India’s space program officially took off in 1972 with the establishment of the Department of Space (DoS) under the Government of India. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) was designated as the primary agency for executing projects related to space science, technology, and applications. ISRO’s headquarters is located in Bangalore (now Bengaluru), Karnataka.
1962 – Formation of the Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR) under Dr. Vikram Sarabhai.
1969 – INCOSPAR transformed into ISRO to develop an independent space program.
1972 – Establishment of the Department of Space (DoS) to oversee ISRO’s operations.
1975 – Launch of Aryabhata, India’s first indigenously built satellite.
1980 – India’s first satellite launch using an indigenous launch vehicle, Rohini (RS-1) on SLV-3.
1994 – Successful launch of PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle), marking a milestone in India’s space capabilities.
2008 – Chandrayaan-1, India’s first lunar probe, discovered water molecules on the Moon.
2013 – Mangalyaan (Mars Orbiter Mission) made India the first country to reach Mars in its first attempt.
2019 – Chandrayaan-2, with an orbiter, lander, and rover, advanced lunar exploration.
2023 – Chandrayaan-3 achieved a historic soft landing on the Moon’s south pole.
2023 – Aditya-L1, India’s first solar observation mission, was launched.
U R Rao Satellite Centre (URSC), Bengaluru – Satellite design and development.
Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Thiruvananthapuram – Rocket and launch vehicle development.
Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota – Primary launch site.
Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), Thiruvananthapuram – Development of liquid propulsion technologies.
Space Applications Centre (SAC), Ahmedabad – Research in satellite applications.
ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC), Mahendragiri – Engine testing and space propulsion research.
Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC), Bengaluru – Development of India’s Gaganyaan mission.
India’s space programme continues to expand with ambitious projects like Gaganyaan (human spaceflight mission), Shukrayaan (Venus exploration), and collaborations in deep space exploration.
