ISRO: A Detailed Study
Nov 2021|🟢Current|10 min read|134 entries
Key Takeaway
Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is the space research organization of India.
ISRO: A Detailed Study
Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is the space research organization of India. Currently, it ranks 6th among the largest space agencies in the world.
In this post, we are trying to cover everything there is to know about ISRO, including all the exam-relevant points.
For Kerala PSC, UPSC, and all other important competitive examinations, there are generally one or two GK questions about ISRO in the Science & Technology / Current Affairs section.
Basic Facts(8)
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Antariksh Bhavan, Bangalore |
| Vision | Harness space technology for national development while pursuing space science research and planetary exploration |
| First Chairman | Homi J. Bhabha |
| Father of ISRO | Dr. Vikram Sarabhai |
| First Chairman | Dr. Vikram Sarabhai |
| First Malayali Chairman | M.G.K. Menon |
| Longest Served Chairman | Dr. Satish Dhawan |
| CurrentISROChairman | S. Somanath |
Headquarters
Antariksh Bhavan, Bangalore
Vision
Harness space technology for national development while pursuing space science research and planetary exploration
First Chairman
Homi J. Bhabha
Father of ISRO
Dr. Vikram Sarabhai
First Chairman
Dr. Vikram Sarabhai
First Malayali Chairman
M.G.K. Menon
Longest Served Chairman
Dr. Satish Dhawan
CurrentISROChairman
S. Somanath
- Department of Space (DOS) & the Space Commission –1972(5)
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Indian astronauts are commonly known as | Vyomnauts |
| Marketing Firm of ISRO | Antrix Corporation Limited (ACL) |
| Established | 1992 |
| Commercial Arm of ISRO | NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) |
| Established | March 2019 |
Indian astronauts are commonly known as
Vyomnauts
Marketing Firm of ISRO
Antrix Corporation Limited (ACL)
Established
1992
Commercial Arm of ISRO
NewSpace India Limited (NSIL)
Established
March 2019
History(10)
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Established in | 1962 |
| Location | Thiruvananthapuram |
| Former name | Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS) |
| Mecca of Rocket Science in India | St. Mary's Magdalene Church (now Space Museum) |
| First Satellite Launched from TERLS | Nike Apache |
| Launched on | 1963 November 21 |
| First indigenously built rocket launched from TERLS | Rohini (RH 75) |
| Launched in | 1967 |
| Weight | 32 kg |
| Renamed as VSSC in | 1972 |
Established in
1962
Location
Thiruvananthapuram
Former name
Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS)
Mecca of Rocket Science in India
St. Mary's Magdalene Church (now Space Museum)
First Satellite Launched from TERLS
Nike Apache
Launched on
1963 November 21
First indigenously built rocket launched from TERLS
Rohini (RH 75)
Launched in
1967
Weight
32 kg
Renamed as VSSC in
1972
Sriharikota(5)
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Established in | 1971 |
| Epithet | Spaceport of India, Cape Kennedy of India |
| Former name | Sriharikota Range |
| Renamed as | Satish Dhawan Space Center (2002) |
| Lake near Satish Dhawan Space Center | Pulicat Lake |
Established in
1971
Epithet
Spaceport of India, Cape Kennedy of India
Former name
Sriharikota Range
Renamed as
Satish Dhawan Space Center (2002)
Lake near Satish Dhawan Space Center
Pulicat Lake
Rockets & Launch Vehicles
Launch vehicles or launchers or carrier rockets are rocket-propelled vehicles designed to transport a spacecraft or a satellite from the Earth's surface to outer space.
Did you know the first man to use rockets in India was Tipu Sultan?
The launchers are mainly classified into 3. They are
- •First Generation Launchers.
- •Operational Launchers.
They are mainly divided into 2 categories. They are(2)
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Sounding Rockets | One or two-stage propellant rockets, eg:Nike Apache, Rohini;mainly for research and meteorological purposes |
| Operational Sounding Rockets | SLV & ASLV come under this category |
Sounding Rockets
One or two-stage propellant rockets, eg:Nike Apache, Rohini;mainly for research and meteorological purposes
Operational Sounding Rockets
SLV & ASLV come under this category
SLV (Satellite Launch Vehicle)(104)
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Stages | 4 |
| Height | 22.7 mWeight– 17 Ton |
| Payload capability | 40 Kg |
| First indigenously built launching vehicle | SLV-3First experimental flight of SLV-3- 1979 August 10 |
| Status | Partially successful |
| First Indian satellite to be successfully placed in orbit by SLV-3 | Rohini (RS -1) |
| Launched on | 1980 July 18 |
| First Indian satellite to be launched successfully on an indigenously built launcher | Rohini |
| ASLV (Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle)Stages | 5 |
| Height | 23.5 mWeight– 40 Ton |
| Payload capability | 150 Kg |
| First Launch | 1987 March 24 |
| First Successful Launch | ASLV-D3.1992 May 20 |
| Epithets | The Workhorse of ISRO, The Forex earner |
| Stages | 5 |
| Height | 44 mWeight –40 Ton |
| Payload capability | 1500 Kg |
| Reach | 600-900 km.4 part system: first & third stage uses solid fuel, second & fourth stages uses liquid fuel. Strap-on motors are also used with PSLV to augment the thrust |
| Multiple Satellite Launch Capability.3 variants are deployedPSLV | CA (Core Alone)PSLV QLPSLV XL (Chandrayaan I & Mangalyaan)PSLV C21 – 100th space mission of ISRO |
| Launched on | 2012 September 9.21st successful PSLV flights in a row.PSLV C50is another variant that uses PSLV QL with 4 strap on boosters and will be used to launch RISAT & 9 small foreign satellites from Japan, Italy, Israel & USSo far, PSLV has launched50 Indian Satellites & 222 Foreign satellitesfor 20 countries worldwide |
| GSLV (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle)Stages | 3 |
| Height | 49.13 mWeight– 414.75 tonnesPayload capability- 2500 Kg |
| Reach | 36,000 km |
| Variants | GSLV Mk. I & GSLV Mk. II |
| Stages | 3 |
| Height | 43.43 mWeight– 640 tonnesPayload capability– 4000Kg |
| First Launch | 2014 December 18 |
| Designed to carry 4 ton class of satellites into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) or about 10 tons to Low Earth Orbit (LEO)Successfully Launched | GSAT-19 (GSLV-Mk III-D1)GSAT-29 (GSLV MkIII-D2)Chandrayaan-2 (GSLV MkIII-M1) |
| First Indian satellite | AryabhataLaunched on – 1975, April 19 |
| Launcher | InterCOSMOS |
| Second Indian Satellite | Bhaskara Sega-I |
| Launched on | 1979 June 7 |
| First Indian (indigenous) experimental Communication Satellite | APPLE (Ariane Passenger Payload Experiment) |
| Launched on | 1981 June 19 |
| First Meteorological Satellite launched by ISRO | Kalpana 1Former Name – METSAT |
| Launched on | 2002 September 12 |
| Launched from | Sriharikotta |
| Launch Vehicle | PSLV C4 |
| Renamed as Kalpana 1 in | A.B. Vajpayee (2003 February 5) |
| First Indian Remote Sensing Satellite | CARTOSAT–1 |
| Launched on | 2005 May 5 |
| Launched from | Sriharikotta |
| Launch Vehicle | PSLV- C6 |
| Uses | For preparing maps |
| First Satellite built by an Indian University | ANUSAT (Anna University)Launched on – 2009 April 20 |
| Launched from | Sriharikotta |
| Launch Vehicle | PSLV-C12 |
| First Nano Satellite | Jugnu |
| Launched on | 2011 October 12 |
| Launched from | Sriharikotta |
| Launch Vehicle | PSLV-CA C18 |
| Launched by | IIT Kanpur |
| Under the guidance of | Dr. N. S. Vyas |
| Uses | For providing data for disaster management and agriculture |
| First Indigenously built Radar Imaging Satellite | RISAT 1Launched on – 2012 April 26 |
| Launched from | Sriharikotta |
| Launch Vehicle | PSLV C19 |
| First dedicated multi-wavelength space observatory of India | ASTROSAT |
| Indigenously built Heaviest Satellite of India | GSAT 11 (5854 Kg) |
| Launched on | 2018 December 5 |
| Launched from | Kourou, French Guiana |
| Heaviest satellite launched from India | GSAT 29Launched on – 2018 November 14 |
| Launched from | Sriharikotta |
| Smallest and Lightest Satellite in the World | KalamSAT (2019) |
| Weight | 64gms |
| Designed by | Rifath Sharook;Took part in the global competition "Cubes in Space," for children aged 11 – 18, and his design was selected by NASA |
| Sponserd by | SpaceKidz (Chennai) |
| Launched by | NASA |
| Second Satellite Launch Port (Planned) | Thoothukudi (Tamil Nadu) |
| Space MissionsChandrayaan I (2008)First Lunar Mission of India.4th nation in the world to send a lunar mission.ISRO Chairman | G. Madhavan Nair |
| Project Director | M. Annadurai |
| Weight | 1380 Kg |
| Total Cost | ₹ 386 cr |
| Launched on | 2008 October 22 |
| Launched from | Sriharikotta |
| Launch Vehicle | PSLV C11 |
| Chandrayaan II (2019)Second Lunar Mission of India.ISRO Chairman | K. Sivan |
| Project Director | Muthayya Vanitha |
| Mission Director | Ritu Karidhal |
| Weight | 3,877 kg |
| Total Cost | ₹ 978 cr |
| Launched on | 2019 July 22 |
| Launched from | Satish Dhawan Space Centre, SriharikotaLander –Vikram |
| Rover | Pragyan |
| Launch Vehicle | GSLV Mk III-M1 |
| MangalyaanFirst Asian nation to reach Mars | India |
| Launched on | 2013 November 5 |
| Launched from | Satish Dhawan Space Centre, SriharikotaLaunch Vehicle – PSLV-C25.In association with Fiji |
| Reached Mars Orbit on | 2014 September 24 |
| With the help of Russia & France.No. of people being sent to space | 3. (4 are undergoing training) |
| Launch Vehicle | GSLV Mk III-M1 |
| Estimated Cost | ₹ 10,000 cr |
| Project Director | R. Hutton |
| Malayali scientist associated with Gaganyaan | V.R. Lalithambika |
| Humanoid Robot developed for Gaganyaa | Vyommitra |
| Satish Dhawan Space Centre, SriharikotaSpace Applications Centre, AhmedabadVikram Sarabhai Space Centre, ThiruvananthapuramIndian Institute of Space Science & Technology, Valiyamala, Thiruvananthapuram (2007)Inaugurated by | G. Madhavan Nair |
| NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), Bengaluru (2019)* Founder | Dr. Vikram Sarabhai.📝SideNotes:August 12 –National Remote Sensing Day (Birthday of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai) |
| Father of Space Science in the world | Konstantin Eduardovich Tsiolkovsky (Russia) |
| Father of the Indian Space Programme | Dr. Vikram Sarabhai |
| Missile Man of India | Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam |
| Missile Woman of India | Dr. Tesy Thomas |
| Rocket Man of India | Dr. K. Sivan |
| Rocket Woman of India | Ritu Karidhal |
| First female Project Director of an interplanetary mission in India | Muthayya Vanitha (Chandrayaan-2) |
Stages
4
Height
22.7 mWeight– 17 Ton
Payload capability
40 Kg
First indigenously built launching vehicle
SLV-3First experimental flight of SLV-3- 1979 August 10
Status
Partially successful
First Indian satellite to be successfully placed in orbit by SLV-3
Rohini (RS -1)
Launched on
1980 July 18
First Indian satellite to be launched successfully on an indigenously built launcher
Rohini
ASLV (Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle)Stages
5
Height
23.5 mWeight– 40 Ton
Payload capability
150 Kg
First Launch
1987 March 24
First Successful Launch
ASLV-D3.1992 May 20
Epithets
The Workhorse of ISRO, The Forex earner
Stages
5
Height
44 mWeight –40 Ton
Payload capability
1500 Kg
Reach
600-900 km.4 part system: first & third stage uses solid fuel, second & fourth stages uses liquid fuel. Strap-on motors are also used with PSLV to augment the thrust
Multiple Satellite Launch Capability.3 variants are deployedPSLV
CA (Core Alone)PSLV QLPSLV XL (Chandrayaan I & Mangalyaan)PSLV C21 – 100th space mission of ISRO
Launched on
2012 September 9.21st successful PSLV flights in a row.PSLV C50is another variant that uses PSLV QL with 4 strap on boosters and will be used to launch RISAT & 9 small foreign satellites from Japan, Italy, Israel & USSo far, PSLV has launched50 Indian Satellites & 222 Foreign satellitesfor 20 countries worldwide
GSLV (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle)Stages
3
Height
49.13 mWeight– 414.75 tonnesPayload capability- 2500 Kg
Reach
36,000 km
Variants
GSLV Mk. I & GSLV Mk. II
Stages
3
Height
43.43 mWeight– 640 tonnesPayload capability– 4000Kg
First Launch
2014 December 18
Designed to carry 4 ton class of satellites into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) or about 10 tons to Low Earth Orbit (LEO)Successfully Launched
GSAT-19 (GSLV-Mk III-D1)GSAT-29 (GSLV MkIII-D2)Chandrayaan-2 (GSLV MkIII-M1)
First Indian satellite
AryabhataLaunched on – 1975, April 19
Launcher
InterCOSMOS
Second Indian Satellite
Bhaskara Sega-I
Launched on
1979 June 7
First Indian (indigenous) experimental Communication Satellite
APPLE (Ariane Passenger Payload Experiment)
Launched on
1981 June 19
First Meteorological Satellite launched by ISRO
Kalpana 1Former Name – METSAT
Launched on
2002 September 12
Launched from
Sriharikotta
Launch Vehicle
PSLV C4
Renamed as Kalpana 1 in
A.B. Vajpayee (2003 February 5)
First Indian Remote Sensing Satellite
CARTOSAT–1
Launched on
2005 May 5
Launched from
Sriharikotta
Launch Vehicle
PSLV- C6
Uses
For preparing maps
First Satellite built by an Indian University
ANUSAT (Anna University)Launched on – 2009 April 20
Launched from
Sriharikotta
Launch Vehicle
PSLV-C12
First Nano Satellite
Jugnu
Launched on
2011 October 12
Launched from
Sriharikotta
Launch Vehicle
PSLV-CA C18
Launched by
IIT Kanpur
Under the guidance of
Dr. N. S. Vyas
Uses
For providing data for disaster management and agriculture
First Indigenously built Radar Imaging Satellite
RISAT 1Launched on – 2012 April 26
Launched from
Sriharikotta
Launch Vehicle
PSLV C19
First dedicated multi-wavelength space observatory of India
ASTROSAT
Indigenously built Heaviest Satellite of India
GSAT 11 (5854 Kg)
Launched on
2018 December 5
Launched from
Kourou, French Guiana
Heaviest satellite launched from India
GSAT 29Launched on – 2018 November 14
Launched from
Sriharikotta
Smallest and Lightest Satellite in the World
KalamSAT (2019)
Weight
64gms
Designed by
Rifath Sharook;Took part in the global competition "Cubes in Space," for children aged 11 – 18, and his design was selected by NASA
Sponserd by
SpaceKidz (Chennai)
Launched by
NASA
Second Satellite Launch Port (Planned)
Thoothukudi (Tamil Nadu)
Space MissionsChandrayaan I (2008)First Lunar Mission of India.4th nation in the world to send a lunar mission.ISRO Chairman
G. Madhavan Nair
Project Director
M. Annadurai
Weight
1380 Kg
Total Cost
₹ 386 cr
Launched on
2008 October 22
Launched from
Sriharikotta
Launch Vehicle
PSLV C11
Chandrayaan II (2019)Second Lunar Mission of India.ISRO Chairman
K. Sivan
Project Director
Muthayya Vanitha
Mission Director
Ritu Karidhal
Weight
3,877 kg
Total Cost
₹ 978 cr
Launched on
2019 July 22
Launched from
Satish Dhawan Space Centre, SriharikotaLander –Vikram
Rover
Pragyan
Launch Vehicle
GSLV Mk III-M1
MangalyaanFirst Asian nation to reach Mars
India
Launched on
2013 November 5
Launched from
Satish Dhawan Space Centre, SriharikotaLaunch Vehicle – PSLV-C25.In association with Fiji
Reached Mars Orbit on
2014 September 24
With the help of Russia & France.No. of people being sent to space
3. (4 are undergoing training)
Launch Vehicle
GSLV Mk III-M1
Estimated Cost
₹ 10,000 cr
Project Director
R. Hutton
Malayali scientist associated with Gaganyaan
V.R. Lalithambika
Humanoid Robot developed for Gaganyaa
Vyommitra
Satish Dhawan Space Centre, SriharikotaSpace Applications Centre, AhmedabadVikram Sarabhai Space Centre, ThiruvananthapuramIndian Institute of Space Science & Technology, Valiyamala, Thiruvananthapuram (2007)Inaugurated by
G. Madhavan Nair
NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), Bengaluru (2019)* Founder
Dr. Vikram Sarabhai.📝SideNotes:August 12 –National Remote Sensing Day (Birthday of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai)
Father of Space Science in the world
Konstantin Eduardovich Tsiolkovsky (Russia)
Father of the Indian Space Programme
Dr. Vikram Sarabhai
Missile Man of India
Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
Missile Woman of India
Dr. Tesy Thomas
Rocket Man of India
Dr. K. Sivan
Rocket Woman of India
Ritu Karidhal
First female Project Director of an interplanetary mission in India
Muthayya Vanitha (Chandrayaan-2)
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