Evolution of Indian Space Programme

Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR)

Space research activities in India had started even before the formation of ISRO. In 1961, the Government of India entrusted the Department of Atomic Energy with the task of studying space research. In 1962, the Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR) was formed. Vikram Sarabhai, who had made many contributions to the field of space, was appointed as the observer of the organization. In the early 1960s, Vikram Sarabhai joined hands with NASA and studied the use of new technologies for launching artificial satellites. Under the leadership of INCOSPAR, the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS) was started at Thumba, Thiruvananthapuram for research on the upper layers of the Earth's atmosphere. Then on 21 November 1963, the first rocket, Nike Apache, was launched from TERLS. In 1969, INCOSPAR was converted into an advisory body under the Indian National Science Academy. It was after this that ISRO was established.

ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation)

ISRO was established by replacing the INCOSPAR with a broader mandate to harness Space Technology. The contributions made by ISRO to the world in the field of space research are invaluable. India's space research gained attention through the Indian Space Research Organisation, also known as ISRO, established by the Government of India. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) came into existence on 15 August 1969. Its headquarters is in 'Antareeksh Bhavan' in Bangalore. Space Commission and the Department of Space were established in 1972. Initially under the Department of Atomic Energy, ISRO has been under the Department of Space since 1972. ISRO has two major rocket launch centers - Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala) and Satish Dhawan Space Center (SDSC, Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh). The first Rocket launching station of ISRO in India is established in Thumba. Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS) was founded in Thumba in 1962. The first sounding rocket launched was Nike Apache in November 21, 1963. The Sriharikota Satellite launching station is in the state, Andhra Pradesh. Rocket launching at Sriharikota Satellite began in October 1971. Three Rohini rockets were first launched from here. It is the only satellite launch centre in the country. The Indian Space Research Organisation's launching centre at Sriharikotta has been renamed as Sathish Dhawan Space Centre in 2002.

SITE and STEP Projects of ISRO

Satellite Instructional Television Experiment (SITE)

Vikram Sarabhai had conceived a project to bring modern educational lessons to 2400 backward villages through television with the help of satellite. This project is called SITE (Satellite Instructional Television Experiment). This experiment, conducted with the technical cooperation of NASA using the American satellite ATS-6, was discussed worldwide. This experiment was launched for a year from January 1, 1975. This educational program lasted for four hours every morning and evening in four languages. Televisions and devices for receiving waves were installed in public places in the villages for this project. Its technical and social benefits were analyzed under the leadership of ISRO. The project was implemented in 2400 villages in 20 districts in six states namely Rajasthan, Bihar, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. General programmes were broadcast from the Delhi centre to rural televisions. This was an innovation in the existing education scheme. The programme was broadcast using solar energy and other means in about 150 villages that did not even have electricity.

Satellite Telecommunication Experiment Project (STEP)

The Satellite Telecommunication Experiment Project (STEP) was a joint project of ISRO and the Department of Posts and Telegraphs. It was implemented from 1 January 1977 to 1 January 1979. STEP was a continuation of SITE, which focused on television. The Franco-German satellite Symphonie was used for STEP.

List Of Imporatant Space Missions By ISRO Till 2024 

1975 - Aryabhata

1980 - Rohini Satellite Series (RS-1)

1983 - INSAT-1B

1987 - SROSS Series (SROSS-1)

1993 - IRS-1E

1999 - INSAT-2E

2001 - GSAT-1

2005 - CARTOSAT-1

2008 - Chandrayaan-1

2013 - Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan)

2014 - IRNSS-1C

2015 - Astrosat

2016 - GSAT-18

2017 - CARTOSAT-2

2018 - GSAT-29

2019 - Chandrayaan-2

2020 - GSAT-30

2021 - PSLV-C51/Amazonia-1

2022 - GSAT-24

2022 - LVM3-M3/OneWeb India-1

2023 - Aditya-L1

2023 - Chandrayaan-3

2024 - X-Ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat)