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INDIA IN SPACE : A BAG FULL OF SUCCESS

The space activities in the country were initiated with the setting up of Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR) in 1962. In the same year, the work on Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station, ( TERLS ) near Thiruvananthapuram was also started. The Indian space programme was institutionalized in November 1969 with the formation of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The Government of India constituted the Space Commission and established the Department of Space (DOS) in June 1972 and brought ISRO under DOS in September 1972. Department of Space (DOS) has the primary responsibility of promoting development of space science, technology and applications towards achieving self reliance and assisting in all round development of the nation. Both the DOS and ISRO Headquarters are located at Bangalore. The development activities are carried out at the Centres and Units spread over the country. FIRST FEW STEPS TOWARDS SPACE India launched its first experimental satellite, Aryabhatta, in 1975 this was followed by a series of experimental satellites like Bhaskara , Rohini, stretched Rohini satellite series, SROSS. The first Indian experimental satellite, APPLE, was launched. Indian space programme reached the new stage with the launch of the series of INSAT (Indian National 6

Satellite) in1983, we have entered the fourth generation of these satellites. The first generations of INSAT satellites were imported from United States. DEVELOPMENT OF INDIGENOUS TECHNOLOGY India has indigenously developed the subsequent generation of INSAT satellites. The INSAT satellite system was jointly owned by the departments of Telecommunications, Space, All India Radio, Doordarshan, Indian Meteorology department. The super cyclone of Orissa has highlighted the limitation of Indian space programme. This led to the development of exclusive satellites. The first ever exclusive satellite for weather monitoring called METSAT was launched. This was named Kalpana after the Indian born American astronaut Kalpana Chawla who died in Colombia crash.India had launched an exclusive satellite for education called EDUSAT. This has revolutionized the fields of education and health too. The tele education and tele medicine projects got further boost with the successful launching of this exclusive satellite. India launched the series of remote sensing satellites in 1988. The latest in this series was RESOURCE SAT. Apart from satellites and satellite launch vehicles, India developed an impressive space infrastructure. For instance, the Vikram Sarabai Space Centre-VSSC at trivendrum, National Remote Sensing Agency in Hyderabad, Space Application Centre -SAC, in Ahmedabad., Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station - TERLS at Thumba in Kerala. Physical Research laboratories - PRL in Ahmedabad , and a host of satellite tracking ground stations in India and

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Abroad. Several universities, research institutions are also actively associated with the development of space programme in India. OBJECTIVES & SPECIALITIES INDIAN SPACE PROGRAMMES
OF

Research and development in space sciences and technologies as well as application programme for national development. REMOTE SENSING SATELITES The Remote Sensing satellites provide a range of benefits. They include the Exploration of natural resources, flood zone mapping, drought assessment, desert land identification and reclamation, estimating the forest cover, assessing the extent of smoke generated by thermal power stations, estimating the crop yield and crop acreage, providing location specific development information, monitoring of command areas, etc. India is conducting National Natural Resources Management Systems- NNRMS using remote sensing data provided by these satellites. We are also conducting Integrated Mission for Sustainable Development-IMSD, with the service provided by these satellites. The Vanjuvanka watershed in Anantapur district in Andhra Pradesh is also part of IMSD. These satellites are the most advanced and sophisticated satellites making us leaders in the area of remote sensing. For instance, the OCEAN SAT can measure the oxygen quantity in the algae underneath the oceans thereby giving an accurate estimate of marine resources. Biennial forest surveys are conducted using the data provided by remote sensing satellites. Our remote sensing satellites can provide reasonably accurate data about the extent of crops sown helping us to undertake agricultural plans. These remote sensing satellites can estimate the possible crop yield one month before harvest. Monitoring of command areas using these satellites would ensure supply of irrigation water to the tail end farmers. The very small aperture terminals VSATs were set up to support the national information and communication network. INDIA IN ELITE LEAGUE & MARKETING PROCESS Apart from satellites, India developed capabilities in launch vehicle technology too. Starting with a simple Satellite Launch Vehicle-SLV, India went on to develop the Augmented Satellite Launch vehicle7

The Space Commission formulates the policies and oversees the implementation of the Indian space programme to promote the development and application of space science and technology for the socio-economic benefit of the country. The speciality of Indian space programme is that it is dedicated to the socio economic development of our country. Even before India had its first experimental satellite, India conducted the Satellite Instructional Television Experimen t- SITE in 1975-76. The American satellite ATS-6 was leased out for this purpose. As a part of this experiment, television programmes were beamed to 2500 villages using satellite. This experiment paved the way for the development of television in India. In 1977-79, India successfully conducted Satellite Telecommuni-cation Experimental Project - STEP. The Franco German satellite, Symphony was taken on lease for this purpose. The INSAT satellites provided benefits ranging from television broadcasting to weather prediction. Telecommunication, tele education, tele medicine projects are carried out with the help of INSAT satellites. The myriad hour multi channel television boom would not have been possible without the INSAT satellite system. The information revolution and telecommuni-cation revolution were also the result of the INSAT satellites. Indian National Satellite (INSAT) programme for telecommunications, TV broadcasting, meteorology, developmental education, etc. Remote Sensing programme for application of satellite imagery for various developmental purposes. Indigenous capability for design and development of spacecraft and associated technologies for communications, resources survey and space sciences. Design and development of launch vehicles with indigenous technology for access to space and orbiting INSAT, IRS spacecraft and space science missions.

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ASLV, the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle-PSLV, the Geo Synchronous Satellite Launch VehicleGSLV . India has also indigenously developed the VIKAS engine used in the PSLV. The PSLV is used for the launching of remote sensing satellites in earths polar orbit. The PSLV was also used in the Chandrayan, Indias first ever Lunar Mission. The Geo Synchronous satellite launch vehicle is used in the launching of communication satellites in earths Geo Synchronous orbit. India has also indigenously developed the cryogenic engine used in the GSLV. India is not only self sufficient in space programme, but infact attained international recognition. This helped us to enter into highly competitive global space products market. A special agency called ANTRIX Corporation was set up for this purpose within the Department of Space. Indias INSAT- 2 E transponders were leased to INTELSAT, International Telecommunication Satellite. India has also entered into an agreement with the European space agency AERIAN space for the marketing of its Launch Vehicle Technology. We have also reached an agreement with the American Remote Sensing Company SIO SAT for marketing its remote sensing data. India conducted a programme called sharing of experience in space, shares to train the third world space personnel. India is also becoming part of Russia s GLOSNOS project. Indian Space Programme developed many products which are now used in industry. The space programme has several spin off benefits which include production of low weight material used in creation of artificial limbs.Against this impressive background, India has now embarked upon the ambitious programme of lunar mission. The success of Chandrayaan-1 revealed to the world, Indias capability in one of the highly sophisticated areas of science and technology. ACHIEVEMENTS
OF

2011

PSLV-C16 successfully launches Three

SatellitesRESOURCESAT-2, YOUTHSAT, X-SAT from Sriharikota (April 20, 2011).

2010

GSLV-F06 launched from Shriharikota (Dec

25, 2010). GSAT-5Pcould not be placed into orbit as the GSLV-F06 mission was not successful.

PSLV-C15 successfully launches Five Satellites

CARTOSAT-2B, ALSAT-2A, two nanosatellites-NLS-6.1 & 6.2 and a picosatellite-STUDSAT from Sriharikota (July 12, 2010).

GSLV-D3 launched from Sriharikota (Apr 15,

2010). GSAT-4satellite could not be placed in orbit as flight testing of the Indigenous Cryogenic Stage in GSLV-D3 Mission was not successful.

2009

PSLV-C14 successfully launches Seven

Satellites OCEANSAT-2, Four CUBESAT Satellites and Two RUBIN-9 from Sriharikota (Sept. 23, 2009).

PSLV-C12 successfully launches RISAT-2 and

ANUSAT from Sriharikota (April 20, 2009).

2008

PSLV-C11

successfully launches CHANDRAYAAN-1 from Sriharikota (October 22, 2008). 2A, IMS-1 and 8 foreign nano satellites from Sriharikota (April 28,2008).

PSLV-C9 successfully launches CARTOSAT-

ISRO SO

FAR IN

BRIEF

So far, 51 Indian Satellite Missions, and 27 Launches from Sriharikota have been conducted.Namely they are as follows:8

PSLV-C10 successfully launches TECSAR

satellite under a commercial contract with Antrix Corporation (January 21, 2008).

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2007

2003

Successful launch of GSLV (GSLV-F04) with

INSAT-4CR on board from SDSC SHAR (September 2, 2007).

ISROs Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, PSLVC5, successfully launched RESOURCESAT1(IRS-P6) satellite from Sriharikota (October 17, 2003). Successful launch of INSAT-3E by Ariane from Kourou French Guyana, (September 28, 2003).

ISROs Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, PSLVC8, successfully launched Italian astronomical satellite, AGILE from Sriharikota (April 23, 2007).

The Second developmental launch of GSLVD2 with GSAT-2on board from Sriharikota (May 8, 2003).

Successful launch of INSAT-4B by Ariane-5

from Kourou French Guyana, (March 12, 2007).

Successful launch of INSAT-3A by Ariane from

Kourou French Guyana, (April 10, 2003).

Successful recovery of SRE-1 after

manoeuvring it to reenter the earths atmosphere and descend over the Bay of Bengal about 140 km east of Sriharikota (January 22, 2007).

2002

ISROs Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, PSLVC4, successfully launched KALPANA-1 satellite from Sriharikota(September 12, 2002).

ISROs Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, PSLVC7 successfully launches four satellites Indias CARTOSAT-2 and Space Capsule Recovery Experiment (SRE-1) and Indonesias LAPAN-TUBSAT and Argentinas PEHUENSAT-1 (January 10, 2007).

Successful launch of INSAT-3C by Ariane from

Kourou French Guyana, (January 24, 2002).

2001

2006

ISROs Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, PSLVfrom SDSC SHAR with INSAT-4C on board. (July 10, 2006). Satellite could not be placed in orbit. C3,successfully launched three satellites Technology Experiment Satellite (TES)of ISRO, BIRD of Germany and PROBA of Belgiuminto their intended orbits (October 22, 2001).

Second operational flight of GSLV (GSLV-F02)

2005

Successful launch of INSAT-4A by Ariane from

Kourou French Guyana, (December 22, 2005).

The first developmental launch of GSLV-D1

with GSAT-1 on board from Sriharikota (April 18, 2001).

ISROs Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, PSLV- 2000

C6, successfully launched CARTOSAT-1 and HAMSAT satellites from Sriharikota(May 5, 2005).

INSAT-3B, the first satellite in the third

generation INSAT-3 series, launched byAriane from Kourou French Guyana, (March 22, 2000).

2004

The first operational flight of GSLV (GSLVF01) successfully launched EDUSAT from SDSC SHAR, Sriharikota (September 20, 2004)

1999

Indian Remote Sensing Satellite, IRS-P4

(OCEANSAT), launched byPolar Satellite 9

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Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C2) along with Korean KITSAT-3 and German DLR-TUBSAT from Sriharikota (May 26, 1999). INSAT-2E, the last satellite in the multipurpose INSAT-2 series, launched by Ariane from Kourou French Guyana, (April 3, 1999).

1993

First developmental launch of PSLV with IRS1E on board (September 20, 1993). Satellite could not be placed in orbit

INSAT-2B, the second satellite in the INSAT-2

series, launched (July 23, 1993).

1998

INSAT system capacity augmented with the 1992 readiness of INSAT-2DTacquired from INSAT-2A, the first satellite of the
ARABSAT (January 1998).

1997

indigenously-built second-generation INSAT series, launched (July 10, 1992).

INSAT-2D, fourth satellite in the INSAT series,

launched (June 4, 1997). Becomes inoperable on October 4, 1997. (An in-orbit satellite, ARABSAT-1C, since renamed INSAT-2DT, was acquired in November 1997 to partly augment the INSAT system). on board (September 29, 1997). Satellite placed in orbit.

Third developmental launch of ASLV with

SROSS-Con board (May 20, 1992). Satellite placed in orbit.

1991

Second operational Remote Sensing satellite,

IRS-1B, launched (August 29, 1991).

First operational launch of PSLV with IRS-1D 1990 INSAT-1D launched (June 12, 1990).
1988 1996

Third developmental launch of PSLV with IRSP3, on board (March 21, 1996). Satellite placed in polar sunsynchronous orbit.

INSAT-1C launched (July 21,1988).

Abandoned in November 1989. Second developmental launch of ASLV with SROSS-2 on board (July 13, 1988). Satellite could not be placed in orbit.

1995

Launch of third operational Indian Remote

Sensing Satellite, IRS-1C(December 28, 1995). INSAT-2C, the third satellite in the INSAT-2 series, launched (December 7, 1995).

Launch of first operational Indian Remote

Sensing Satellite, IRS-1A(March 17, 1988).

1987

1994

First developmental launch of ASLV with

SROSS-1 satellite on board (March 24, 1987). Satellite could not be placed in orbit. IRS-P2, on board (October 15, 1994). Satellite successfully placed in Polar Sunsynchronous Orbit.

Second developmental launch of PSLV with

1984

Indo-Soviet manned space mission (April

1984).

Fourth developmental launch of ASLV with

SROSS-C2, on board (May 4, 1994). Satellite placed in orbit. 10

1983

INSAT-1B, launched (August 30, 1983).

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Second developmental launch of SLV-3. RSD2 placed in orbit (April 17, 1983).

19721976

1982

Air-borne remote sensing experiments.

1972

INSAT-1A launched (April 10, 1982).

Deactivated on September 6, 1982.

Space Commission and Department of Space

set up (June 1, 1972). ISRO brought under DOS.

1981

Bhaskara-II launched (November 20, 1981). 1969

APPLE, an experimental geo-stationary communication satellite successfully launched (June 19, 1981). RS-D1 placed in orbit (May 31, 1981)First developmental launch of SLV3.

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)

formed under Department of Atomic Energy (August 15, 1969).

1968

1980

TERLS dedicated to the United Nations

(February 2, 1968). satellite successfully placed in orbit. (July 18, 1980).

Second Experimental launch of SLV-3, Rohini

1967

Satellite Telecommunication Earth Station set

up at Ahmedabad.

1979

First Experimental launch of SLV-3 with Rohini 1965

Technology Payloadon board (August 10, 1979). Satellite could not be placed in orbit.

Space Science & Technology Centre (SSTC)

established in Thumba.

Bhaskara-I, an experimental satellite for earth

observations, launched (June 7, 1979).

1963

1977

First sounding rocket launched from TERLS

(November 21, 1963). Project (STEP) carried out.

Satellite Telecommunication Experiments

1962 19751976

Indian National Committee for Space Research

(INCOSPAR) formed by the Department of Atomic Energy and work on establishing Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS) started. Source : Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)

Satellite Instructional Television Experiment

(SITE) conducted.

1975

ISRO First Indian Satellite, Aryabhata,

launched (April 19, 1975).Becomes Government Organisation (April 1, 1975).

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