Information on ISRO

Indian Space Research Organisation

http://www.isro.gov.in/

India decided to go to space when Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR) was set up by the Government of India in 1962. With the visionary Dr Vikram Sarabhai at its helm, INCOSPAR set up the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS) in Thiruvananthapuram for upper atmospheric research.

Indian Space Research Organisation, formed in 1969, superseded the erstwhile INCOSPAR. Vikram Sarabhai, having identified the role and importance of space technology in a Nation's development, provided ISRO the necessary direction to function as an agent of development. ISRO then embarked on its mission to provide the Nation space based services and to develop the technologies to achieve the same independently.

Vision and Mission Statements

Our vision is to harness space technology for national development, while pursuing space science research and planetary exploration.

Mission

• Design and development of launch vehicles and related technologies for providing access to space.
• Design and development of satellites and related technologies for earth observation, communication, navigation, meteorology and space science.
• Indian National Satellite (INSAT) programme for meeting telecommunication, television broadcasting and developmental applications.
• Indian Remote Sensing Satellite (IRS) programme for management of natural resources and monitoring of environment using space based imagery.
• Space based Applications for Societal development and Disaster Management Support.
• Research and Development in space science and planetary exploration.

Objectives:

1. Operational flights of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)
2. Developmental flight of Geo-synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV- Mk II)
3. Development of heavy lift Geo-synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-Mk III)
4. Development of semi-cryogenic technology for future launch vehicles.
5. Design, Development and Realization of Communication Satellites
6. Design, Development and Realization of Earth Observation Satellites
7. Development of Navigation Satellite Systems
8. Development of Space Science and Planetary Exploration Satellite Systems
9. Earth Observation Applications
10. Space based systems for Societal Applications
11. Advanced Technologies and newer initiatives
12. Training, Capacity building and Education
13. Promotion of Space technology
14. Infrastructure, Facility Development & Mission Operations Support
15. International Cooperation

LAUNCHERS

MARS ORBITER MISSION

Marking India's first venture into the interplanetary space, MOM will explore and observe Mars surface features, morphology, mineralogy and the Martian atmosphere. Further, a specific search for methane in the Martian atmosphere will provide information about the possibility or the past existence of life on the planet.

The enormous distances involved in interplanetary missions present a demanding challenge; developing and mastering the technologies essential for these missions will open endless possibilities for space exploration. After leaving Earth, the Orbiter will have to endure the Interplanetary space for 300 days before Mars capture. Apart from deep space communications and navigation-guidance-control capabilities, the mission will require autonomy at the spacecraft end to handle contingencies.

Once India decided to go to Mars, ISRO had no time to lose as the nearest launch window was only a few months away and it could not afford to lose the chance, given the next launch would present itself after over 780 days, in 2016. Thus, mission planning, manufacturing the spacecraft and the launch vehicle and readying the support systems took place swiftly.

Images from MOM