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

ISRO, the Indian Space Research Organisation, has achieved numerous milestones since its establishment in 1969. Read more to get a comprehensive overview of its significant achievements across various domains, from satellite launches to interplanetary missions.

Key Achievements of ISRO

Early Milestones

• 1975: Launched its first satellite, Aryabhata, marking India's entry into space exploration.
• 1980: Successfully launched the SLV-3, making India the seventh country to achieve orbital launches.
  
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Satellite Launches

• 1982: Launched INSAT-1A, the first satellite in the Indian National Satellite System.
• 1991: Deployed IRS-1B, enhancing remote sensing capabilities.
• 1994: The successful launch of IRS-P2 using the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).
• 2001: Introduction of the GSLV (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle), enabling heavier payload launches.

Lunar Missions

• 2008: Successfully launched Chandrayaan-1, India's first lunar mission. It discovered water molecules in the Moon.
• 2019: Launched Chandrayaan-2, to land near the southern pole of the Moon; however, the lander lost contact during descent.Also Read | The Last Supermoon of 2024: Watch the Beaver Moon Lighting Up the Evening Sky!

Mars Exploration

• 2013: Successfully launched the Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan), making India the first country to reach Mars on its maiden attempt and the fourth space agency globally to do so. The mission entered Mars orbit on September 24, 2014.

Navigation and Communication

• Developed the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), enhancing regional positioning capabilities.
• Launched multiple communication satellites under the INSAT series to improve telecommunications and broadcasting services.
  
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Recent Achievements

• 2023:

• Successfully launched Chandrayaan-3, achieving a soft landing on the Moon's south pole on August 23, 2023.
• Launched Aditya-L1, India's first solar observatory mission on September 2, 2023.
• Conducted a successful test flight for the upcoming Gaganyaan human spaceflight program in October 2023.

ISRO has made great progress in space exploration and technology, particularly marked by its success in 2023 with the successful Chandrayaan-3, Aditya-L1, and Gaganyaan, which are currently in preparation.

Chandrayaan-3

Chandrayaan-3, launched on July 14, 2023, achieved history when it soft-landed on the south pole of the Moon on August 23, 2023. The mission made India the first country to achieve a soft landing in that region and the fourth globally to land on the Moon. Among the objectives was the demonstration of the ability to safely land on the lunar surface and deploy a rover for exploration. Notably, it did experiments that proved the existence of sulphur and obtained a temperature-depth profile of the lunar surface.

Aditya-L1

Just weeks after Chandrayaan-3, ISRO launched Aditya-L1 on September 2, 2023. This is India's first space-based solar observatory designed to study the outer atmosphere of the Sun, specifically its corona. It has been placed at the Lagrange point L1 so that it maintains a continuous view of the Sun without any interference from Earth. The primary objective of Aditya-L1 is to gain an improved understanding of solar phenomena and their influence on space weather.

Gaganyaan

The Gaganyaan mission is India's ambitious human spaceflight program aimed at sending Indian astronauts into space. The first test flight, Gaganyaan TV-D1, was completed in October 2023. This mission is crucial as it prepares for future crewed missions, with plans for subsequent uncrewed and crewed flights scheduled for 2024 and beyond. If successful, India will become the fourth nation to independently send humans into space.

The successes of ISRO are its growing capabilities in space exploration and technology. The successful completion of Chandrayaan-3 and Aditya-L1 enhanced India's stature in the world in space research. It paves the way for future missions, such as Gaganyaan, which is further pushing the human presence in space. It reflects ISRO's commitment to advancing scientific knowledge and technological innovation in space exploration.

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