Why this matters now
ISRO is tested for: INCOSPAR 1962 under DAE (Vikram Sarabhai + Homi Bhabha); ISRO founded 15 Aug 1969; Aryabhata first satellite 19 Apr 1975 launched by Soviet Kosmos-3M; SLV-3 Rohini RS-1 18 Jul 1980 (first indigenous launch — India 6th space-faring nation); DOS + Space Commission 1972; current Chair S. Somanath (2022-); IN-SPACe 2020 regulator + NSIL 2019 commercial arm; Indian Space Policy 2023.
History & milestones
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1962 | INCOSPAR (Indian National Committee for Space Research) under DAE; Sarabhai chair. |
| 21 Nov 1963 | First sounding rocket Nike-Apache launched from Thumba (TERLS), Kerala. |
| 15 Aug 1969 | ISRO founded replacing INCOSPAR. |
| 1972 | Department of Space (DOS) + Space Commission created. ISRO brought under DOS. |
| 19 Apr 1975 | Aryabhata — India’s first satellite (Soviet Kosmos-3M from Kapustin Yar). |
| 18 Jul 1980 | SLV-3 launched Rohini RS-1 from SHAR — India 6th space-faring nation. |
| 1992 | ASLV success. |
| 1993 | PSLV first flight (failed); 1994 PSLV-D2 success. |
| 2001 | GSLV first flight. |
| 22 Oct 2008 | Chandrayaan-1 launched. |
| 5 Nov 2013 | Mangalyaan (MOM) launched; MOI 24 Sep 2014 (1st attempt). |
| 2017 | PSLV-C37 launched 104 satellites single mission (world record). |
| 23 Aug 2023 | Chandrayaan-3 soft-landing south pole — India 4th nation, 1st south pole. |
| 2 Sep 2023 | Aditya-L1 — first Indian solar mission. |
Centres & reforms
Key ISRO centres:
- VSSC Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuram — launch vehicles.
- URSC U. R. Rao Satellite Centre, Bengaluru — satellites.
- SAC Space Applications Centre, Ahmedabad — payloads/applications.
- LPSC Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre, Thiruvananthapuram + Bengaluru.
- SDSC SHAR Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh — spaceport.
- HSFC Human Space Flight Centre, Bengaluru — Gaganyaan.
- IPRC ISRO Propulsion Complex, Mahendragiri, TN — engine tests.
- NRSC National Remote Sensing Centre, Hyderabad.
- MCF Master Control Facility, Hassan + Bhopal.
2019-23 reforms:
- NSIL (NewSpace India Limited) 6 March 2019 — PSU; commercial arm; transfers launch + satellite services.
- IN-SPACe (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center) 24 June 2020 — autonomous regulator + single window for private sector under DOS.
- Indian Space Policy 2023 (Cabinet approved 6 Apr 2023) — opens space sector to private players; ISRO focuses on R&D, NSIL on commerce, IN-SPACe on regulation, DOS on policy.
- 100% FDI in space sector via auto route (2024) for satellite manufacture + launch vehicles.
Active launchers
| Launcher | Payload to LEO/GTO | First flight |
|---|---|---|
| PSLV Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle | 1750 kg SSO / 1425 kg GTO | 1993 |
| GSLV Mk II | 2500 kg GTO (cryogenic upper) | 2001 |
| LVM3 (GSLV Mk III) | 4000 kg GTO / 8000 kg LEO | 18 Dec 2014 |
| SSLV Small Satellite Launch Vehicle | 500 kg LEO | 7 Aug 2022 (D1 fail); 10 Feb 2023 (D2 success) |
Future: NGLV Next-Generation Launch Vehicle (semi-cryo + reusable booster, ~10 t GTO target c. 2030).
UPSC angle
Know ISRO — INCOSPAR 1962 under DAE (VIKRAM SARABHAI + HOMI BHABHA); first sounding rocket NIKE-APACHE 21 Nov 1963 from THUMBA TERLS Kerala; ISRO FOUNDED 15 AUG 1969 replacing INCOSPAR; DOS + SPACE COMMISSION 1972 (PM holds Space portfolio); ARYABHATA 19 Apr 1975 first satellite by Soviet KOSMOS-3M from Kapustin Yar; SLV-3 ROHINI RS-1 18 Jul 1980 SHAR FIRST INDIGENOUS LAUNCH India 6TH SPACE-FARING NATION (after USSR US France Japan China); ASLV 1992; PSLV first flight 1993 fail PSLV-D2 1994 success; GSLV first 2001; CHANDRAYAAN-1 22 Oct 2008; MANGALYAAN (MOM) 5 Nov 2013 MOI 24 SEP 2014 first attempt; PSLV-C37 2017 104 SATELLITES SINGLE MISSION WORLD RECORD; CHANDRAYAAN-3 SOFT-LANDING 23 AUG 2023 SOUTH POLE 4TH NATION 1ST SOUTH POLE; ADITYA-L1 2 SEP 2023 first solar mission; NSIL 6 MARCH 2019 PSU commercial arm; IN-SPACe 24 JUNE 2020 autonomous regulator under DOS; INDIAN SPACE POLICY 2023 cabinet 6 Apr 2023 ISRO=R&D NSIL=commerce IN-SPACe=regulator DOS=policy; 100% FDI auto route 2024 satellite + launch; centres VSSC TVM (vehicles), URSC BLR (satellites), SAC AHD (payloads), LPSC TVM+BLR, SDSC SHAR SRIHARIKOTA AP (spaceport), HSFC BLR (Gaganyaan), IPRC MAHENDRAGIRI TN (engines), NRSC HYDERABAD, MCF HASSAN + BHOPAL; current Chair S. SOMANATH 2022-; future NGLV semi-cryo reusable.
Frequently asked questions
When was ISRO founded?
15 August 1969 — replacing INCOSPAR (1962). Headquartered at Bengaluru, under the Department of Space (DOS) reporting to the PM.
Who is the father of the Indian space programme?
Dr Vikram Sarabhai (1919-1971) — chaired INCOSPAR 1962 + championed satellite TV (SITE) + telecom.
What is IN-SPACe?
Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center — autonomous regulator created 24 June 2020 under DOS; single-window clearance for private sector. ISRO does R&D, NSIL does commerce, IN-SPACe regulates.
What is the Indian Space Policy 2023?
Cabinet-approved 6 April 2023. Opens the space sector to private players; clarifies roles of ISRO (R&D), NSIL (commercial), IN-SPACe (regulator), DOS (policy). FDI auto route up to 100% added 2024.