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. It has crossed several major milestones.
ISRO’s 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), 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.
Chandrayaan-1, India’s first spacecraft mission beyond Earth’s
orbit, aims to further expand our knowledge about Earth’s only natural
satellite the moon.
ISRO Centres
The Department of Space (DOS) has, over the years, built up a
strong research and development and technology base with necessary
infrastructure and manpower for implementing the space programme.
The various space centres of DOS are as follows:● Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC)
● ISRO Satellite Centre (ISAC)
● Satish Dhawan Space Centre, SHAR
● 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 Centre (NRSC)
● Regional Remote Sensing Service Centres (RRSSC)
● Physical Research Laboratory (PRL)
● National Atmospheric Research Laboratory (NARL)
● North Eastern Space Applications Centre (NESAC)
● Antrix Corporation Limited
● Semi-Conductor Laboratory (SCL)
● Indian nstitute of Space Science & Technology (IIST)
● National Natural Research Management Systems (NNRMS)