It has been hailed as one the most successful programmes. From India’s first satellite Aryabhatta (1975) to the development of indigenous cryogenic engine India has made significant advances with little help and no technology sharing from developed countries. With the multi dimensional applications space technology ensures, India is moving in the right direction.
Over the last few years, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) took giant leaps forward, one success after the other.
- Chandrayaan 2: India successfully launched its second lunar mission Chandrayaan-2 a week after it halted the scheduled blast-off due to a technical snag. India hopes the $145m (£116m) mission will be the first to land on the Moon’s South Pole.
- INSAT: The system is a network of satellites that facilitates communication and broadcasting across the south Asian region. It ushered in a revolution in India’s television and radio broadcasting, telecommunications and meteorological sector.
- Created Polarized Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) to make cost effective launch system. This has also increased international space collaboration by launching satellites of other nations at low costs.
- Chandrayaan 1: It has launched Chandrayaan 1 lunar probe mission in 2008.
- Mangalyan: ISRO has launched Mars Orbiter Mission in 2013 and created history by launching Mangalyan (mission spacecraft) into the Mars orbit in maiden attempt.
- ASTROSAT: It has launched first space observatory in 2015 to become fourth agency to do so after NASA, Roscosmos and ESA.
- Scramjet: Supersonic Combusting Ramjet has been launched by ISRO. This system works on Air-breathing Propulsion System which uses atmospheric oxygen to burn the fuel in the rocket.
- RLV-TD: ISRO demonstrated its Reusable Launch vehicle space shuttle RLV -TD to launch satellites around earth orbit and re-enter into the atmosphere.
- 104 satellites: ISRO has created history by launching 104 satellites in one go.
- Crew Escape module: ISRO has test-launched Crew Escape Module paving the way for manned space mission Gaganyaan.
Besides, NAVIC (Indian Regional navigation satellites system) and South Asia Satellite are other missions which are a remarkable example of international coordination in the space arena. ISRO is preparing for its missions of Aditya (Solar Mission) and Gaganyaan (Manned Space Mission).
