It was a spectacular 2023 for the Indian Space  Research Organisation (ISRO) and India landed a spacecraft on the Moon and launch another to study the Sun.

Continuing its exemplary efforts, the Indian Space Research Organisation will carry out at least 12 launches this year, surpassing previous records, chairman S Somanath said on Monday.

“We are planning at least 12 missions for 2024. It may also go up depending on our ability to produce the hardware and complete testing,” Somanath said at a media briefing after the successful launch of India’s first polarimetry mission, the X-ray Polarimeter Satellite, a space observatory that will study black holes and other celestial objects.

In 2023, the space agency conducted a record seven missions, including the landing of Chandrayaan-3 close to the lunar south pole, and the launch of India’s first sun observatory, the Aditya-L1, which is expected to reach its destination, Lagrange Point 1, on January 6. Besides the launches, the space agency also conducted key technology demonstrations that pave the way for future missions for the Gaganyaan spacecraft and a reusable launch vehicle.

This year will be the “year for Gaganyaan”, Somanath said. “2024 is going to be a year to prepare for Gaganyaan. We are targeting the launch for 2025, but this year we will be conducting at least two more rounds of tests before gearing up for the final mission,” he said.

The prerequisites for Gaganyaan mission include development of many critical technologies, including a human-rated launch vehicle for carrying crew safely to space and back, life support systems to provide an Earth-like environment, and an emergency escape system.