent from the ground. For missions involving astronauts, rapid response times are vital to handle any situation effectively.
Sources told CNN-News18, “By collaborating with international centres and investing in cutting-edge communication technology, ISRO is strengthening its capabilities and moving closer to achieving safe and successful human space missions,” underscoring the significance of this development.

/images/ppid_a911dc6a-image-177557452602496734.webp)









