The Indian Space Research Organisation was established on 15 August 1969 under the visionary leadership of Dr. Vikram Sarbhai. He is often referred to as the father of the Indian space program. ISRO was the start of India’s ambitious space program, which was driven by the desire to harness space technology in order to advance scientific knowledge and national development. ISRO’s humble beginnings have evolved into a powerful force in space exploration. It is known for its innovative missions and cost-effective approaches.
Aryabhatta (1975)
Aryabhata the first satellite of India launched on April 19th, 1975 by the Soviet Union’s Kapustin Yar using a Kosmos-3M launch vehicle. The 360-kilogram satellite was intended to conduct experiments in X-ray astronomy solar physics, solar physics, and aeronomy. While Aryabhata was a technical challenge shortly after achieving orbit which led to the loss of telemetry onboard data it was a significant success for ISRO. The mission was the first step in India’s journey into space and also provided important lessons on satellite design fabrication, operation, and maintenance that laid the foundation for future missions.
SLV-3 (1980)
The launch took place on the 18th of July 1980 on July 18, 1980, the Satellite Launch Vehicle-3 (SLV-3) was India’s first satellite launch vehicle. The mission was successful in putting the Rohini satellite in orbit. It was a historical milestone in India’s very first satellite launch. SLV-3’s success SLV-3 not only proved India’s ability to design and construct its own launch vehicle but also set the stage for further development of sophisticated launch systems, bringing India into the global realm of space exploration. This mission was an important turning point that turned ISRO into a major participant in the international space community.
RISAT-1 (2012)
RISAT-1 launched on the 26th of April, 2012 on a PSLV C19 rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre was the first Indian radar imaging satellite. It operates in the C-band and offers an all-weather monitoring capability, which makes it especially useful for monitoring agricultural activities as well as forest management, soil moisture estimation and disaster management. The synthetic aperture radar (SAR) that is on board RISAT-1 allows it to record high-resolution images of Earth’s surface even through rain and clouds which is essential for monitoring effective during natural disasters such as flooding and cyclones. RISAT-1 has significantly enhanced India’s capabilities for remote sensing, offering crucial information for both civil as well as strategic purposes.
Mangalyaan (Mars Orbiter Mission) (2013)
Mangalyaan is also called the Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) is a landmark event in India’s space exploration. Launched on the 5th of November 2013 Mangalyaan was the first mission to make India the first country to achieve Mars orbit on its very first attempt. It was a feat that was only accomplished by ISRO. Mangalyaan was also well-known for its efficiency having a budget of around $74 million which made it among the most costly Mars missions ever conducted.
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Mangalyaan’s main goal was the development of technology necessary to conduct interplanetary missions. It was equipped with five scientific instruments to investigate the Martian surface and atmosphere, morphology, as well as mineralogy, from orbit. Its most significant contribution included the investigation of the Martian atmosphere as well as the identification of dust storms that impacted Mars that provided important insights into Mars’s climate and the possibilities for exploration in the future.
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The mission also demonstrated ISRO’s capability to execute complicated space missions with incredible efficiency, gaining global recognition. Mangalyaan remains an inspiration for the team showing India’s advancing capability in the field of space technology and exploration as well as strengthening ISRO’s standing as a world-class space agency on the international stage.
Chandrayaan Missions (2008, 2019 and 2023)
The Indian Chandrayaan missions have considerably improved lunar exploration, beginning with Chandrayaan-1 which was launched on the 22nd in 2008. Chandrayaan-2 was launched on July 22nd, 2019, and was designed to investigate the moon’s south pole. Based on these experiences, Chandrayaan-3, aimed to make an unintentionally soft landing, further increasing India’s contribution to lunar research.
Chandrayaan-1 (2008)Â
It was launched on October 22 at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota using PSLV-XL rockets. Chandrayaan-1 was the nation’s first trip to the Moon. The pioneering mission carried 11 instruments of science from different international space agencies, which included NASA, ESA, and Bulgaria and carried out an extensive study of the lunar surface. The most significant discovery of the mission was the discovery of water molecules on the Moon particularly in the craters that are permanently shadowed close to the lunar poles. This discovery changed the lunar sciences by challenging the conventional notion that the Moon was dry and opened up new avenues for exploration and the possibility of humans living on the Moon.
Chandrayaan-2 (2019)
Based upon the successes of the predecessor mission, Chandrayaan-2 was launched on July 22nd, 2019, also at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre using the GSLV Mk III rocket. The mission was designed to further study the lunar surface, focusing on the region that is not explored in the South Pole region. Chandrayaan-2 comprised an orbiter a landing vehicle (Vikram) and a Rover (Pragyan). While the lander suffered a setback in its descent, the orbiter produced important data, such as high-resolution images and a deeper understanding of the moon’s exosphere. The mission has played a crucial role in improving India’s technological capabilities and increasing our knowledge of the lunar landscape.
Chandrayaan-3 (2023)
The launch was on the 14th of July, 2023. Chandrayaan-3 was the latest effort of ISRO to achieve a smooth landing on the Moon specifically focusing on the south pole of the lunar surface. This mission, intended as a follow-up mission to Chandrayaan-2 included a rover and a lander but there was no orbiter. On the 23rd of August 2023, Chandrayaan-3 successfully landed near the south pole of the Moon and made India the first country to have a smooth landing in this difficult region. This mission is a significant step within ISRO’s lunar exploration program and further proves India’s growing knowledge of space exploration and commitment to expanding the boundaries of scientific discovery.
