ISRO

 

                               ISRO

                 Indian Space Research Organisation

 

v About :

              The Indian Space Research Organization is the national space agency of India, headquartered in Bangalore. It operates under the Department of Space (DOS), which is directly under the supervision of the Prime Minister of India, while the Chairman of ISRO also serves as the executive of DOS. ISRO is India’s primary agency for carrying out tasks related to the development of space-based applications, space exploration, and related technologies.  It is one of six government space agencies in the world to have full launch capabilities, deploy cryogenic engines, launch extraterrestrial missions and operate a large fleet of artificial satellites. The current chairperson of ISRO is S.Somanath elected as 11th chairperson of ISRO.

   

 

                                                          

                                                    The Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR) was established by Jawaharlal Nehru under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) in 1962 at the insistence of scientist Vikram Sarabhai, recognized the need for space research. INCOSPAR evolved and became ISRO in 1969 within DAE. In 1972, the Government of India established a Space Commission and DOS, bringing ISRO under its control. The establishment of ISRO thus institutionalized space research activities in India. It has since been managed by DOS, which controls various other institutions in India in the fields of astronomy and space technology.

 

 

v  Journey of ISRO:

           Eminent scientist Dr. Vikram Sarabhai had a big role in this development. He understood the need of space research and was convinced of its role in the development of a nation. INCOSPAR established the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS) at Thumba near Thiruvananthapuram on the southern tip of India. TERLS is a spaceport used to launch rockets.INCOSPAR became ISRO in 1969.

The Department of Space was created in 1972 and ISRO became a part of it and remains so till date. The Department of Space reports directly to the Prime Minister of the country.

During 1975–76, the Satellite Instructional Television Experiment (SITE) was conducted. It has been called the ‘world’s greatest sociological experiment’. This was followed by the ‘Kheda Communications Project (KCP)’, which acted as a regional laboratory for need-based and local-specific program broadcasting in the state of Gujarat.During this phase, the first Indian spacecraft ‘Aryabhata’ was developed and was launched using a Soviet launcher.Another major milestone was the development of the first launch vehicle, SLV3, with a capability to place 40 kg in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), with its first successful flight in 1980.The 80s were the experimental phase, with the Bhaskara-I and II missions being pioneering steps in the remote sensing field, while the ‘Ariane Passenger Payload Experiment (APPLE)’ became the precursor to future communication satellite systems.

Antrix Corporation Limited (ACL) is a marketing arm of ISRO for the promotion and commercial exploitation of space products, technical consultancy services, and transfer of technologies developed by ISRO.



 

                                 ISRO built India’s first satellite, Aryabhata, which was launched by the Soviet Union on 19 April 1975. It was named after the mathematician Aryabhata. In 1980, Rohini became the first satellite to be placed in orbit by an Indian-made launch vehicle, SLV-3. ISRO subsequently developed two other rockets: the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) for launching satellites into polar orbits and the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) for placing satellites into geostationary orbits.

ISRO sent a lunar orbiter, Chandrayaan-1, on 22 October 2008 and a Mars orbiter, Mars Orbiter Mission, on 5 November 2013, which entered Mars orbit on 24 September 2014, making India the first nation to succeed on its first attempt to Mars, and ISRO the fourth space agency in the world as well as the first space agency in Asia to reach Mars orbit. On 18 June 2016, ISRO launched twenty satellites in a single-vehicle, and on 15 February 2017, ISRO launched one hundred and four satellites in a single rocket (PSLV-C37), a world record.

Beliefs of ISRO:

 

‘ISRO’s designs have always been a matter of talk and are compared to Space X most of the times. But the thing that makes ISRO different from Space X is being Super reliable and very much cost-effective.’

ISRO believes in Brilliant engineering solutions rather than focusing on money and budget issues.

ISRO’s Mangalyaan mission was the only successful Mars mission on the first try. For that, ISRO had to perform 6 orbit raising maneuvers over 3 weeks before heading to mars because the SLV was not like Falcon to reach directly to Mars.

As per ISRO’s Director, “ISRO solves problems with engineering solutions.”

ISRO did not have the fundings that NASA had, it did not have the start-up mind and institution that Space X had, but none of this stopped ISRO from doing something extraordinary and the journey continues with the launch of Chandrayaan II.




Prof Satish Dhawan and the man who heralded a new age of ISRO and Indian space exploration - APJ Kalam seen in this picture with Indira Gandhi.

 





 

This is how India's First Rocket was transported in 1963

 



 

 India's First Communication Satellite APPLE was launched in 1991, yes it was transported on a bullock cart.

 

 

v ISRO’s Milestones :

  •  The first Indian-made sounding rocket was the RH-75 (Rohini-75). It was launched in 1967 from TERLS. Its weight was only 32 kg. The Rohini series of sounding rockets were developed by ISRO for atmospheric and meteorological studies.
  • ISRO built its first satellite in 1975 and named it Aryabhata. It was started by the Soviet Union.
  • The first Indian-made launch vehicle was SLV-3 and it was used to launch the Rohini satellite in 1980.
  • ISRO launched its first INSAT satellite in 1982. It was a communication satellite. It was named INSAT-1A, which failed in orbit. The next communication satellite INSAT-1B was launched in 1983.
  • Established in 1983 with the commissioning of INSAT-1B, the Indian National Satellite (INSAT) system is one of the largest domestic communication satellite systems in the Asia-Pacific region, with nine operational communication satellites placed in geostationary orbit. The details regarding INSAT-1B are available on the linked page. INSAT systems provide services for telecommunications, television broadcasting, satellite news collection, social applications, weather forecasting, disaster warning and search and rescue operations.
  • ISRO also launched the first IRS (Remote Sensing Satellite) in 1988.
  • ISRO has developed three types of launch vehicles (or rockets), namely PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle), GSLV (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle) and Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III (GSLV
  • Mark III or LVM). More details about GSLV Mk III are available on the link given here.
  • ISRO launched its first lunar mission Chandrayaan I in 2008.
  • It also launched the Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) or Mangalyaan in 2014. With this, India became the first country to successfully put a satellite into Mars orbit in its first attempt and became the fourth space agency and the first Asian space agency. to do this. Read details about Mangalyaan mission here.
  • ISRO has launched several small satellites mainly for experimental purposes like INS-1C, Aryabhata, Apple.
  • Rohini Technology Payload, Youthsat etc. This experiment includes remote sensing, atmospheric studies, payload development, orbit control, recovery technology and more.
  • Scramjet (Supersonic Combustion Ramjet) Engine – In August 2016, ISRO successfully test-fired the scramjet (supersonic combustion ramjet) engine. It uses hydrogen as fuel and oxygen from the atmospheric air as oxidizer.
  • ISRO’s Advanced Technology Vehicle (ATV), an advanced-sounding rocket, was a solid rocket booster used for testing scramjet engines in supersonic conditions. The test was the first short duration experimental test of ISRO’s scramjet engine with a hypersonic flight at Mach 6. The new propulsion system will complement ISRO’s reusable launch vehicle with a longer flight life. Read in detail about ISRO’s Advanced Technology Vehicle on the given link.
  • In 2017, ISRO created another world record by launching 104 satellites in a single rocket. It launched its heaviest rocket ever, the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle-Mark III, and placed GSAT 19 into orbit.
  • India’s manned mission to space, also called Gaganyaan, is part of the government’s ambition to make India a global low-cost provider of services in space. The launch vehicle for this mission will carry heavy payloads into space. GSLV Mk-III with cryogenic engine is being developed for this purpose. ISRO has already test-fired GSLV Mk-III with Experimental Crew Module (Re-entry and Recovery Technology) and Crew Escape System (CES).


v Facilities developed by ISRO for Space Research :

  •  Vikram Sarabhai Space Center (VSSC), Thiruvananthapuram – Space research activities were initiated in India during the 1960s under Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, the founder of the Indian space program.
  • Liquid Propulsion Systems Center (LPSC), Thiruvananthapuram
  • Satish Dhawan Space Center (SDSC-SHAR), Sriharikota
  • Space Application Center (SAC), Ahmedabad
  • National Remote Sensing Center (NRSC), Hyderabad

 

 



 

                       India's Mars mission

 



The PSLV-37 that carried 104 satellites in orbit.

 

Goals and objectives:

 Vikram Sarabhai said in 1969:

There are some who question the relevance of space activities in a developing nation. To us, there is no ambiguity of purpose. We do not have the fantasy of competing with the economically advanced nations in the exploration of the Moon or the planets or manned space-flight. But we are convinced that if we are to play a meaningful role nationally, and in the community of nations, we must be second to none in the application of advanced technologies to the real problems of man and society, which we find in our country. And we should note that the application of sophisticated technologies and methods of analysis to our problems is not to be confused with embarking on grandiose schemes, whose primary impact is for show rather than for progress measured in hard economic and social terms.

The former president of India Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam said:

Very many individuals with myopic vision questioned the relevance of space activities in a newly independent nation which was finding it difficult to feed its population. But neither Prime Minister Nehru nor Prof. Sarabhai had any ambiguity of purpose. Their vision was very clear: if Indians were to play a meaningful role in the community of nations, they must be second to none in the application of advanced technologies to their real-life problems. They had no intention of using it merely as a means of displaying our might.

 

 

 

 

 

# India's first satellite - Aryabhata in 1975



 

Isro has developed so many satellites, communication satellites for domestic and military purposes also contributed to country’s development. ISRO has seen dark past, many countries criticised India but India believed in its scientists and ISRO and it emerged as one of greatest space agency in world. ISRO achieved many milestones recently like mars mission, 104 satellites in orbit etc. ISRO started from launching rockets from coconut tree and reached such remarkable heights and success.

References:

https://pdfsource.org/isro-and-its-history/

https://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/15-pictures-that-show-just-why-isro-is-world-s-biggest-underdog-story-271719.html

https://www.aakash.ac.in/blog/isro-the-unstoppable-yaan/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Space_Research_Organisation


Blog Credit: Anuj Kanade (Team Historic Wednesday)


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