The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is India’s premier space agency, established in 1969 under the visionary leadership of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai. Headquartered in Bengaluru, ISRO operates under the Department of Space, reporting directly to the Prime Minister of India. Initially formed as the Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR) in 1962, it was renamed in 1969 and later integrated into the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE). Over the decades, ISRO has evolved into a globally recognized leader in space exploration, satellite technology, and space research, with the mission of leveraging space capabilities for the socio-economic development of India.
ISRO made its first significant milestone in 1975 with the launch of Aryabhata, India’s first satellite, in collaboration with the Soviet Union’s space agency. Since then, ISRO has launched a series of successful satellites for various purposes including communications, weather forecasting, Earth observation, and navigation, strengthening India’s position in space technology. ISRO has also collaborated with leading space agencies like NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and Roscosmos, as well as domestic institutions such as the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research.
The Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan), launched in 2013, placed India among the select group of countries to reach Mars, making India the first country to do so on its maiden attempt. The mission carried out at a fraction of the cost of similar programs by other space agencies, showcased ISRO’s engineering and scientific ingenuity. Similarly, the Chandrayaan missions to the Moon have provided invaluable data on the lunar surface, contributing significantly to global lunar research.
ISRO now aims to send humans to space with its Gaganyaan mission.
ISRO is very famous organisation of India. ISRO their own TV channel can help crores of our Indian citizen latest news regarding science and technologies in India.
Department of Space and Science Channel?
I support the opening of a science channel, but i think there are other agencies such the Ministry of Science and Technology (MST) that are better suited for that mandate. It is inter disciplinay in science and also has agencies under it that are capable of doing this low-science commercial activity. MST can and possible hould partner with suitable existing channels to do this. Why DOS getting into this ‘soft side of business.
Space has many challenges
Instead DOS should do several of other innovative things, for instance, .promoting in partnership with private industry a much bigger base for satellite fabrication. India can easily become the leading hub in the world in this area This growth is capped by keeping the industry with ISRO while outsourcing parts from broader industry. No, the country can have several ISROs is in the private sector, with DOS ISRO BEING A FACILITATOR as well as a monitor of national security concerns.