Indian Space Research Organisation

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Coordinates: 12580N 77340E
Indian Space Research Organisation

Acronym ISRO
Established 15 August 1969; 44 years ago
(Superseded INCOSPAR)
Headquarters Bangalore, India
Primary spaceport Satish Dhawan Space Centre
Motto Space Technology in the Service of Human Kind
Administrator K. Radhakrishnan, Chairman
Budget 5615 crore (US$900 million)(201314)
[1]

Website www.isro.gov.in
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO, /sro/; Hindi: Bhratya
Antarika Anusandhna Sagahana) is the primary space agency of India.
[2]
ISRO is amongst the
largest government space agencies in the world. Its primary objective is to advancespace technology and use
its applications for national benefit.
[3]

Established in 1969, ISRO superseded the erstwhile Indian National Committee for Space Research
(INCOSPAR). Headquartered in Bangalore, ISRO is under the administrative control of the Department of
Space, Government of India.
Since its establishment, ISRO has achieved numerous milestones. It built India's first satellite, Aryabhata,
which was launched by the Soviet Unionin 1975. In 1980, Rohini became the first satellite to be placed in orbit
by an Indian-made launch vehicle, SLV-3. ISRO subsequently developed two other rockets: the Polar Satellite
Launch Vehicle (PSLV) for launching satellites into polar orbits and the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch
Vehicle (GSLV) for placing satellites into geostationary orbits. These rockets have launched
numerous communications satellites and earth observation satellite. In 2008, Chandrayaan-1, India sent its first
mission to the Moon.
Over the years, ISRO has conducted a variety of operations for both Indian and foreign clients. ISRO's satellite
launch capability is mostly provided by indigenous launch vehicles and launch sites. In 2008, ISRO
successfully launched its first lunar probe, Chandrayaan-1, while future plans include indigenous development
of GSLV, manned space missions, further lunar exploration, mars exploration and interplanetary probes. ISRO
has several field installations as assets, and cooperates with the international community as a part of several
bilateral and multilateral agreements. In 2013, ISRO launched its Mars Orbiter Mission, which is currently on-
route to Mars.
Contents
[hide]
1 Formative years
2 Goals and objectives
3 Launch vehicle fleet
o 3.1 Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV)
o 3.2 Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV)
o 3.3 Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)
o 3.4 Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV)
o 3.5 Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark-III (GSLV III)
4 Earth observation and communication satellites
o 4.1 The INSAT series
o 4.2 The IRS series
o 4.3 Radar Imaging Satellites
o 4.4 Other satellites
5 Satellite navigation
o 5.1 GAGAN
o 5.2 The IRNSS series
6 Human spaceflight programme
o 6.1 Technology demonstration
o 6.2 Astronaut training and other facilities
o 6.3 Development of crew vehicle
7 Planetary sciences and astronomy
8 Facilities
o 8.1 Research facilities
o 8.2 Test facilities
o 8.3 Construction and launch facilities
o 8.4 Tracking and control facilities
o 8.5 Human resource development
o 8.6 Commercial wing
9 Future projects
o 9.1 Future launch vehicles
9.1.1 GSLV-Mk III
9.1.2 Reusable Launch Vehicle-Technology Demonstrator (RLV-TD)
o 9.2 Extraterrestrial exploration
9.2.1 Lunar exploration programme
9.2.2 Mars exploration
9.2.3 Venus exploration
9.2.4 Solar exploration programme
o 9.3 Space science missions
10 Applications
11 Global cooperation
12 Logo
13 See also
14 Notes
15 References
16 Further reading
17 External links
Formative years[edit]


Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, the father of India's Space Programme.
Modern space research in India is most visibly traced to the 1920s, when the scientist S. K. Mitra conducted a
series of experiments leading to the sounding of the ionosphere by application of ground based radio methods
in Calcutta.
[4]
Later, Indian scientists like C.V. Raman and Meghnad Sahacontributed to scientific principles
applicable in space sciences.
[4]
However, it was the period after 1945 which saw important developments being
made in coordinated space research in India.
[4]
Organised space research in India was spearheaded by two
scientists: Vikram Sarabhaifounder of thePhysical Research Laboratory at Ahmedabadand Homi Bhabha,
who had played a role in the establishment of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in 1945.
[4]
Initial
experiments in space sciences included the study of cosmic radiation, high altitude and airborne testing of
instruments, deep underground experimentation at the Kolar minesone of the deepest mining sites in the
world and studies of the upper atmosphere.
[5]
Studies were carried out at research laboratories, universities,
and independent locations.
[5][6]

In 1950, the Department of Atomic Energy was founded with Homi Bhabha as its secretary.
[6]
The Department
provided funding for space research throughout India.
[7]
During this time, tests continued on aspects
of meteorology and the Earth's magnetic field, a topic which was being studied in India since the establishment
of the observatory at Colaba in 1823. In 1954, the Uttar Pradesh state observatory was established at the
foothills of the Himalayas.
[6]
The Rangpur Observatory was set up in 1957 at Osmania
University, Hyderabad.
[6]
Both these facilities enjoyed the technical support and scientific cooperation of the
United States of America.
[6]
Space research was further encouraged by the technically inclined Prime Minister
of India,Jawaharlal Nehru.
[7]
In 1957, the Soviet Union successfully launched Sputnik and opened up
possibilities for the rest of the world to conduct a space launch.
[7]
INCOSPAR was found in 1962 with Vikram
Sarabhai as its chairman.
Goals and objectives[edit]
The prime objective of ISRO is to develop space technology and its application to various national tasks.
[3]
The
Indian space programme was driven by the vision of Dr Vikram Sarabhai, considered the father of Indian Space
Programme.
[8]
As he said in 1969:

There are some who question the relevance of space activities in a developing nation. To us, there is no ambiguity
of purpose. We do not have the fantasy of competing with the economically advanced nations in the exploration of
the Moon or the planets or manned space-flight. But we are convinced that if we are to play a meaningful role
nationally, and in the community of nations, we must be second to none in the application of advanced
technologies to the real problems of man and society.
[3]


As the former Indian President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam said:

Many individuals with myopic vision questioned the relevance of space activities in a newly independent nation,
which was finding it difficult to feed its population. Their vision was clear if Indians were to play meaningful role
in the community of nations, they must be second to none in the application of advanced technologies to their real-
life problems. They had no intention of using it as a means of displaying our might.
[9]


India's economic progress has made its space programme more visible and active as the country aims for
greater self-reliance in space technology.
[10]
Hennock etc. hold that India also connects space exploration to
national prestige, further stating: "This year India has launched 11 satellites, including nine from other
countriesand it became the first nation to launch 10 satellites on one rocket."
[10]
ISRO has successfully put
into operation two major satellite systems namely Indian National Satellites (INSAT) for communication
services and Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) satellites for management of natural resources. ISRO has also
developed the PSLV for launching IRS type of satellites and GSLV for launching INSAT type of satellites.
On July 2012, the former President, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam said that research was being done by ISRO
and DRDO for developing cost reduction technologies for access to space.
[11]

Launch vehicle fleet[edit]


Comparison of Indian carrier rockets. Left to right: SLV, ASLV, PSLV, GSLV,GSLV III.
During the 1960s and 1970s, India initiated its own launch vehicle programme owing to geopolitical and
economic considerations. In the 1960s1970s, the country successfully developed a sounding rockets
programme, and by the 1980s, research had yielded the Satellite Launch Vehicle-3 and the more
advanced Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV), complete with operational supporting
infrastructure.
[12]
ISRO further applied its energies to the advancement of launch vehicle technology resulting in
the creation of PSLV and GSLV technologies.
Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV)[edit]
Main article: Satellite Launch Vehicle
Status: Decommissioned
The Satellite Launch Vehicle, usually known by its abbreviation SLV or SLV-3 was a 4-stage solid-fuel light
launcher. It was intended to reach a height of 500 km and carry a payload of 40 kg.
[13]
Its first launch took
place in 1979 with 2 more in each subsequent year, and the final launch in 1983. Only two of its four test
flights were successful.
[14]

Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV)[edit]
Main article: ASLV
Status: Decommissioned
The Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle, usually known by its abbreviation ASLV was a 5-stage solid
propellant rocket with the capability of placing a 150 kg satellite into LEO. This project was started by
the ISRO during the early 1980s to develop technologies needed for a payload to be placed into a
geostationary orbit. Its design was based on Satellite Launch Vehicle.
[15]
The first launch test was held
in 1987, and after that 3 others followed in 1988, 1992 and 1994, out of which only 2 were successful,
before it was decommissioned.
[14]

Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)[edit]
Main article: PSLV
Status: Active
The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, usually known by its abbreviation PSLV, is an expendable
launch system developed to allow India to launch its Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) satellites
into Sun synchronous orbits, a service that was, until the advent of the PSLV, commercially viable
only from Russia. PSLV can also launch small satellites into geostationary transfer orbit (GTO).
The reliability and versatility of the PSLV is proven by the fact that it has launched 65 satellites /
spacecraft ( 30 Indian and 35 Foreign Satellites) into a variety of orbits so far.
[16][17]
In April 2008, it
successfully launched 10 satellites at once, breaking a world record held by Russia.
[18]

On 5 November 2013 the PSLV flew its 24th consecutive successful launch mission.
[19]
Its only
failure in 25 flights was its maiden voyage in September 1993, providing the rocket with a 96
percent success rate.
[20]

Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV)[edit]
Main article: GSLV
Status: Active
The Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle, usually known by its abbreviation GSLV, is
an expendable launch system developed to enable India to launch its INSAT-type satellites
into geostationary orbit and to make India less dependent on foreign rockets. At present, it is
ISRO's heaviest satellite launch vehicle and is capable of putting a total payload of up to 5
tons to Low Earth Orbit. The vehicle is built by India with the cryogenic engine purchased
from Russia while the ISRO develops its own engine programme.
In a setback for ISRO, the attempt to launch the GSLV, GSLV-F06 carrying GSAT-5P, failed
on 25 December 2010. The initial evaluation implies that loss of control for the strap-on
boosters caused the rocket to veer from its intended flight path, forcing a programmed
detonation. Sixty-four seconds into the first stage of flight, the rocket began to break up due
to the acute angle of attack. The body housing the 3rd stage, the cryogenic stage, incurred
structural damage, forcing the range safety team to initiate a programmed detonation of the
rocket.
[21]

On 5 January 2014, GSLV D5 successfully launched GSAT-14 into intended orbit. This also
marked first successful flight using indigenous cryogenic engine, making India sixth country
in the world to have this technology.
Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark-III (GSLV III)[edit]
Main article: GSLV III
Status: Active
The Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark-III is a launch vehicle currently
under development by the Indian Space Research Organisation. It is intended to launch
heavy satellites intogeostationary orbit, and will allow India to become less dependent
on foreign rockets for heavy lifting. The rocket, though the technological successor to
the GSLV, however is not derived from its predecessor.
[22]



GSLV Mk III mockup
Earth observation and communication satellites[edit]


INSAT-1B.
India's first satellite, the Aryabhata, was launched by the Soviet Union on 19 April 1975
from Kapustin Yar using a Cosmos-3M launch vehicle. This was followed by the Rohini
series of experimental satellites which were built and launched indigenously. At present,
ISRO operates a large number of earth observation satellites.
The INSAT series[edit]
Main article: Indian National Satellite System
INSAT (Indian National Satellite System) is a series of multipurpose geostationary
satellites launched by ISRO to satisfy the telecommunications, broadcasting,
meteorology and search-and-rescue needs of India. Commissioned in 1983, INSAT is
the largest domestic communication system in the Asia-Pacific Region. It is a joint
venture of the Department of Space, Department of Telecommunications, India
Meteorological Department, All India Radio and Doordarshan. The overall coordination
and management of INSAT system rests with the Secretary-level INSAT Coordination
Committee.
The IRS series[edit]
Main article: Indian Remote Sensing satellite
Indian Remote Sensing satellites (IRS) are a series of earth observation satellites, built,
launched and maintained by ISRO. The IRS series provides remote sensing services to
the country. The Indian Remote Sensing Satellite system is the largest constellation of
remote sensing satellites for civilian use in operation today in the world. All the satellites
are placed in polar Sun-synchronous orbit and provide data in a variety of spatial,
spectral and temporal resolutions to enable several programmes to be undertaken
relevant to national development. The initial versions are composed of the 1 (A,B,C, D)
nomenclature. The later versions are named based on their area of application including
OceanSat, CartoSat, Resource Sat.
Radar Imaging Satellites[edit]
ISRO currently operates two Radar Imaging Satellites.RISAT-1 was launched from
Sriharikota Spaceport on 26 April 2012 on board a PSLV.RISAT-1 carries a C-band
Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) payload, operating in a multi-polarisation and multi-
resolution mode and can provide images with coarse, fine and high spatial
resolutions.
[23]
India also operates RISAT-2 which was launched in 2009 and acquired
from Israel at a cost $110 million.
[23]

Other satellites[edit]
ISRO has also launched a set of experimental geostationary satellites known as
the GSAT series. Kalpana-1, ISRO's first dedicated meteorological satellite,
[24]
was
launched by the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle on 12 September 2002.
[25]
The satellite
was originally known as MetSat-1.
[26]
In February 2003 it was renamed to Kalpana-1 by
the Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in memory of Kalpana Chawla a NASA
astronaut of Indian origin who perished in Space Shuttle Columbia.
ISRO has also successfully launched the Indo-French satellite SARAL on 25 February
2013, 12:31 UTC.SARAL or Satellite with ARgos and ALtiKa is a cooperative altimetry
technology mission. It is being used for monitoring the oceans surface and sea-
levels.AltiKa will measure ocean surface topography with an accuracy of 8 mm, against
2.5 cm on average using current-generation altimeters, and with a spatial resolution of
2 km.
[27][28]



SARAL Satellite
Satellite navigation[edit]
GAGAN[edit]
Main article: GPS-aided geo-augmented navigation
The Ministry of Civil Aviation has decided to implement an indigenous Satellite-Based
Regional GPS Augmentation System also known as Space-Based Augmentation
System (SBAS) as part of the Satellite-Based Communications, Navigation and
Surveillance (CNS)/Air Traffic Management (ATM) plan for civil aviation. The Indian
SBAS system has been given an acronym GAGAN GPS Aided GEO Augmented
Navigation. A national plan for satellite navigation including implementation of
Technology Demonstration System (TDS) over the Indian air space as a proof of
concept has been prepared jointly by Airports Authority of India (AAI) and ISRO. TDS
was successfully completed during 2007 by installing eight Indian Reference Stations
(INRESs) at eight Indian airports and linked to the Master Control Centre (MCC) located
near Bangalore.
The first GAGAN navigation payload has been fabricated and it was proposed to be
flown on GSAT-4 during Apr 2010. However, GSAT-4 was not placed in orbit as GSLV-
D3 could not complete the mission. Two more GAGAN payloads will be subsequently
flown, one each on two geostationary satellites, GSAT-8 and GSAT-10. On 12 May
2012, ISRO announced the successful testing of its indigenous cryogenic engine for 200
seconds for its forthcoming GSLV-D5 flight.
[29]

The IRNSS series[edit]
Main article: IRNSS
IRNSS is an independent regional navigation satellite system being developed by India.
It is designed to provide accurate position information service to users in India as well as
the region extending up to 1500 km from its boundary, which is its primary service area.
IRNSS will provide two types of services, namely, Standard Positioning Service (SPS)
and Restricted Service (RS) and is expected to provide a position accuracy of better
than 20 m in the primary service area.
[30]
It is an autonomous regional satellite
navigation system being developed by Indian Space Research Organisation which
would be under total control of Indian government. The requirement of such a navigation
system is driven by the fact that access to Global Navigation Satellite Systems
like GPS are not guaranteed in hostile situations. ISRO plans to launch the constellation
of satellites between 2012 and 2014.
ISRO on 1 July 2013, at 23:41Hrs IST launched from Sriharikota the First Indian
Navigation Satellite the IRNSS-1A. The IRNSS-1A was launched aboard PSLV-C22.
The constellation would be comprising 7 satellites of I-1K bus each weighing around
1450 Kilograms, with three satellites in the Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) and 4
in Geosynchronous Earth Orbit(GSO). The constellation would be completed around
2015.
[31]

Human spaceflight programme[edit]


Indian Navy Frogmen recovering theSRE-1
Main article: Indian human spaceflight programme
The Indian Space Research Organisation has proposed a budget of
12400 crore (US$2.0 billion) for its human spaceflight programme.
[32]
According to the
Space Commission which recommended the budget, an unmanned flight will be
launched after 7 years of final approval.
[33]
and a manned mission will be launch after 7
years of funding.
[34][35]
If realised in the stated time-frame, India will become the fourth
nation, after the USSR, USA and China, to successfully carry out manned missions
indigenously.
Technology demonstration[edit]
The Space Capsule Recovery Experiment (SCRE or more commonly SRE or SRE-
1)
[36]
is an experimental Indian spacecraft which was launched using the PSLV C7
rocket, along with three other satellites. It remained in orbit for 12 days before re-
entering the Earth's atmosphere and splashing down into the Bay of Bengal.
[37]
The
SRE-1 was designed to demonstrate the capability to recover an orbiting space capsule,
and the technology for performing experiments in the microgravity conditions of an
orbiting platform. It was also intended to test thermal protection, navigation, guidance,
control, deceleration and flotation systems, as well as study hypersonic aero-
thermodynamics, management of communication blackouts, and recovery operations.
ISRO also plans to launch SRE-2 and SRE-3 in the near future to test advanced re-entry
technology for future manned missions.
[38]

Astronaut training and other facilities[edit]
ISRO will set up an astronaut training centre in Bangalore to prepare personnel for
flights on board the crewed vehicle. The centre will use simulation facilities to train the
selected astronauts in rescue and recovery operations and survival in zero gravity, and
will undertake studies of the radiation environment of space. ISRO will
build centrifuges to prepare astronauts for the acceleration phase of the mission. It also
plans to build a new Launch pad to meet the target of launching a manned space
mission in 7 years of funding clearance. This would be the third launchpad at the Satish
Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.
Development of crew vehicle[edit]


GSLV Mk III payload fairing assembly mockup
Main article: ISRO Orbital Vehicle


ISRO Orbital Vehicle.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is working towards a maiden manned
Indian space mission vehicle that can carry three astronauts for seven days in a near
earth orbit. The Indian manned spacecraft temporarily named as Orbital Vehicle intends
to be the basis of indigenous Indian human spaceflight programme. The capsule will be
designed to carry three people, and a planned upgraded version will be equipped with a
rendezvous and docking capability. In its maiden manned mission, ISRO's largely
autonomous 3-ton capsule will orbit the Earth at 248 miles (400 km) in altitude for up to
seven days with a two-person crew on board. The crew vehicle would launch atop of
ISRO's GSLV Mk II, currently under development. The GSLV Mk II features an
indigenously developed cryogenic upper-stage engine.
[39]
The first test of the cryogenic
engine, held on 15 April 2010, failed as the cryogenic phase did not perform as
expected and rocket deviated from the planned trajectory.
[40]
However the second test of
the indigenous cryogenic engine was successful on 5 January 2014.
[41]

Planetary sciences and astronomy[edit]
India's space era dawned when the first two-stage sounding rocket was launched
from Thumba in 1963. Even before this, noteworthy contributions were made by the
Indian scientists in the following areas of space science research:
Cosmic rays and high energy astronomy using both ground based as well as
balloon borne experiments/studies such as neutron/meson monitors,Geiger Muller
particle detectors/counters etc.
Ionospheric research using ground based radio propagation techniques such
as ionosonde, VLF/HF/VHF radio probing, a chain of magnetometer stations etc.
Upper atmospheric research using ground based optical techniques such
as Dobson spectrometers for measurement of total ozone content, air glow
photometers etc.
Indian astronomers have been carrying out major investigations using a number of
ground based optical and radio telescopes with varying sophistication.
With the advent of the Indian space programme, emphasis was laid on indigenous, self-
reliant and state-of-the-art development of technology for immediate practical
applications in the fields of space science research activities in the country.
There is a national balloon launching facility at Hyderabad jointly supported by TIFR and
ISRO. This facility has been extensively used for carrying out research in high energy
(i.e., X- and gamma ray) astronomy, IR astronomy, middle atmospheric trace
constituents including CFCs & aerosols, ionisation, electric conductivity and electric
fields.
The flux of secondary particles and X-ray and gamma-rays of atmospheric origin
produced by the interaction of the cosmic rays is very low. This low background, in the
presence of which one has to detect the feeble signal from cosmic sources is a major
advantage in conducting hard X-ray observations from India. The second advantage is
that many bright sources like Cyg X-1, Crab Nebula, Scorpius X-1 and Galactic Centre
sources are observable from Hyderabad due to their favourable declination. With these
considerations, an X-ray astronomy group was formed at TIFR in 1967 and development
of an instrument with an orientable X-ray telescope for hard X-ray observations was
undertaken. The first balloon flight with the new instrument was made on 28 April 1968
in which observations of Scorpius X-1 were successfully carried out. In a succession of
balloon flights made with this instrument between 1968 and 1974 a number of binary X-
ray sources including Scorpius X-1, Cyg X-1, Her X-1 etc. and the diffuse cosmic X-ray
background were studied. Many new and astrophysically important results were
obtained from these observations.
[42]

One of most important achievements of ISRO in this field was the discovery of three
species of bacteria in the upper stratosphere at an altitude of between 2040 km. The
bacteria, highly resistant to ultra-violet radiation, are not found elsewhere on Earth,
leading to speculation on whether they are extraterrestrial in origin. These three bacteria
can be considered to be extremophiles. Until then, the upper stratosphere was believed
to be inhospitable because of the high doses of ultra-violet radiation. The bacteria were
named as Bacillus isronensis in recognition of ISRO's contribution in the balloon
experiments, which led to its discovery, Bacillus aryabhata after India's celebrated
ancient astronomer Aryabhata and Janibacter Hoylei after the distinguished
astrophysicist Fred Hoyle.
[43]

Facilities[edit]
ISRO's headquarters is located at Antariksh Bhavan in Bangalore.
Research facilities[edit]
Facility Location Description
Physical
Research
Laboratory
Ahmedabad
Solar planetary physics, infrared astronomy, geo-cosmo physics,
plasma physics, astrophysics, archaeology, and hydrology are some
of the branches of study at this institute.
[44]
An observatory
at Udaipur also falls under the control of this institution.
[44]

Semi-Conductor
Laboratory
Chandigarh
Research & Development in the field of semiconductor technology,
micro-electromechanical systems and process technologies relating to
semiconductor processing.
National
Atmospheric
Research
Laboratory
Chittoor
The NARL carries out fundamental and applied research in
Atmospheric and Space Sciences.
Space
Applications
Centre
Ahmedabad
The SAC deals with the various aspects of practical use of space
technology.
[44]
Among the fields of research at the SAC
aregeodesy, satellite based telecommunications, surveying, remote
sensing, meteorology, environment monitoring etc.
[44]
The SEC
additionally operates the Delhi Earth Station.
[45]

North-Eastern
Space
Applications
Centre
Shillong
Providing developmental support to North East by undertaking
specific application projects using remote sensing, GIS, satellite
communication and conducting space science research.
Test facilities[edit]
Facility Location Description
Liquid Propulsion
Systems
Centreand ISRO
Propulsion
Complex
Bangalore,Thiruvananthapuram,
andMahendragiri
The LPSC handles testing and implementation
of liquid propulsion control packages and helps
develop engines for launch vehicles and
satellites.
[44]
The testing is largely conducted
at ISRO Propulsion
Complex at Mahendragiri.
[44]
The LPSC also
constructs precision transducers.
[46]

Construction and launch facilities[edit]
Facility Location Description
ISRO
Satellite
Centre
Bangalore
The venue of eight successful spacecraft projects is also one of
the main satellite technology bases of ISRO. The facility serves
as a venue for implementing indigenous spacecraft in
India.
[44]
The satellites Ayrabhata, Bhaskara, APPLE, and IRS-
1A were constructed at this site, and the IRS and INSAT satellite
series are presently under development here.
[46]

Laboratory
for Electro-
Optics
Systems
Bangalore
The Unit of ISRO responsible for the development of attitude
sensors for all satellites. The high precision optics for all
cameras and payloads in all ISRO satellites including
Chandrayaan-1 are developed at this laboratory. Located at
Peenya Industrial Estate, Bangalore.
Satish
Dhawan
Space Centre
Sriharikota
With multiple sub-sites the Sriharikota island facility acts as a
launching site for India's satellites.
[44]
The Sriharikota facility is
also the main launch base for India's sounding rockets.
[46]
The
centre is also home to India's largest Solid Propellant Space
Booster Plant (SPROB) and houses the Static Test and
Evaluation Complex (STEX).
[46]

Vikram
Sarabhai
Space Centre
Thiruvananthapuram
The largest ISRO base is also the main technical centre and the
venue of development of the SLV-3, ASLV,
and PSLV series.
[44]
The base supports India's Thumba
Equatorial Rocket Launching Station and the Rohini Sounding
Rocket programme.
[44]
This facility is also developing
the GSLV series.
[44]

Thumba
Equatorial
Rocket
Launching
Station
Thiruvananthapuram TERLS is used to launch sounding rockets.
Tracking and control facilities[edit]
Facility Location Description
Indian Deep Space
Network (IDSN)
Bangalore
This network receives, processes, archives and
distributes the spacecraft health data and payload data in
real time. It can track and monitor satellites up to very
large distances, even beyond the Moon.
National Remote
Sensing Centre
Hyderabad
The NRSC applies remote sensing to manage natural
resources and study aerial surveying.
[44]
With centres
at Balanagar andShadnagar it also has training facilities
at Dehradun in form of the Indian Institute of Remote
Sensing.
[44]

Indian Space
Research
Organisation
Telemetry,
Tracking and
Command Network
Bangalore
(headquarters) and a
number of ground
stations throughout
India and World.
[45]

Software development, ground operations, Tracking
Telemetry and Command (TTC), and support is
provided by this institution.
[44]
ISTRAC has Tracking
stations throughout the country and all over the world
in Port Louis (Mauritius), Bearslake
(Russia), Biak(Indonesia) and Brunei.
Master Control
Facility
Bhopal; Hassan
Geostationary satellite orbit raising, payload testing, and
in-orbit operations are performed at this facility.
[47]
The
MCF has earth stations and Satellite Control Centre
(SCC) for controlling satellites.
[47]
A second MCF-like
facility named 'MCF-B' is being constructed at
Bhopal.
[47]

Human resource development[edit]
Facility Location Description
Indian Institute of
Remote
Sensing(IIRS)
Dehradun
Indian Institute of Remote Sensing (IIRS), an independent
unit of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO),
Department of Space, Govt. of India is a premier training
and educational institute set up for developing trained
professionals (P.G and PhD level) in the field of Remote
Sensing, Geoinformatics and GPS Technology for Natural
Resources, Environmental and Disaster Management. IIRS
is also executing many R&D projects on Remote Sensing
and GIS for societal applications.
Indian Institute of
Space Science and
Technology (IIST)
Thiruvananthapuram
The institute offers undergraduate and graduate courses in
Aerospace engineering, Avionics and Physical Sciences.
The students of the first two batches of IIST have been
inducted into different ISRO centres as of September 2012.
Development and
Educational
Communication
Unit
Ahmedabad
The centre works for education, research, and training,
mainly in conjunction with the INSAT programme.
[44]
The
main activities carried out at DECU include GRAMSAT
and EDUSAT projects.
[46]
The Training and Development
Communication Channel (TDCC) also falls under the
operational control of the DECU.
[45]

Commercial wing[edit]
Facility Location Description
Antrix Corporation Bangalore The marketing agency under government control markets ISRO's hardware, manpower, and software.
[47]

Other facilities include:
Balasore Rocket Launching Station (BRLS) Odisha
INSAT Master Control Facility (IMCF) Bhopal
ISRO Inertial Systems Unit (IISU) Thiruvananthapuram
Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System (IRNSS)
Aerospace Command of India (ACI)
Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR)
Inter University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA)
Indian Department of Space (IDS)
Indian Space Science Data Centre (ISSDC)
Spacecraft Control Centre (SCC)
Regional Remote Sensing Service Centres (RRSSC)
Development and Educational Communication Unit (DECU)
Future projects[edit]


A model of the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle III.


A model of the RLV-TD
ISRO plans to launch a number of new-generation Earth Observation Satellites in the
near future. It will also undertake the development of new launch vehicles and
spacecraft. ISRO has stated that it will send unmanned missions to Mars and Near-
Earth Objects. ISRO has planned 58 missions during 201217; 33 satellites missions in
next two years and 25 launch vehicles missions thereafter, costing
20000 crore (US$3 billion).
[48]

Forthcoming Satellites
Satellite
Name
Details
ASTROSAT
ASTROSAT is a first dedicated Indian Astronomy satellite mission, which will enable
multi-wavelength observations of the celestial bodies and cosmic sources in X-ray and
UV spectral bands simultaneously. The scientific payloads cover the Visible (3500
6000 ), UV (13003000 ), soft and hard X-ray regimes (0.58 keV; 380 keV).
The uniqueness of ASTROSAT lies in its wide spectral coverage extending over
visible, UV, soft and hard X-ray regions.
GSAT-6 /
INSAT-4E
The primary goal of GSAT-6/INSAT-4E, which is a Multimedia broadcast satellite, is
to cater to the consumer requirements of providing entertainment and information
services to vehicles through Digital Multimedia consoles and to the Multimedia mobile
Phones. The satellite carries a 5 spot beam BSS and 5 spot beam MSS. It will be
positioned at 83 East longitude with a mission life of 12 years.
GSAT-
7/INSAT-4F
It is a multi-band satellite carrying payloads in UHF, S-band, C-band and K
u
band. The
satellite weighs 2330 kg with a payload power of 2000W and mission life of 9 years.
GSAT-9
GSAT-9 will carry 6 C band and 24 K
u
band transponders with India coverage beam.
The satellite is planned to be launched during 201112 with a mission life of 12 years
and positioned at 48 East longitude. This I-2K satellite has a liftoff mass of 2330 kg
and payload power of 2300 W.
GSAT-11
GSAT-11 is based on I-4K bus which is under advanced stage of development. The
spacecraft can generate 1012 KW of power and can support payload power of 8KW.
The payload configuration is on-going. It consists of 16 spot beams covering entire
country including Andaman & Nicobar islands. The communication link to the user-
end terminals operate in Ku-band while the communication link to the hubs operate in
Ka-band. The payload is configured to be operated as a high data throughput satellite,
to be realised in orbit in 2013 time frame.
GSAT-15
GSAT-15 is an Indian communication satellite similar to GSAT-10 to augment the
capacity of transponders to provided more bandwidth for Direct-to-Home television
and VSAT services. The satellite will be the 10th one in the series of GSAT satellites.
GSAT-16
GSAT-16 will be the 11th Indian communication satellite similar to GSAT-15 meant to
increase the number of transponders that in turn enhance the satellite based
telecommunication, television, VSAT services in India.
Future launch vehicles[edit]
GSLV-Mk III[edit]
GSLV-Mk III is envisaged to launch four tonne satellite into geosynchronous transfer
orbit. GSLV-Mk III is a three-stage vehicle with a 110 tonne core liquid propellant stage
(L-110) and a strap-on stage with two solid propellant motors, each with 200 tonne
propellant (S-200). The upper stage will be cryogenic with a propellant loading of 25
tonne (C-25). GSLV Mk-III will have a lift-off weight of about 626 tonne and will be 43.43
m tall. The payload fairing will have a diameter of 5-metre and a payload volume of 100
cubic metre. GSLV Mk III is planned to be launched in April, 2014. It will weigh 640
tonnes at the time of lift-off, which will make it the heaviest rocket ever to be built
in India.
Reusable Launch Vehicle-Technology Demonstrator (RLV-TD)[edit]
As a first step towards realising a Two Stage To Orbit (TSTO) fully re-usable launch
vehicle, a series of technology demonstration missions have been conceived. For this
purpose a Winged Reusable Launch Vehicle technology Demonstrator (RLV-TD) has
been configured. The RLV-TD will act as a flying test bed to evaluate various
technologies viz., hypersonic flight, autonomous landing, powered cruise flight and
hypersonic flight using air-breathing propulsion. First in the series of demonstration trials
is the hypersonic flight experiment (HEX).
Extraterrestrial exploration[edit]
India's first mission beyond Earth's orbit was Chandrayaan-1. ISRO plans to follow
up Chandrayaan-2 with unmanned missions to Mars, Venus and Near-Earth
objects such as asteroids and comets.
Lunar exploration programme[edit]
Chandrayaan-1 was India's first mission to the Moon. The unmanned lunar
exploration mission included a lunar orbiter and an impactor called the Moon Impact
Probe. India launched the spacecraft using a modified version of the PSLV on 22
October 2008 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. The vehicle was
successfully inserted into lunar orbit on 8 November 2008. It carried high-resolution
remote sensing equipment for visible, near infrared, and soft and hard X-ray
frequencies. During its 312 days operational period (2 years planned), it surveyed
the lunar surface to produce a complete map of its chemical characteristics and 3-
dimensional topography. The polar regions were of special interest, as they proved
contain ice. The lunar mission carried five ISRO instruments and six pinstruments
from other international space agencies including NASA, ESA, and the Bulgarian
Aerospace Agency, which were carried free of cost. The Chandrayaan-1 became
the first lunar mission to discover existence of water on the Moon.
[49]

Chandrayaan-2 (Sanskrit: -) will be India's second unmanned mission to the
Moon will include an orbiter and lander-rover module. Chandrayaan-2 will be
launched on India's Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-MkII) around
2016 - 2017 timeframe.
[50]
The science goals of the mission are to further improve
the understanding of the origin and evolution of the Moon.
Mars exploration[edit]

This section
requires expansion.(February 2014)
Main article: Mars Orbiter Mission
The Indian Space Research Organisation launched its first Mars orbiter, called Mars
Orbiter Mission, or Mangalyaan, on 5 November 2013.
[51][52][53]
Mangalyaan carries a 15-
kilogram suite of five science instruments to study the Martian upper atmosphere,
surface features and mineralogy. It is India's first interplanetary mission and, if
successful, ISRO would become the first Asian space agency to reach Mars.
Venus exploration[edit]
ISRO is planning a mission to Venus, by May 2015 to study its atmosphere. The probe
will reach Venus by September 2015 and would carry at least five instruments.
[54]

Solar exploration programme[edit]
Main article: Aditya (spacecraft)
ISRO plans to carry out a mission to the Sun by the year 2015-16. The probe is named
as Aditya-1 and will weigh about 400 kg.
[55]
It is the First Indian space based Solar
Coronagraph to study solar Corona in visible and near IR bands. Launch of the Aditya
mission is planned during the next high solar activity period ~ 2012 but has been
postponed to 20152016 due to the extensive work involved in the fabrication and other
technical aspects . The main objectives is to study the Coronal Mass Ejection (CME)
and consequently the crucial physical parameters for space weather such as the coronal
magnetic field structures, evolution of the coronal magnetic field etc. This will provide
completely new information on the velocity fields and their variability in the inner corona
having an important bearing on the unsolved problem of heating of the corona would be
obtained.
Space science missions[edit]
Space Capsule Recovery Experiment II The main objective of SRE II is to realise a
fully recoverable capsule and provide a platform to conduct microgravity experiments on
Micro-biology, Agriculture, Powder Metallurgy, etc. SRE-2 is proposed to be launched
on board PSLV.
Applications[edit]
India uses its satellites communication network one of the largest in the world for
applications such as land management, water resources management, natural disaster
forecasting, radio networking, weather forecasting, meteorological imaging and
computer communication.
[56]
Business, administrative services, and schemes such as
the National Informatics Centre (NICNET) are direct beneficiaries of applied satellite
technology.
[57]
Dinshaw Mistryon the subject of practical applications of the Indian
space programmewrites:
The INSAT-2 satellites also provide telephone links to remote areas; data transmission
for organisations such as the National Stock Exchange; mobile satellite service
communications for private operators, railways, and road transport; and broadcast
satellite services, used by India's state-owned television agency as well as commercial
television channels. India's EDUSAT (Educational Satellite), launched aboard the GSLV
in 2004, was intended for adult literacy and distance learning applications in rural areas.
It augmented and would eventually replace such capabilities already provided by
INSAT-3B.
The IRS satellites have found applications with the Indian Natural Resource
Management programme, with regional Remote Sensing Service Centres in five Indian
cities, and with Remote Sensing Application Centres in twenty Indian states that use IRS
images for economic development applications. These include environmental
monitoring, analysing soil erosion and the impact of soil conservation measures, forestry
management, determining land cover for wildlife sanctuaries, delineating groundwater
potential zones, flood inundation mapping, drought monitoring, estimating crop acreage
and deriving agricultural production estimates, fisheries monitoring, mining and
geological applications such as surveying metal and mineral deposits, and urban
planning.
India's satellites and satellite launch vehicles have had military spin-offs. While India's
93124-mile (150250 km) range Prithvi missile is not derived from the Indian space
programme, the intermediate range Agni missile is drawn from the Indian space
programme's SLV-3. In its early years, when headed by Vikram Sarabhai and Satish
Dhawan, ISRO opposed military applications for its dual-use projects such as the SLV-3.
Eventually, however, the Defence Research and Development Organisation(DRDO)
based missile programme borrowed human resources and technology from ISRO.
Missile scientist Dr APJ Abdul Kalam (elected president of India in 2002), who had
headed the SLV-3 project at ISRO, moved to DRDO to direct India's missile programme.
About a dozen scientists accompanied Kalam from ISRO to DRDO, where he designed
the Agni missile using the SLV-3's solidfuel first stage and a liquid-fuel (Prithvi-missile-
derived) second stage. The IRS and INSAT satellites were primarily intended and used
for civilian-economic applications, but they also offered military spin-offs. In 1996 New
Delhi's Ministry of Defence temporarily blocked the use of IRS-1C by India's
environmental and agricultural ministries in order to monitor ballistic missiles near India's
borders. In 1997 the Indian air forces "Airpower Doctrine" aspired to use space assets
for surveillance and battle management.
[58]

Institutions like the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) and the Indian
Institute of Technology use satellites for scholarly applications.
[59]
Between 1975 and
1976, India conducted its largest sociological programme using space technology,
reaching 2400 villages through video programming in local languages aimed at
educational development via ATS-6 technology developed by NASA.
[60]
This
experimentnamed Satellite Instructional Television Experiment (SITE)conducted
large scale video broadcasts resulting in significant improvement in rural education.
[60]

ISRO has applied its technology to "telemedicine", directly connecting patients in rural
areas to medical professionals in urban locations via satellites.
[59]
Since high-quality
healthcare is not universally available in some of the remote areas of India, the patients
in remote areas are diagnosed and analysed by doctors in urban centres in real time
via video conferencing.
[59]
The patient is then advised medicine and treatment.
[59]
The
patient is then treated by the staff at one of the 'super-specialty hospitals' under
instructions from the doctor.
[59]
Mobile telemedicine vans are also deployed to visit
locations in far-flung areas and provide diagnosis and support to patients.
[59]

ISRO has also helped implement India's Biodiversity Information System, completed in
October 2002.
[61]
Nirupa Sen details the programme: "Based on intensive field sampling
and mapping using satellite remote sensing and geospatial modelling tools, maps have
been made of vegetation cover on a 1 : 250,000 scale. This has been put together in a
web-enabled database which links gene-level information of plant species with spatial
information in a BIOSPEC database of the ecological hot spot regions,
namely northeastern India, Western Ghats, Western Himalayas and Andaman and
Nicobar Islands. This has been made possible with collaboration between the
Department of Biotechnology and ISRO."
[61]

The Indian IRS-P5 (CARTOSAT-1) was equipped with high-resolution panchromatic
equipment to enable it for cartographic purposes.
[8]
IRS-P5 (CARTOSAT-1) was
followed by a more advanced model named IRS-P6 developed also for agricultural
applications.
[8]
The CARTOSAT-2 project, equipped with single panchromatic camera
which supported scene-specific on-spot images, succeed the CARTOSAT-1 project.
[62]

Global cooperation[edit]
ISRO has had the benefit of International cooperation since inception.
Establishment of TERLS, conduct of SITE & STEP, launches
of Aryabhata, Bhaskara, APPLE, IRS-IA and IRS-IB/ satellites, manned space
mission, etc. involved international cooperation.
ISRO operates LUT/MCC under the international COSPAS/SARSAT Programme
for Search and Rescue.
India has established a Centre for Space Science and Technology Education in
Asia and the Pacific (CSSTE-AP) that is sponsored by the United Nations.
India hosted the Second UN-ESCAP Ministerial Conference on Space Applications
for Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific in November 1999.
India is a member of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer
Space, Cospas-Sarsat, International Astronautical Federation, Committee on Space
Research (COSPAR),Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination
Committee (IADC), International Space University, and the Committee on Earth
Observation Satellite (CEOS).
[63]

Chandrayaan-1 carried scientific payloads from NASA, ESA and the Bulgarian
Space Agency.
The Russian Space Agency is cooperating with India in developi