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Vikram 3201: Aatmanirbhar Bharat’s First 32-Bit Microprocessor for Space Missions

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India has officially entered the space-grade semiconductor race with the launch of Vikram 3201, the country’s first fully homegrown 32-bit microprocessor. Developed under the Atmanirbhar Bharat mission, this chip represents a significant leap forward in technology, designed to power rockets, satellites, and other applications.

Know All About Vikram 3201, India’s First Indigenous 32-Bit Microprocessor for Space:

Built in India, for India’s Missions

Vikram 3201 has been designed at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) and fabricated at the Semiconductor Laboratory (SCL), Chandigarh. In fact, what makes it historic is that every step, from blueprint to production, was completed in India, without external dependence.

This chip marks a milestone in semiconductor self-reliance. For decades, India relied on imported microprocessors for critical missions. Vikram 3201 signals a shift that India can now design and manufacture its own brains for space technology. It is not just about rockets; it is about building a future where India shapes the global semiconductor story.

Vikram 3201: Aatmanirbhar Bharat’s First 32-Bit Microprocessor for Space Missions

Why Is This Chip – Vikram 3201 So Special?

Unlike ordinary processors used in laptops or phones, Vikram 3201 is space-grade. That means it can survive extreme environments, from blazing heat to freezing cold, plus high levels of vibration and radiation during space travel. It operates between –55 °C and +125 °C, meeting military-level standards.

Also read, Aditya L-1: India’s Solar Mission Reaches Sun’s Orbit

From Vikram 1601 to Vikram 3201

This chip is an upgrade over ISRO’s earlier 16-bit Vikram 1601, which has been in use since 2009. With new features, Vikram 3201 brings more power and precision.

  • 64-bit floating-point operations for ultra-accurate rocket navigation
  • Support for the Ada programming language, known for reliability in critical systems
  • Built-in 1553B interfaces for smooth communication between spacecraft components

Tested and Trusted in Space

The processor isn’t just a theory on paper. It has already been flight-tested successfully aboard PSLV-C60’s POEM-4 mission, proving its reliability in orbit.

Vikram 32-Bit Microprocessor for Space Missions

Vikram 3201’s Uses Beyond Space

While designed for ISRO’s rockets and satellites, Vikram 3201 could also play a role in defence, automotive, and energy sectors, thanks to its rugged build and efficiency.

Quick Facts at a Glance

  • Name: Vikram 3201
  • Type: 32-bit indigenous space microprocessor
  • Developed by: ISRO’s VSSC and SCL Chandigarh (under Atmanirbhar Bharat mission)
  • Key Features: 64-bit floating-point math, Ada language support, space-grade durability
  • Tested on: PSLV-C60 (POEM-4 mission)
  • Applications: Space missions, defence, automotive, energy

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Shubhanshu Shukla Becomes India’s Longest-Staying Astronaut in Space

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Shubhanshu Shukla is an Indian astronaut who made history by spending more time in space than any other Indian before him. He broke a 41-year-old record set by Rakesh Sharma, India’s first astronaut. Shubhanshu Shukla spent 18 eventful days aboard the International Space Station (“ISS”). He was the first Indian to visit the ISS and only the second Indian to go to space after Rakesh Sharma.

Also read, Aditya L-1: India’s Solar Mission Reaches Sun’s Orbit

As of July 15, 2025, Shubhanshu Shukla was reported to be returning to Earth. His journey back from the ISS began on July 14. Shubhanshu Shukla was the mission pilot for the Axiom Mission 4, a special spaceflight organized by NASA, SpaceX, and India’s space agency ISRO. During his stay, he conducted important scientific experiments, focusing especially on understanding muscle weakness in space and how to prevent it. He also collaborated with astronauts from other countries, demonstrating how space exploration brings nations together. 

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In his farewell address from the ISS, Shubhanshu Shukla spoke about India’s growing journey in space exploration:  “It has been an incredible journey. Even though it is coming to an end, for you and me there is a long way to go. The journey of our human space mission is long and difficult. But if we are determined, even the stars are attainable“. He also referenced India’s first astronaut, Rakesh Sharma, famously quoting the 1924 Urdu song “Saare jahan se achcha”, saying, “India looked better than the rest of the world”.

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Fun Facts

Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla created history by becoming the 634th astronaut to reach space.

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What a Ride! Indian in Space after 41-Year Gap

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Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla has created history by becoming the first Indian ever to set foot on the International Space Station.

After multiple delays and postponements, the Axiom-4 mission carrying India’s Shubhanshu Shukla was successfully launched on June 25 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The Axiom-4 mission took astronauts to the International Space Station (“ISS”). Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who’s piloting the mission, has become only the second Indian to travel to space.

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About The Mission

The astronauts flew in a spacecraft called Dragon. It was made by a company named SpaceX. A rocket called Falcon-9 helped the Dragon go up into space. The Axiom-4 mission marks the fourth private astronaut mission to the ISS. The commercial space mission operated by a Houston-based private company Axiom Space is a collaboration  between NASA, ISRO, ESA and Space.  The astronauts reached the ISS after a flight of about 28 hours.

This mission is the first time India will be part of the ISS and is considered a step towards India’s upcoming Gaganyaan space program.

About the Astronauts 

The crew for the mission includes three astronauts who have never been to the ISS before: Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, Poland’s Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski and Tibor Kapu from Hungary. The fourth and final member of the team is Peggy Whitson of the US, a former NASA astronaut.

“Namaskar to all my countrymen. What a ride! After 41 years, we are back in space and what a ride it has been”. These were the first words of the Axiom-4 mission’s designated pilot and the first Indian to travel to space in 41 years, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla. 

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What will the astronauts do in space?

The astronauts will carry out 69 experiments; seven of them will be done by Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla. Some of the experiments include studying how plants and algae grow in space and learning how muscles heal.The astronauts will stay in space for 14 days. 

Also read, Aditya L-1: India’s Solar Mission Reaches Sun’s Orbit

Did You Know? 

The first Indian astronaut, Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, travelled to space in 1984 aboard a Russian Soyuz.

The four astronauts had been in a four-week quarantine since May 25, the longest in any modern space mission.Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla was among four Indian air force officers shortlisted last year to travel on the country’s first-ever human space flight, scheduled for 2027.

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Have Scientists Discovered Life Beyond Our Solar System?

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For the first time, scientists have found the strongest signs that there might be life on a planet outside our solar system. There is a planet far, far away—124 light-years from Earth—called K2-18b, which is twice the size of the Earth. Scientists from the University of Cambridge looked at this exoplanet using the super-powerful James Webb Space Telescope and they just found something really exciting!

Also read, Aditya L-1: India’s Solar Mission Reaches Sun’s Orbit

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They have found possible evidence that this faraway planet orbiting another star may be home to life. The telescope spotted special chemicals on this exoplanet that are only made by living things here on Earth.

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This means that either there is life on K2-18b or that these special chemicals were produced in another way that we do not know about. But, before we get too excited, scientists say we need more proof. A study detailing the findings was published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.

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Super-Earth: Alien Life Found?

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Okay, buckle up, space explorers! Scientists have found a SUPER-EARTH called HD 20794 d, and it’s only 20 light-years away! That’s practically next door in space terms! It’s a rocky planet, like Earth, but much bigger and heavier. HD 20794 d is more than six times as massive as our planet and twice as wide! HD 20794 d orbits a star similar to our Sun. But its orbit isn’t a perfect circle; it’s more like a stretched-out oval, called an ellipse. This means that sometimes the planet is close to its star, and sometimes it’s far away.

 

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The coolest part is that HD 20794 d travels in and out of the “habitable zone” of its star. This is the Goldilocks zone – not too hot, not too cold, but just right for liquid water to exist. And liquid water is one of the most important ingredients for life as we know it! When HD 20794 d is far from its star, it’s probably freezing cold. But when it gets closer, it might warm up enough for any ice to melt and form pools of liquid water.

Also read Bennu A Space Rock Full Of Life’s Secrets!

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Imagine a planet that goes through seasons like this! Scientists aren’t sure if there’s actually water on HD 20794 d. But if there is, it could mean that simple life forms might be able to survive there. It all depends on the planet’s atmosphere and temperature. This amazing discovery was published in a science journal called Astronomy & Astrophysics.

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Scientists used some super-powerful instruments, like ESPRESSO and HARPS, to find this planet. It took them years of careful study to make sure their discovery was real! Now, scientists are planning to use even bigger and better telescopes, like the Extremely Large Telescope to study HD 20794 d in more detail. They want to find out if there’s water, what the atmosphere is like, and if there’s any chance of life.

Also read, Aditya L-1: India’s Solar Mission Reaches Sun’s Orbit

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