INDIA’S SPACE PROGRAMME — MAJOR MISSIONS, SATELLITES AND ACHIEVEMENTS

PRERNA FOR IAS

         Mehnat Aapki, Guidance Humari

         Roz ki Prelims Practice — Experts ke Saath

INDIA’S SPACE PROGRAMME — MAJOR MISSIONS, SATELLITES AND ACHIEVEMENTS

1. Beginning of India’s Space Programme

• India’s space programme developed with the objective of using space science and technology for national development, communication, weather services, resource management and scientific exploration.
• INCOSPAR was established in 1962, while the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) was formed on 15 August 1969.
• The Department of Space and Space Commission were created in 1972, giving the programme an institutional framework. (ISRO)

2. Aryabhata — India’s First Satellite

• Aryabhata, launched on 19 April 1975, was India’s first satellite.
• It was completely designed and fabricated in India and launched by a Soviet Kosmos-3M/Intercosmos rocket.
• Its scientific objectives included X-ray astronomy, aeronomy and solar physics. (ISRO)

3. Bhaskara and Rohini Satellites

• Bhaskara-I, launched in 1979, was an experimental Earth-observation satellite used for studies of land and water resources.
• Rohini RS-1 was successfully placed in orbit on 18 July 1980 by India’s indigenous SLV-3.
• This success made India the sixth nation capable of launching a satellite using its own launch vehicle. (ISRO)

4. INSAT System

• The Indian National Satellite (INSAT) system began in the early 1980s.
• It became a multipurpose satellite system supporting telecommunications, television broadcasting, meteorology, disaster warning and search-and-rescue services.
• INSAT significantly expanded communication and broadcasting facilities across remote and rural areas of India.

5. Indian Remote Sensing Programme

• India’s operational remote-sensing programme expanded with the IRS satellite series, beginning with IRS-1A in 1988.
• Remote-sensing satellites provide information for agriculture, forestry, groundwater, land-use mapping, disaster management, coastal studies and mineral exploration.
• This capability made space technology directly relevant to developmental planning. (ISRO)

6. PSLV — India’s Workhorse Launcher