Topic: India’s Space Programme Origin and Development

Space activities in India started in the sixties with the establishment of Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS). The efforts were consolidating with formation of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in 1969. The space programme got further fillip in June 1972, when the Government of India constituted the Space Commission and established the Department of Space (DOS). ISRO was brought under newly formed DOS in September 1972.

Objectives

The primary objective of the Indian Space Programme is to achieve self-reliance in space technology and evolve application programmes to meet national developmental needs.

Developments

Over the last three decades, the space programme has taken important strides in meeting its objective. Two major operational space systems have been established - the Indian National Satellite (INSAT) for telecommunication, television broadcasting and meterological services and Indian Remote Sensing Satellite (IRS) system for resources monitoring and management.

Two launch vehicle, the Polar Satellite Launch vehicle (PSLV) primarily for launching remote sensing satellites into polar orbits and Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) for launching communication and metrological satellites into 36000 km high Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) have been operationalised. Space application programmes with participation of user agencies have enabled the benefits of space programme to reach the grassroots level of society. Research in space science has contributed towards increased knowledge and understanding of several scientific phenomena. The capabilities built under space programme are used for commercial gains through international marketing of space hardware and services.

A bird's eye view of these developments is given in Table1 (Milestones) and Table 2 (Decade plan) below.

2008

• PSLV-Cl1 successfully launches CHANDRAYAAN-1 from Sriharikota (October 22, 2008).

• PSLV-C9 successfully launches CARTOSAT-2A, IMS-1 and 8 foreign nano satellites from Sriharikota (April 28, 2008).

• PSLV-C10 successfully launches TECSAR satellite under a commercial contract with Antrix Corporation (January 21, 2008).

2007

• Successful launch of GSLV (GSLV-F04) with INSAT-4CR on board from SDSC SHAR (September 2, 2007).

• ISRO’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, PSLV-C8, successfully launched Italian astronomical satellite, AGILE from Sriharikota (April 23, 2007).

• Successful launch of INSAT-4B by Ariane-5 from Kourou French Guyana, (March, 12, 2007).

• Successful recovery of SRE-1 after maneuvering it to re-center the earth's atmosphere and descend over the Bay of Bengal about 140 km east of Sriharikota (January 22, 2007).

• ISRO’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, PSLV-C7 successfully launches four satellites - India's CARTOSAT-2 and Space Capsule Recovery Experiment (SRE-1) and Indonesia's LAPAN-TUBSAT and Argentina's PEHUENSAT-1 (January 10, 2007).

2006

• Second operational flight of GSLV (GSLV-F02) from SDSC SHAR with INSAT-4C on board. (July 10, 2006). Satellite could not be placed in orbit.

2005

Successful launch of INSAT-4A by Ariane from Kourou French Guyana, (December 22, 2005).

ISRO’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle PSLV-C6 successfully launched 'CARTOSAT-1 and HAMSAT satellites from Sriharikota (May 5, 2005).

2004

• The first operational flight of GSLV (GSLV-F01) successfully launched EDUSAT from SDHC SHAR, Sriharikota (October 17, 2003).

2003

• ISRO’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, PSLV-C5, successfully launched RESOURCESAT-1 (IRS-P6 satellite from Sriharikota (October 17, 2003).

• Successful launch of INSAT-3E by Ariane from Kourou French Guyana, (September 28, 2003).

• The second developmental launch of GSLV-D2 with GSAT-2 on board from Sriharikota (May 8, 2003).

• Successful launch of INSAT-3A by Ariane from Kourous French Guyana, (April 2003).

2002

• ISRO's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, PSLV-C4, successfully launched KALPANA-1 satellite from Sriharikota (September 12, 2002).

• Successful launch of INSAT -3C by Ariane from Kourou French Guyana, (January 24, 2002).

2001

• ISRO’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, PSLV-C3, successfully launched three satellites - Technology Experiment Satellite (TES) of ISRO, BIRD of Germany and PROBA of Belgium - into their intended orbits (October 22, 2001).

• The first developmental launch of GSLV-D1 with GSAT-1 on board from Sriharikota (April 18, 2001).

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