ISRO had planned to launch 'Gaganyaan' by December 2021, but said it is likely to be delayed due to COVID-19

Indian Space Research Organisation Chairman K Sivan on Saturday said the space agency was developing 'green propulsion' for its ambitious human space flight mission, 'Gaganyaan'.

He also said it may be adopted for use in every stage of a rocket.

He was speaking at the 16th convocation of SRM Institute of Science and Technology. Sivan, also the Secretary, Department of Space, advised the new graduates to take up 'calculated risk' in their life as it may safeguard them from 'absolute failure'.

"As India continues to focus on economic growth, it needs to ensure that environmental damage is limited by adopting green technologies. ISRO has made space grade lithium-ion batteries and this technology is useful for mass adoption of electric vehicles", he noted.

On the green propellant, Sivan said, "Even in the rocket propulsion, ISRO is developing green propulsion for its human space flight mission. In future, all the propulsion stages may adopt green propulsion," he said.

According to ISRO, polar satellite launch vehicle (PSLV), a trusted workhorse of the space scientists -- is a four stage rocket filled with fuel which pushes the rocket to ensure that the satellite it carries is placed in the intended orbit. GSLV or a geo-stationery launch vehicle (GSLV) is a three stage rocket with a cryogenic upper stage.

The Bangalore-headquartered space agency had planned to launch its maiden human space flight mission 'Gaganyaan' by December 2021. But early this month, ISRO indicated that it is likely to be delayed by one year due to the impact of COVID-19 pandemic.

Addressing students through virtual platform, the ISRO chief encouraged them to take up calculated risk as it would safeguard them from 'absolute failure.' "You may fail, but each failure would provide a valuable lesson. I can say with great confidence that India's space programme has been built on spectacular failures and each failure has resulted in improvements in our system", he said.

Asking the students to innovate, Sivan said, innovation was not just having great idea on paper. "Innovation comes with a high risk of failure. You may be called crazy. Initial outcome of innovation may be imperfect. You must realize that if you are not failing, it means you are not trying anything hard", he said.

Referring to the space sector reforms announced by the Centre in June, he said, "the government has already announced space sector reforms for greater participation of non- governmental entities in space activity".

"Our next PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) launch will have satellite from start-up agencies which will be the first product of this reform." he said.

On the SRM Satellite 'SRMSAT' launched by ISRO in 2011, he said it was in 'healthy condition' and urged the university to come forward and make use of the space sector reform as announced by the government of India. "ISRO is very much open to you all. I request SRM to come forward with their innovative idea of making space activities as required by the Government of India. I am sure that SRM will do this work", he said.

The Digital India initiative by the Centre was a key area to leverage and ISRO has already initiated reforms to make digital assets available easily to industry as well as for start-ups for making innovative applications in navigation, earth observation as well as disaster management, he said.