SPACE RESEARCH IN INDIA JANUARY 2018 – June 2020 Presented to 43rd COSPAR Scientific Assembly, Sydney, Australia | Jan 28–Feb 4, 2021 SPACE RESEARCH IN INDIA January 2018 – June 2020 A Report of the Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR) Indian National Science Academy (INSA) Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) For the 43rd COSPAR Scientific Assembly 28 January – 4 Febuary 2021 Sydney, Australia INDIAN SPACE RESEARCH ORGANISATION BENGALURU 2 Compiled and Edited by Mohammad Hasan Space Science Program Office ISRO HQ, Bengalure Enquiries to: Space Science Programme Office ISRO Headquarters Antariksh Bhavan, New BEL Road Bengaluru 560 231. Karnataka, India E-mail:
[email protected] Cover Page Images: Upper: Colour composite picture of face-on spiral galaxy M 74 - from UVIT onboard AstroSat. Here blue colour represent image in far ultraviolet and green colour represent image in near ultraviolet.The spiral arms show the young stars that are copious emitters of ultraviolet light. Lower: Sarabhai crater as imaged by Terrain Mapping Camera-2 (TMC-2)onboard Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter.TMC-2 provides images (0.4μm to 0.85μm) at 5m spatial resolution 3 INDEX 4 FOREWORD PREFACE With great pleasure I introduce the report on Space Research in India, prepared for the 43rd COSPAR Scientific Assembly, 28 January – 4 February 2021, Sydney, Australia, by the Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR), Indian National Science Academy (INSA), and Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). The report gives an overview of the important accomplishments, achievements and research activities conducted in India in several areas of near- Earth space, Sun, Planetary science, and Astrophysics for the duration of two and half years (Jan 2018 – June 2020).