Discuss the objectives and rationale behind establishment of Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). Describe important milestones of the Indian Space Programme. (HPAS Mains Question Paper 2022 – GS 3, Q.27)
The Indian Space Research Organization, headquartered in Bangalore, is India’s national space agency. It is overseen directly by the Prime Minister of India through the Department of Space (DOS), and the Chairman of ISRO also serves as the executive of DOS. ISRO is India’s primary agency for tasks related to space-based applications, space exploration, and technology development. It is one of only six government space agencies in the world with full launch capabilities, cryogenic engine deployment, extraterrestrial mission launches, and large fleets of artificial satellites.
Jawaharlal Nehru established the Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR) under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) in 1962, at the urging of scientist Vikram Sarabhai, to address the need for space research. INCOSPAR grew and became ISRO within DAE in 1969. The Indian government established a Space Commission and DOS in 1972, bringing ISRO under its purview. The establishment of ISRO thus institutionalised India’s space research activities. Since then, it has been managed by DOS, which also governs several other astronomy and space technology institutions in India.
Mission
1. Design and development of launch vehicles and related technologies for providing access to space.
2. Design and development of satellites and related technologies for earth observation, communication, navigation, meteorology and space science.
3. Communication programme for meeting telecommunication, television broadcasting and developmental applications.
4. Satellite-based Remote Sensing programme for management of natural resources and monitoring of the environment using space-based imagery.
5. based navigation system
6. Space-based Applications for Societal Development.
7. Research and Development in space science and planetary exploration.
8. Promote and authorise private firms to play a critical role in the global Space market
Objectives:
1. Operational flights of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle ( PSLV), Geo-synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) and Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV)
2. Design and development of New Space Transportation solutions
3. Design, Development and Realisation of Communication Satellites
4. Design, Development and Realisation of Earth Observation Satellites.
5. Development of Navigation Satellite Systems
6. Development of satellites for Space Science and Planetary Exploration
7. Earth Observation Applications
8. Space-based Systems for Societal Applications
9. Advanced Technologies and newer initiatives
10. Training, Capacity Building and Education
11. Promotion of Space technology
12. Infrastructure / Facility Development for space research
13. International Cooperation
14. Commercial utilisation of the products and services emanating from the Indian space programme
15. Promotion and authorisation of Indian private firms in the Space sector
Since its inception in 1962, the Indian Space Programme has achieved numerous milestones. The following are some of the most significant landmarks:
The successful launch of India’s first satellite, Aryabhata, into space in 1975 marked the beginning of the Indian Space Programme.
Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV-3): In 1983, India successfully launched its first Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV-3) capable of orbiting satellites.
Rohini Satellite: Using the SLV-3 rocket, India successfully launched its first indigenous satellite, Rohini, in 1983.
Satellite Launch Vehicles:
- Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV): The PSLV is a versatile rocket capable of launching a variety of satellites into various orbits. It has launched Indian remote sensing satellites as well as foreign satellites from the United States, France, and Canada.
- Geo-synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) is designed to launch satellites into geostationary orbits for communication and broadcasting. It has launched a number of Indian communication satellites as well as foreign satellites.
- GSLV Mk III: A more powerful version of the GSLV, the GSLV Mk III is capable of launching heavier payloads into space. It was used to launch India’s Chandrayaan-2 mission to the moon and is also being developed for future crewed missions.
- Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV): ISRO is developing a new launch vehicle to launch small satellites into space. It is intended to provide a low-cost and dependable launch option for small satellites.
- Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV): The RLV is a new ISRO project that aims to create a reusable space launch system. The RLV is expected to reduce the cost of launching satellites into space significantly.
Satellite Navigation:
- India successfully launched its first satellite for its satellite navigation system, IRNSS, in 2013, which was later renamed NAVIC.
- The NAVIgation with Indian Constellation (NAVIC) system is a satellite-based navigation system developed by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). It is India’s navigation system, similar to the United States’ Global Positioning System (GPS).
- The NAVIC system is made up of seven satellites, four of which are in geostationary orbit and three of which are in inclined geosynchronous orbit. The constellation encompasses the entire Indian subcontinent as well as a radius of up to 1500 kilometres around it.
- The NAVIC system offers two services: Standard Positioning Service (SPS) and Restricted Service (RS) (RS). The SPS is accessible to all users, whereas the RS is only available to authorised users, such as the Indian military.
The NAVIC system offers a variety of advantages to users, including:
- Accurate positioning and timing: The NAVIC system provides precise real-time positioning and timing services that can be used for navigation, surveying, and mapping.
- Strategic advantages: India considers the NAVIC system to be a strategic asset because it provides the country with an independent navigation system, reducing its reliance on foreign navigation systems.
- Coverage in India and the surrounding region: The NAVIC system is designed to provide coverage in India and the surrounding region, making it especially useful for users in this area.
- The NAVIC system is expected to be less expensive than other global navigation systems, such as GPS.
Mars Orbiter Mission:
- The Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), also known as Mangalyaan, is a space mission launched in November 2013 by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The mission’s primary goal was to investigate Mars’ surface features, morphology, mineralogy, and atmosphere using scientific instruments aboard the spacecraft.
- The spacecraft was launched from India’s Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota in September 2014, becoming the first country to reach Mars on its first attempt.
- The Mars Colour Camera (MCC), Mars Exospheric Neutral Composition Analyzer (MENCA), Mars Thermal Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (TIS), Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN), and Lyman Alpha Photometer are among the five scientific instruments aboard the MOM spacecraft (LAP). These instruments provided valuable information about the Martian atmosphere, surface, and the presence of methane gas, which could indicate the presence of life on Mars.
Chandrayaan-1 and 2:
- The first Indian lunar mission, Chandrayaan-1, was launched on October 22, 2008. The primary goal of the mission was to create a three-dimensional map of the lunar surface as well as to determine the distribution of various elements and minerals on the moon’s surface. The spacecraft carried several scientific instruments, including the Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3), which, for the first time, detected water molecules on the moon’s surface. The mission lasted 312 days before losing contact with the spacecraft on August 29, 2009.
- On July 22, 2019, Chandrayaan-2, a more ambitious mission than its predecessor, was launched. The mission’s goal was to soft-land a rover on the moon’s surface, making India the fourth country to do so after the United States, Russia, and China. The lander, Vikram, however, failed to make a soft landing and crashed on the lunar surface. Nonetheless, the orbiter continues to circle the moon, gathering valuable data. A terrain mapping camera, a spectrometer, and a laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy instrument were among the scientific instruments carried by the mission.
- ISRO’s Chandrayaan-1 and Chandrayaan-2 missions were significant accomplishments that helped establish India’s capabilities in space exploration. The missions provided valuable data about the moon’s surface, mineralogy, and atmosphere, which helped us understand how the moon formed and evolved.