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Indian space programme driven by vision of Dr Vikram Sarabhai considered as the father of Indian Space Programme.

"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. "

• Government of India set up Space Commission and Department of Space (DOS) in June 1972. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) under DOS executes Space programme through its establishments located in different places in India.
• Main objective of space programme includes development of satellites, launch vehicles, Sounding Rockets and associated ground systems.
• Crossed several major milestones.
• Experimental phase included Satellite Instructional Television Experiment (SITE), Satellite Telcommunication Experiment (STEP), remote sensing application projects, satellites like Aryabhata, Bhaskara, Rohini and APPLE and launch vehicles, SLV-3 and ASLV.
• Present operational space systems include Indian National Satellite (INSAT) for tele-communication, television broadcasting, meteorology and disaster warning and Indian Remote Sensing Satellite (IRS) for resources monitoring and management.
• Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) used for launching IRS Satellites and Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV), now under development, intended for launching INSAT class of satellites.
• Space Science activities include SROSS and IRS-P3 satellites, participation in international science campaigns and ground systems like MST Radar.
• ISRO's co-operative arrangements cover several countries and space agencies.
• ISRO provides training in space field to personnel from other countries.
• ISRO's hardware and services available commercially through Antrix Corporation.



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ISRO Centres
 
• Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC)
• ISRO Satellite Centre (ISAC)
• SHAR Centre
• Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC)
• Space Applications Centre (SAC)
• Development and Educational Communication Unit (DECU)
• ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC)
• INSAT Master Control Facility (MCF)
• ISRO Inertial Systems Unit (IISU)
• National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA)
• Regional Remote Sensing Service Centres (RRSSC)
• Physical Research Laboratory (PRL)
• National Mesosphere/Stratosphere Troposphere Radar Facility (NMRF) 

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Indian National Satellite System (INSAT)

Established in 1983 with commissioning of INSAT-1B.

A joint venture of Department of Space (DOS), Department of Telecommunications, India Meteorological Department, All India Radio and Doordarshan. DOS responsible for establishment and operation of INSAT space segment.

INSAT space segment at present consists of INSAT-1D, last of the INSAT-1 series launched in 1990 and three ISRO-built satellites, INSAT-2A launched in July 1992, INSAT-2B launched in July 1993 and INSAT-2C launched on December 7, 1995.

          INSAT-2DT acquired from ARABSAT.

INSAT-2E launched on April 3,1999.

ISRO has leased eleven 36 MHz equivalent units of C-band capacity on board INSAT-2E to INTELSAT organisation

INSAT-3B launched on March 22nd 2000.

INSAT-3A/INSAT-3C planned for launch in 2000-2001.

Commissioned with the launch of IRS-1A in March 1988

IRS system under National Natural Resources Management System (NNRMS) coordinated at national level by the Planning Committee of NNRMS (PC-NNRMS).

At present has four satellites, IRS-1B launched in August 1991, IRS-1C launched in December 1995 and IRS-1D launched on September 29,1997.

IRS-P3 and IRS-1D launched by India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).

IRS-P4 with an Ocean Colour Monitor (OCM) and a Multi-frequency Scanning Microwave Radiometer (MSMR) launched by PSLV-C2.

IRS-P5 with a Very High Resolution Panchromatic camera for cartographic applications planned for launch on board PSLV during 2001-2002.

IRS-P6 for agricultural applications planned for launch during 2001-2002.

Data from IRS satellites received and processed by the National Remote Sensing Agency, Hyderabad.

SI a US Company also receives and markets IRS data worldwide under a commercial contract with Antrix Corporation of the Department of Space.

113 kg SROSS-C2 satellite, launched by ASLV-D4 on May 4, 1994 carries two scientific payloads, a Gamma-Ray Burst (GRB) experiment and a Retarding Potential Analyser (RPA). A similar satellite, SROSS-C had been launched by ASLV-D3 in May 1992. SROSS-C2 is in service.

Developmental flights completed with successful third developmental launch in March 1996.

Now available for launching 1,000-1,200 kg class of remote sensing satellites into polar sun-synchronous orbit. IRS-1D launched on September 29,1997.

IRS-P4(OCEANSAT) and two small satellites (KITSAT of Korea and TUBSAT of Germany) launched on on May 26,1999 by PSLV-C2.

For launching 2,000 kg class of communication satellites into geosynchronous transfer orbit.

A three stage vehicle; first stage is a 129 tonne solid propellant core motor with four liquid propellant strap-ons with 40 tonne propellant each, second stage is a liquid propulsion system with 37.5 tonne propellant and a cryogenic upper stage with 12 tonne of liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen.

First developmental flight completed with successful launch on April 18, 2001.


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• ISRO had the benefit of International cooperation since inception.

 
• Establishment of TERLS, conduct of SITE & STEP, launches of Aryabhata, Bhaskara, APPLE, IRS-IA and IRS-IB/ satellites manned space mission, etc involved international cooperation.

 
• ISRO operates LUT/MCC under international COSPAS/SARSAT Programme for Search and Rescue.

 
• MOU now exists with Canada, China, European Space Agency, France, Germany, Hungary, Indonesia, Mauritius, Norway, Russia, Sweden, Syria, The Netherlands and Ukraine.

 
• India has established a Center for Space Science and Technology Education in Asia and the Pacific (CSSTE-AP) that is sponsored by United Nations.

 

 

India Hosted the Second UN-ESCAP Ministerial Conference on Space Applications for Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific in November 1999.


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INSAT Utilisation
• Telecommunication
• Television
• Search and Rescue
• Meteorology
• Radio Networking
IRS Data Applications

Data from Indian Remote Sensing Satellite is used for various applications of resources survey and management under the National Natural Resources Management System (NNRMS).

• Preharvest crop acreage and production estimation of major crops.
• Drought monitoring and assessment based on vegetation condition.
• Flood risk zone mapping and flood damage assessment.
• Hydro-geomorphological maps for locating underground water resources for drilling well.
• Irrigation command area status monitoring
• Snow-melt run-off estimates for planning water use in down stream projects
• Land use and land cover mapping
• Urban planning
• Forest survey
• Wetland mapping
• Environmental impact analysis
• Mineral Prospecting
• Coastal studies

Integrated Mission for Sustainable Development for generating locale-specific prescriptions for integrated land and water resources development in 174 districts.