In 2024, satellites have been making big headlines all around the world. From new launches to exciting discoveries, “Satellite in News 2024” covers the latest happenings in science and technology. Countries and companies send satellites for many reasons, like spying, exploring space, and watching over Earth.
They are also partnering to make amazing advancements. This year, we have seen everything from super-detailed Earth observation satellites to new projects aiming to understand space better. Let’s dive into the most exciting satellite news and see how these high-tech tools shape our future!
What type of questions can be asked from this Topic? Here are some examples:- Full-form (Ex:- Full form of PSLV, LVM3, TESS, XPOSAT and DGNSS) Any First Satelite (Ex:- "first Indonesian satellite to be launched into geosynchronous orbit) Satellite Related to Specific Countries (Ex:- Spy Satellite “CarbSar” of United Kingdom) Function of Satellite (Ex:- Aeolus Satellite to Study the Earth’s Wind.)
Space & Satellite Technology Current Affairs 2024
November 2024
- India’s first indigenously developed electric propulsion system for satellites will be tested with TDS-01, scheduled for launch by ISRO in December 2024.
- Japan has launched the world’s first wooden satellite, ‘LignoSat’, into space.
- Zimbabwe launched its second Earth observation satellite, ZIMSAT-2, from the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia.
- NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite, focused on monitoring Earth’s surface movement, will scan most of Earth’s land and ice-covered areas twice every 12 days and is scheduled for launch in early 2025.
- Japan launched the ‘Kirameki No. 3’ satellite, designed for military communication and intelligence gathering.
- SpaceX launched Koreasat-6A, a South Korean communication satellite developed by Thales Alenia Space.
- ISRO collaborated with SpaceX for the first time to launch the GSAT-N2 (GSAT-20) communication satellite.
- PierSight unveiled its first all-weather maritime surveillance satellite, ‘Varuna,’ offering ocean coverage with revisit times of up to 30 minutes.
September – October 2024
ShakthiSAT
- Space Kidz India, an aerospace startup, has launched the global mission ShakthiSAT to train 12,000 girls across 108 countries in space technology, with plans for a satellite launch under ISRO’s Chandrayaan-4 mission to promote international collaboration in space exploration.
ISRO’s successful demonstration of GNSS-R technique
- Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully demonstrated a satellite technique to study ocean and soil parameters using Global Navigation Satellite System Reflectometry (GNSS-R).
- Developed by: Space Applications Centre (SAC), Ahmedabad.
Copernicus Sentinel-2C satellite launch
- The third Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellite (Sentinel-2C) was recently launched on a Vega rocket from Kourou, French Guiana.
- Primary aim: To provide high-resolution imagery for land monitoring.
India’s 1st multi-sensor EOSC
- Nibe Space Private Limited (NSPL) announced plans to set up India’s first multi-sensor, all-weather, high-revisit Earth Observation Satellite Constellation (EOSC).
Iran’s Chamran-1 research satellite launch
- Iran recently launched its research satellite, Chamran-1.
Bellatrix Aerospace’s ‘Project 200’
- Bellatrix Aerospace unveiled ‘Project 200’, an innovative satellite designed to operate at an Ultra-Low Earth Orbit (180 km-250 km).
May to August 2024
🔘 GalaxEye Space became the world’s first private company to successfully test Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) technology on a subscale High Altitude Pseudo-Satellite (HAPS).
🔘 The United States Ambassador visited ISRO headquarters and proposed the idea of a “QUAD satellite” to strengthen space cooperation.
🔘Pakistan launched a multi-mission communication satellite, PakSat-MM1, aimed at improving internet connectivity across the country.
🔘 The Earth Cloud Aerosol and Radiation Explorer (EarthCARE) satellite was launched in collaboration between the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) to study the role of clouds and aerosols in reflecting solar radiation.
🔘Kyoto University in Japan developed the world’s first wooden satellite, LignoSat, designed to burn up entirely upon re-entry, reducing space debris.
🔘 Wipro 3D and ISRO successfully developed and tested a 3D-printed rocket engine for India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).
🔘 ISRO teamed up with the French Space Agency CNES for a satellite mission named TRISHNA (Thermal infraRed Imaging Satellite for High-resolution Natural resource Assessment) to monitor and combat climate change.
🔘 Jio Platforms, in partnership with Luxembourg’s Satellite Communication Service Provider SES, received clearance from IN-SPACe to operate satellites providing high-speed internet services.
🔘 Manav Rachna University became the first university in Delhi NCR to install a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver and Space Weather Laboratory in collaboration with the National Atmospheric Research Laboratory (NARL).
🔘 China, in collaboration with France, launched the Space-based Multi-band Variable Object Monitor (SVOM) to capture gamma-ray bursts in distant space.
🔘 SpacePixxel Technologies Pvt Ltd partnered with Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) to design a miniaturized satellite for the Indian Air Force capable of carrying advanced payloads up to 150 kg.
🔘 SpaceX launched the final satellite for NOAA’s GOES-U program to enhance weather monitoring across the Western Hemisphere in collaboration with NASA.
🔘 ISRO’s latest large satellite, GSAT 20, is set to be launched on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket and will be owned by NewSpace India Limited (NSIL).
🔘 Japan launched its earth observation satellite, Advanced Land Observation Satellite-4 (ALOS-4), to monitor land use and environmental changes.
🔘ISRO’s Aditya-L1 mission completed its first halo orbit around the Sun-Earth L1 point, designed by the U R Rao Satellite Centre (URSC).
🔘 China launched the Tianhui 5-02 satellite group, used for geographic mapping, land resource surveys, and scientific experiments.
🔘 Türkiye launched its first indigenously developed communication satellite, TÜRKSAT-6A.
🔘 The all-electric propulsion communication satellite, APSTAR-6E, began operations, associated with China.
🔘 ISRO created the first undersea map of Ram Setu (Adam’s Bridge) using data from NASA’s ICESat-2 (Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite).
🔘 China launched the high-resolution optical Earth Observation Satellite Gaofen-11 05 for enhanced geographical monitoring.
🔘 China also launched its high-orbit internet-services satellite, Weixing Hulianwan Gaogui-02 (WHG-02), into space.
🔘 ISRO is set to launch Earth Observation Satellite-8 (EOS-8) using the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV)-D3 from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
🔘 NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) signed an agreement with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to support the launch of the Nepal-built Munal satellite.
🔘 ISRO successfully launched Earth Observation Satellite-8 (EOS-8), which did not carry Large Area X-ray Proportional Counters (LAXPC) among its payloads.
🔘 Dhruva Space collaborated with Zero-Error Systems (ZES) of Singapore to enhance its On-Board Computer (OBC) subsystem for future satellite missions.
🔘 United Arab Emirates (UAE) successfully launched its first Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite in partnership with Bayanat AI PLC, Yahsat, and ICEYE Ltd.
🔘 The Tanager-1 satellite, launched by SpaceX, aims to detect major emitters of carbon dioxide and methane, crucial for climate monitoring.
April 2024
- Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL), in collaboration with Satellogic, launched India’s first private sector-built sub-metre resolution earth observation satellite, TSAT-1A.
- Queqiao-2 relay satellite is the second communications relay and radio astronomy satellite designed to support the fourth phase of the Chinese Lunar Exploration Program.
- Tiantong Project, a satellite communication system, is associated with China.
- NASA is publicly distributing science-quality data from its Earth-observing Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, and Ocean Ecosystem (PACE) satellite.
- South Korea launched its second indigenous spy satellite on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
- Rocket Lab’s ‘Electron’ rocket launched ‘NEONSAT-1’, an Earth observation satellite associated with South Korea.
March 2024
- Iran successfully launched the “Pars-I” remote sensing and imaging satellite into orbit from Russia.
- The “MethaneSAT” satellite was launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon9 rocket from California, with Google as the mission partner.
- China National Space Administration (CNSA) launched its “Queqiao-2”, “Tiandu-1” and “Tiandu-2” satellites.
- China successfully launched the Yunhai-3 02 satellite.
- The SatCom Industry Association of India (SIA-India) and ABRASAT, Brazilian Satellite Communications Association, have partnered to propel advancements in the space sector.
February 2024
- IIT Indore received approval to open a satellite campus in Ujjain from the Union Ministry of Education.
- NASA’s TESS mission discovered the ‘super-Earth’ TOI-715 b.
- NASA launched the PACE (Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem) satellite.
- The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) – National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) successfully tested a prototype of an unmanned High Altitude Pseudo-Satellite (HAPS).
- The INSAT-3DS satellite on launch vehicle GSLV-F14 was fully funded by the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
- ISRO announced the completion of de-orbiting its high-resolution imaging satellite Cartosat-2.
- NASA and JAXA announced the launch of the world’s first wooden satellite “LignoSat” probe.
- SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched the Merah Putih 2 communications satellite of Indonesia.
January 2024
- ISRO’s PSLV-C58 mission will launch the XPoSat (X-ray Polarimeter Satellite).
- NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) announced the launch of GSAT-20 satellite (GSAT-N2) on Falcon 9.
- The Union Cabinet approved the MoU between ISRO and the Mauritius Research and Innovation Council for joint small satellite development.
- China launched its “Einstein Probe” satellite mission.
- XRISM (X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission) satellite, providing the first images of the X-ray cosmos, is led by JAXA.
- Japan launched the IGS-Optical 8 (Information Gathering Satellite) optical reconnaissance satellite.
- Iran successfully launched its “Soraya satellite” with the Qaem 100 rocket.
- Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya laid the foundation stone for an AIISH Satellite Centre in Kanpur.
- INSAT-3DS satellite, developed by ISRO and India Meteorological Department (IMD), will be launched from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
Satellite in News January to July 2023
August –September 2023
GSAT-24
NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) partners with Tata Play to launch GSAT-24 satellite, enhancing satellite broadcasting capabilities and providing high-quality entertainment across India.
July 2023
Sagar Sampark
Union Minister Sarbanand Sonowal launched India’s first DGNSS (Differential Global Navigation Satellite System) on August 12, 2023. The system will provide accurate positioning services to ships, boats, and other marine vessels in the Indian Ocean region.
Satellite Network Portal Site
The Gujarat government has signed a MoU with OneWeb Company and the Department of Science and Technology to set up a ‘Satellite Network Portal Site’ in Gandhinagar. The site will be used to provide connectivity and data services to various government departments and agencies.
DS-SAR (Earth Observation Satellite)
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has announced the launch of the DS-SAR (Earth Observation Satellite) of Singapore through PSLV-C56. The satellite will be used for Earth observation and disaster management applications.
Largest Private Satellite Jupiter 3
The world’s largest private satellite, Jupiter 3, was launched by SpaceX on July 30, 2023. The satellite will provide broadband internet services to customers in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, and more countries in South America.
Read Also: Spacecraft in News, Latest Science & Teach Current Affairs
June 2023
Silent Barker satellite constellation
The US Space Force has announced the launch of the Silent Barker satellite constellation to track Chinese and Russian space vehicles that pose a threat to orbiting objects.
SATRIA-1 satellite
SpaceX successfully launched the SATRIA-1 satellite of Indonesia on June 29, 2023. The satellite is the first Indonesian satellite to be launched into geosynchronous orbit. It will be used for telecommunications, navigation, and disaster management applications.
May 2023
Spy Satellite “CarbSar”
Surrey Satellite Technology Limited and Oxford Space Systems have jointly announced the launch of a low-cost radar satellite (Spy satellite) “CarbSar” for the United Kingdom (Britain). The satellite is scheduled to be launched in 2024 and will be used for surveillance and reconnaissance purposes.
Starlink Internet Satellites
SpaceX has launched 51 Starlink internet satellites into orbit. The satellites are part of SpaceX’s plan to deploy a constellation of thousands of Starlink satellites to provide high-speed internet service to users around the world.
NVS-01 Navigation Satellite
ISRO has announced the launch of the NVS-01 navigation satellite. The satellite is part of ISRO’s navigation constellation and will be used to provide accurate positioning services to users in India.
Aeolus Satellite
The Aeolus Satellite has shut down its science operation. The satellite was launched by the European Space Agency (ESA) in 2018 to study the Earth’s wind.
Read Also: All About Aditya-L1 Mission: Date, Budget, Objectives, Payloads & More
Nuri-1 Satellite
South Korea has successfully launched its first commercial-grade satellite through a domestically built three-stage Nuri rocket. The satellite is called Nuri-1 and is designed to study the Earth’s atmosphere.
XPoSat Satellite
X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat) is a collaboration between ISRO and Raman Research Institute, Bengaluru. The satellite is designed to study the polarization of X-rays from celestial objects.
April 2023
“Sky Canvas” Satellite
ALE, a Japanese company, has announced the launch of satellites that will trigger an artificial meteor shower “Sky Canvas” in 2025. The project aims to create a man-made meteor shower that can be seen by people all over the world.
“Ofek-13” Spy Satellite
Israel has launched the “Ofek-13” spy satellite. The satellite is designed to gather intelligence on neighbouring countries.
Taifa-1 Satellite
Kenya has announced the launch of its first operational satellite, “Taifa-1”. The satellite is designed to provide communication and remote sensing services to the Kenyan government and people.
NISAR Satellite
The NISAR satellite is a joint project between the space agencies of India and the United States. The satellite is designed to study the Earth’s surface and atmosphere.
“Fengyun-3G”
China has launched its first satellite dedicated to measuring precipitation, especially heavy rainfalls “Fengyun-3G”. The satellite will be used to improve China’s weather forecasting capabilities.
RHESSI Satellite
The RHESSI satellite is expected to fall to Earth. The satellite was launched by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in 2002 to study solar flares.
TeLEOS-2 and LUMELITE-4
Indian Space Research Organization’s (ISRO) Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) has successfully launched two satellites TeLEOS-2 and LUMELITE-4 of Singapore. The satellites are designed to provide communication and remote sensing services to Singapore.
March 2023
Megha-Tropiques-1 (MT-1) Satellite
ISRO successfully carried out the controlled Re-Entry experiment for the decommissioned Megha-Tropiques-1 (MT-1) Satellite on March 7, 2023. The satellite was launched on October 12, 2011, as a joint satellite venture of ISRO and the French space agency CNES for carrying out tropical weather and climate studies.
NISAR Earth Observation Satellite
NASA and ISRO have jointly developed the NISAR earth observation satellite. The satellite is designed to study the Earth’s surface and atmosphere. The satellite was handed over to ISRO on July 1, 2023. The LVM3 (Launch Vehicle Mark-3) developed by ISRO is expected to be used to launch the NISAR satellite.
India-Bhutan Satellite
The ground station of the jointly developed India-Bhutan satellite has been inaugurated in Thimpu, the capital of Bhutan. The satellite is designed to provide communication and remote sensing services to Bhutan.
36 OneWeb Satellites
The LVM3 has placed 36 OneWeb satellites in orbit. The OneWeb satellites are a constellation of satellites designed to provide high-speed internet service to users worldwide. The LVM3 launch was the first time that the LVM3 had been used to launch a commercial satellite.
February 2023
NISAR
NISAR is a joint Earth observation satellite project between ISRO and NASA. The satellite is designed to study the Earth’s surface and atmosphere.
Snapdragon Satellite
Qualcomm Technologies Inc. has introduced the world’s first satellite-based two-way capable messaging solution for premium smartphones, called Snapdragon Satellite. The solution is based on the Globalstar satellite network.
Azaadisat-2 Satellite
Space Kidz India is an organization that promotes space education and research among children. The Azaadisat-2 satellite is a student-built satellite that was launched by ISRO’s SSLV-D2 launch vehicle.
OneWeb Constellation of Satellites
ISRO Chairperson S. Somanath has informed us that the ISRO is currently preparing for the next launch of GSLV Mark III, which will lead to the launch of OneWeb India 236 satellites. The satellites are part of OneWeb’s constellation of satellites designed to provide high-speed internet service to users worldwide.
APJ Abdul Kalam Satellite
The APJ Abdul Kalam Satellite Launch Vehicle Mission-2023 was launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. The mission successfully placed the GSAT-24 satellite into orbit.
Zhongxing-26 Satellite
China has launched the Zhongxing-26 satellite. The satellite is designed to provide communication services to users in China.
Ultraviolet Transient Astronomy Satellite (ULTRASAT)
NASA has informed that it will launch Ultraviolet Transient Astronomy Satellite (ULTRASAT) in 2026. ULTRASAT is the first telescope mission of Israel. The satellite is designed to study ultraviolet transients, which are brief flashes of light from astronomical objects.
January 2023
Satellite “Pushan-Alpha”
Digantara is an Indian space tech startup that has launched its satellite “Pushan-Alpha” from Cape Canaveral in Florida, USA. The satellite is designed to monitor space weather.
AzaadiSAT
Space Kidz India is an organization that promotes space education and research among children. The organization has announced the launch of its satellite “AzaadiSAT”, made by 750 girls studying in government schools.
Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS)
The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) mission was launched by NASA in 2018. The mission has identified a second Earth-sized, rocky planet “TOI 700 e” within the habitable zone of a star.
AgriSAT-1/ZA 008
South Africa has launched the world’s first agriculture-focused satellite “AgriSAT-1/ZA 008”. The satellite is designed to help farmers in South Africa improve their crop yields.
51 Starlink Satellite
SpaceX has successfully launched 51 satellites under its Starlink 2-4 mission. The satellites are part of SpaceX’s constellation of satellites designed to provide high-speed internet service to users worldwide.
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