Indian Space Research Organisation [ISRO]: Key Achievements and Significant Space Missions

ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization) has achieved numerous milestones since its inception in 1969. Read more to learn all about its significant achievements in everything from satellite launches to interstellar missions.

Major achievements of ISRO

early milestones

satellite launch

  • 1982: Launch of INSAT-1A, the first satellite of India’s national satellite system.
  • 1991: IRS-1B is deployed to enhance remote sensing capabilities.
  • 1994: IRS-P2 is successfully launched using the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).
  • 2001: GSLV (Geostationary Satellite Launch Vehicle) launched to enable heavier payload launches.

moon landing mission

Mars exploration

  • 2013: The successful launch of the Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan) makes India the first country to make a first attempt to reach Mars and the fourth space agency in the world to achieve this goal. The mission entered Mars orbit on September 24, 2014.

Navigation and communication

recent results

    • Chandrayaan-3 was successfully launched and soft landed on the lunar south pole on August 23, 2023.
    • India’s first solar observatory, Aditya-L1, was launched on September 2, 2023.
    • A successful test flight was conducted in October 2023 for the upcoming Gaganyan manned space program.

ISRO has made tremendous progress in space exploration and technology, especially with the successful launch of Chandrayaan-3, Aditya-L1 and Gaganyaan in 2023 (currently in preparation).

Related stories

Chandrayaan 3

Chandrayaan-3 was launched on July 14, 2023, and made history by soft landing on the South Pole of the Moon on August 23, 2023. The mission made India the first country to achieve a soft landing in the region and the fourth country in the world to achieve a soft landing on the moon. One of the goals is to demonstrate the ability to safely land on the lunar surface and deploy a lunar rover for exploration. Notably, it conducted experiments that demonstrated the presence of sulfur and obtained a temperature-depth profile of the lunar surface.

Aditya-L1

Just a few weeks after the launch of Chandrayaan-3, ISRO launched Aditya-L1 on September 2, 2023. It is India’s first space-based solar observatory designed to study the sun’s outer atmosphere, specifically the corona. It is placed at the Lagrangian point L1 to maintain continuous observations of the Sun without interference from the Earth. The main goal of Aditya-L1 is to better understand solar phenomena and their impact on space weather.

Gaganyan

The Gaganyan mission is India’s ambitious manned space program that aims to send Indian astronauts into space. The first test flight of Gaganyaan TV-D1 was completed in October 2023. This mission is critical as it prepares for future manned missions, with subsequent unmanned and manned flights planned for 2024 and beyond. If successful, India will become the fourth country to independently send humans into space.

ISRO’s success lies in its growing capabilities in space exploration and technology. The successful completion of Chandrayaan-3 and Aditya-L1 has enhanced India’s world standing in the field of space research. It paves the way for future missions such as the ‘Gaganyaan’ mission to further advance human presence in space. It reflects ISRO’s commitment to advancing scientific knowledge and technological innovation in the field of space exploration.

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