UNLOCKING THE FINAL FRONTIER

Collaboration, self-reliance, ambition, and successful strides have been constant pillars of India’s space programme

By AYUSHEE CHAUDHARY

Amid doubts, questions, and concerns of a nation barely standing on its feet at the time post-independence but aiming for the sky, India’s space programme started to take its first steps over five decades ago. However, with the clear vision of its founding fathers toward national development and making the country capable as well as dependent, India’s space programme took off. Collaboration, self-reliance, ambition, and successful strides have been constant pillars of India’s space programme. Through the achievements of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the country’s space programme has consistently kept India among the elite group of space powers globally. What started as INCOSPAR culminated into ISRO in 1969 aptly on independence day and has managed to stand tall in making India self-reliant and independent through scientific advancements, international collaborations, strategic actions, socio-economic benefits, and global recognition, all the while defying limits and propelling India to the forefront of the global space community. Over the years, ISRO’s unwavering pursuit of scientific advancements and technological innovations has not only elevated India’s standing in the world but also transformed it into a beacon of self-dependence in space technology.

In its nascent stages, ISRO was reliant on foreign aid for satellite development and launch capabilities. However, the visionaries at ISRO knew that to truly soar into the depths of space, they needed to achieve indigenous capabilities and they began the arduous but transformative process of research, innovation, and skill development. The turning point came in 1975 when ISRO successfully launched its first satellite, Aryabhata, into space using a Russian Kosmos-3M launch vehicle. This significant achievement marked India’s entry into the exclusive club of space-faring nations. Riding high on this success, ISRO went on to launch the Indian National Satellite System (INSAT) in 1983, a series of multipurpose geostationary satellites that revolutionised telecommunications, broadcasting, meteorology, and disaster management in India. The success of INSAT demonstrated India’s ability to leverage space technology for the nation’s socio-economic development.

As of April 2023, ISRO has added 124 spacecraft missions including 3 nanosatellites and 1 microsatellite; 92 launch missions including Scramjet-TD, RLV-TD, and crew escape system; 15 student satellites; 2 re-entry missions and 424 foreign satellites of 34 countries. ISRO maintains one of the largest fleets of communication satellites (INSAT) and remote sensing (IRS) satellites.

Isro For The Nation

ISRO’s space applications have revolutionised several domains in India, from communication and navigation to healthcare, education, and disaster management, fostering national development and progress in numerous sectors.