Overview

• Over the past 56 years, ISRO has evolved from a nascent program under Dr. Vikram Sarabhai into a globally respected agency known for cost-effective science and indigenous launch capabilities.
• The Mars Orbiter Mission in 2014 made India the first country to reach Mars on its maiden attempt, showcasing ISRO’s frugal innovation.
• Recent lunar and solar efforts, including Chandrayaan-3’s south-pole landing in August 2023 and the Aditya-L1 observatory at L1, continue to yield critical data on lunar water and solar phenomena.
• Record commercial launches such as PSLV-C37’s 104-satellite deployment have cemented ISRO’s reputation as a competitive player in the global launch market.
• Looking ahead, the agency is preparing for its first crewed Gaganyaan flight and planning a modular national space station to cement its shift from milestone missions to sustained operations.