1. Formation: ISRO was founded on August 15, 1969, by Dr. Vikram Sarabhai,
often regarded as the father of the Indian space program. The primary goal of ISRO was to harness space technology for national development and to address the needs of the country's socio-economic sectors.
2. Early Years: In the early years, ISRO's activities were primarily focused on developing launch vehicles and satellite technology. The first satellite launched by India was Aryabhata, which was launched on April 19, 1975, using a Soviet Kosmos-3M launch vehicle.
3. Satellite Development: In subsequent years, ISRO developed and launched a series of communication and remote sensing satellites. The Rohini series of satellites and the INSAT (Indian National Satellite System) series are among the notable achievements of ISRO during this period.
4. SLV Program: In the early 1980s, India initiated the Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV) program. The SLV-3, India's first experimental satellite launch vehicle, was launched successfully on July 18, 1980, making India the sixth country in the world to have the capability to launch satellites into space.
5. PSLV and GSLV: In the 1990s, ISRO developed the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV). PSLV became ISRO's workhorse and was used for several successful satellite launches, including Chandrayaan-1 (India's first lunar mission) and Mangalyaan (Mars Orbiter Mission).
6. Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan): Launched on November 5, 2013, Mangalyaan is one of ISRO's most significant achievements. It made India the first Asian nation to reach Martian orbit and the first nation in the world to do so in its maiden attempt.
7. Chandrayaan Missions: ISRO also conducted lunar missions. Chandrayaan-1, launched on October 22, 2008, helped discover water molecules on the moon's surface. Chandrayaan-2, launched on July 22, 2019, aimed to explore the moon's south pole region and included an orbiter, lander (Vikram), and rover (Pragyan). Though the lander encountered difficulties during the landing process and communication was lost, the orbiter continues to function successfully.
8. Gaganyaan: ISRO initiated the Gaganyaan program to send Indian astronauts (Gagannauts) into space. The ambitious human spaceflight mission is planned to have both orbital and suborbital flights.
9. Commercial Launch Services: ISRO also entered the commercial satellite launch market with its PSLV and GSLV rockets, offering cost-effective launch services to international customers.
ISRO has continually grown and expanded its capabilities over the years, becoming a significant player in the global space community. Its achievements have not only contributed to India's technological and scientific progress but have also garnered international recognition and praise.
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