This article deals with ‘ISRO and Indian Space Program.’ This is part of our series on ‘Science and Technology’ which is important pillar of GS-3 syllabus . For more articles , you can click here
Space Program of
India
Operated by Indian Space
Research Organization (ISRO)
Chairman=Dr K Sivan (First
Chairman of ISRO was Vikram Sarabhai.)
Head of ISRO also acts as Secretary of Department of Science
ISRO
Primary body of Space
Research under Department of
Space
Headquartered in Bangalore
1961
Space Research started under Department of Atomic Energy under Homi Bhaba
1962
Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCSR) established & work to establish TERLS (Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Centre) started
1969
ISRO
was formed
1972
Department of Space (independent department) formed => ISRO brought under Department of Space
1975
Aryabhatta
– First Satellite launched (with Soviet Launch Vehicle)
1980
Rohini-
first satellite launched by Indian LV(SLV3)
Objectives
of Space Program
Using Space Technology for Socio-Economic benefit of the people
Make India self reliant in space technology
Department
of Space (DoS)
ISRO is the
primary R&D wing of DoS
Other Agencies of DoS
Physical Research Lab (PRL)
Ahemdabad
Semi Conductor Lab
Chandigarh
National
Atmospheric Research Lab
Chittor
North Eastern Space Applications Centre
Shillong
Two (Three) major satellite systems
Major Satellite Systems of India
INSAT / GSAT
Indian National Satellite
For communication purposes
Launched by GSLV (& foreign Space Agencies-Ariane of
France)
IRS
Indian Remote Sensing Satellites
For management of the natural resources
Launched by PSLV
INS
Indian Nano Satellites
(New – First launched in Feb 2017)
INS-1A & INS-1B
Equivalent of ISRO of
other nations
USA
NASA
Russia
RKA
China
CNSA
Europe
ESA
Japan
JAXA
Private Space Agencies
Musk (Tesla)
SpaceX
Jeff Bezos (Amazon)
Blue Origin
Challenges to Indian Space Programme
Move from research and development to a commercial level
Need to boost the frequency
of launches.
This will reduce the cost &
make them cost competitive
Need to
develop capabilities to build much larger number of the satellites than
current 3-4 per year
Most of the
space launches are for socio-economic development of country. ISRO need to
move ahead and work for military and
defence needs of country
Achievements of Indian Space Programme
Emerged as one of the 6 most important countries in field of space research
Self reliant
in launching remote sensing and the communication platforms
With GSLV MK III , now is in elite club which can launch heavy
Geo Stationary Communication Satellites
104 Satellites launched in single launch and
created world record
Launch
satellites for others too – Earn foreign exchange.
Contributes
to national security in form of improving the surveillance capability
Helping India
emerge as Technological power and Knowledge
based economy
Side Topic : Cases in news
Nambi Narayanan Case : In 1994, Nambi Narayanan who was working on Cryogenic Engine and was on verge of making it was arrested on charges of selling secrets. CBI later found that charges were false and he was discharged in 1996. Case was fabricated by IB Officials in connivance with CIA because US didn’t want India to develop Cryogenic Engine as it would have challenged monopoly enjoyed by US, Russia and France
Glance at ISRO’s future missions (detail further in chapter)
Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) – DONE
Reusable Satellite Launch Vehicle –
This mission will reduce the cost of delivering satellites into orbit to 1/10th.
Cryogenic Engine – Done in June 2017
GSLV MK III with Cryogenic Stage developed successfully
This technology will help India launch payloads of upto 4 tonnes into the geostationary orbit.
Chandrayaan 2 –
After unprecedented success of Chandrayaan 1, ISRO is already working on Chandryaan 2 which will be launched shortly.
It had Rover and Lander
Launched in July 2019 with partial success
SAARC Satellite – Done in 2017
Aditya Space Satellite—
To study the Corona of Sun
Venus Exploration programme—
To study the atmosphere of Venus ISRO
By 2020
Gaganyaan
Manned mission
3-ton ISRO spaceship to carry a 2-member crew to the Low Earth Orbit and safe return to the Earth after duration of few orbits to two days.
Extendable version of spaceship will allow flights upto 7 days & docking capability with space stations
‘Space Parks
100-acre Space Park in Bangalore
private industry players would be allowed to set up facilities to make subsystems and components for satellites.
