ISRO: The Torchbearer of Indian Innovation

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is the space agency of India founded with a vision to "harness space technology for national development while also exploring space science and planetary research. It was formed (Founded) in 1969 by Jawaharlal Nehru under the Department of Atomic Energy and is headquartered in Bengaluru, Karnataka.

On June 24, 2020, the Indian government made a historic decision to open the space sector to private companies. The Cabinet approved the formation of the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe), which works as an arm of ISRO. It provides equal opportunities to private companies in the space sector and collaborates with ISRO to support and guide them based on their needs.

Genesis of ISRO

India started its journey in space research activities under the leadership of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, the founding father of India's space programmes. In 1962, Dr. Sarabhai along with Dr. Ramanathan established the Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR).  INCOSPAR set up the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station in Thiruvananthapuram for upper atmospheric research. In 1969, INCOSPAR was renamed ISRO.

From the beginning, (Since inception,) India's space program focused on three key areas: developing satellites for communication and remote sensing, creating space transportation systems, and launching application programs.

In 1983, India launched the Indian National Satellite System (INSAT), the largest domestic communication satellite system in the Asia-Pacific region. INSAT supports broadcasting, telecommunications, meteorology, and rescue operations.

In 1984, India participated in its first manned space mission with the Soviet Union. Rakesh Sharma became the first Indian to travel to space as part of a three-member Soviet-Indian crew 

In 1987, ISRO launched the Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV) program, which could carry heavier payloads.

In 2017, ISRO set a world record by launching 104 satellites in a single mission using the PSLV-C37 rocket.

In the same year, ISRO launched its heaviest rocket, the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle-Mark III (GSLV-Mk III), which placed the GSAT-19 communication satellite in orbit. This made ISRO capable of launching satellites weighing up to 4 tonnes.

Inter-Planetary Missions

ISRO has successfully undertaken five inter-planetary missions:

1. Chandrayaan-1 (2008): ) Chandrayaan-I was India's first mission to the Moon, which included a lunar orbiter and the Moon Impact Probe. This mission confirmed the presence of water on the Moon.

2. Mangalyaan (2013): Also known as the Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), The Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) or Mangalayaan was launched  into Earth's orbit on 5th November, 2013, by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). It successfully entered Mars' orbit on September 24, 2014, making India the first country to do so on its first attempt. It was also the least expensive Mars mission ever.

3. Chandrayaan-2 (2019):  The Chandrayaan-11 was the second lunar mission of India. This mission aimed to study the Moon’s topography and minerals  to have a better understanding of the Moon's origin and evolution. It was launched on 22nd July, 2019, by GSLV Mack 3 rocket. It included an orbiter, Vikram lander, and Pragyan rover. However, the Vikram lander lost communication just before landing and crashed.

4. Chandrayaan-3 (2023): The Chandrayaan-III was launched from Sriharikota on 14th July, 2023. The spacecraft consists of the same Vikram lander and Pragyan Rover. On August 23, 2023, Vikram successfully landed on the Moon’s South Pole, making India the first country to reach this region.

5. Aditya L1 (2023): It is India's first mission dedicated to studying the Sun. It was Launched on September 2, 2023. The satellite will spend its mission life orbiting around lagrange point or L-1 at 1.5 million km from the Earth. It will study the Sun’s corona, solar flares, and mass ejections.

Future Missions of ISRO

1. NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar):
   It is a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) observatory, jointly developed by NASA and ISRO that will map the entire globe in 12 days. It will provide data on changes in Earth's ecosystems, ice mass, vegetation, sea levels, groundwater, and natural hazards.

2. Gaganyaan:
   ISRO has been planning India's Manned Mission to Space also termed as Gaganyaan. India's first manned space mission, Gaganyaan, aims to send Indian astronauts into space. The project is a part of the government's ambition to make India a global low-cost provider of services in space. 

The mission will use the GSLV Mk-III rocket, equipped with a cryogenic engine. ISRO has already tested the rocket with an experimental crew module (Re-entry and recovery technology) and a Crew Escape System (CES).

(The launch vehicle for this mission will carry heavy payloads into space. For this purpose, GSLV Mk-III is being developed with a cryogenic engine. ISRO has already tested the GSLV Mk-III with experimental crew module (Re-entry and recovery technology) and Crew Escape System (CES).

Conclusion

ISRO has made major contributions ( significantly contributed) to space science and education in India. Various dedicated research centers and autonomous institutions operate under the Department of Space, focusing on remote sensing, astronomy, astrophysics, and atmospheric sciences.

By allowing private companies to participate, India is taking a step similar to NASA’s, which helped it become the world’s leading space agency. 

ISRO is continuously advancing in technology by developing heavy-lift launchers, human spaceflight projects, reusable launch vehicles, semi-cryogenic engines, and advanced space materials. 

As India’s ambitions grow, ISRO remains committed to innovation and progress in space exploration.