Out of this World: India’s momentous space odysseys

India’s space mission is a lesson in how to conduct complex missions independently

Dec 26, 2025, 12:07 IST5 min

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India’s first satellite, the 360-kg Aryabhata was launched from Kapustin Yar, Soviet Union, using a Kosmos-3M launch vehicle on April 19, 1975. Named after the noted Indian astronomer, Aryabhata marked the beginning of India’s foray into space, providing valuable lessons in satellite design, fabrication, and operation

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Engineers toiled for a decade through the 1970s to emerge with the first Indian-built satellite launch vehicle SLV-3 in 1980, which successfully launched the Rohini satellite. This mission was a turning point, making India the sixth member of an exclusive club of space-faring nations. By 1983, India would launch the INSAT series of satellites in geostationary orbit that improved its telecommunication network, facilitating the rapid expansion of Doordarshan’s network by linking all regional stations and enabling broadcast from New Delhi to the rest of India. Photo by Robert Nickelsberg/Getty Images

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IAF’s Squadron leader Rakesh Sharma became the first Indian to travel to space, aboard the Soyuz T-11 on April 3, 1984, in a joint mission with the Soviet Interkosmos space programme. Spending a week at the Salyut 7 orbital station, Sharma responded to a query about how India looks from outer space, saying ‘Saare jahan se achcha’. Photo by Alexander Mokletsov/Sputnik

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First launched in 1993, the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) is India’s trusted workhorse rocket, a reliable and versatile launch vehicle equipped with liquid stages. Known for its cost-effectiveness and precision, the PSLV has successfully launched spacecraft like Chandrayaan-1, Mangalyaan and numerous satellites—for domestic and international clients—into polar orbits, making it a cornerstone of India’s space programme. On February 15, 2017, the PSLV set a world record by successfully deploying 104 satellites in a single mission. Photo by HO / ISRO / AFP

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The Indian Remote Sensing Satellite (IRS) formed a series of earth observation satellites, the first of which was launched in 1988. These satellites relayed educational content to remote villages, monitored weather conditions better to prepare for disasters, and brought telemedicine to regions with limited healthcare access, reflecting ISRO’s (Indian Space Research Organisation) endeavour in using space technology for socio-economic development. Photo by INDRANIL MUKHERJEE / AFP

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This epic lunar mission in 2008, India’s first, successfully orbited the Moon and deployed a probe which made a groundbreaking discovery, detecting water molecules on Moon’s surface, especially in the permanently shadowed craters near the lunar poles. Photo by Pallava Bagla/Corbis via Getty Images.

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India’s first radar imaging satellite RISAT-1 launched on April 26, 2012, provided all-weather surveillance capabilities, making it particularly useful for agricultural monitoring, forestry management, soil moisture assessment, and disaster response during floods and cyclones. The synthetic aperture radar (SAR) onboard the satellite allows it to capture high-resolution images of the Earth’s surface even through clouds and heavy rain. Photo by Babu Babu / Reuters

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Mangalyaan was the most cost-effective Mars mission ever, costing less than even some popular movies made on the subject of space. Launched on November 5, 2013, the Mars Orbiter Mission made India the first country to reach Mars orbit on its very first attempt. The discovery of dust storms on the planet provided valuable insights into Mars’ climate and potential for future exploration. Photo by Pallava Bagla/Corbis via Getty Images; Photo by Manjunath Kiran / AFP

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ISRO’s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) series commenced in 2001, featuring a three-stage launcher with strap-on motors to hoist heavier payloads into geostationary orbit. Many of the geosynchronous satellites (GSAT), which advanced India’s crucial multi band communications infrastructure, rode on GSLVs. The satellites D5 launched in 2014 used India’s first fully indigenous cryogenic engine, while satellite GSAT-9’s services were envisioned as “a gift” from India for member countries of the SAARC (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, the Maldives, and Sri Lanka). Photo by ISRO / AFP

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The NAVIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation) system, which became fully operational in 2018, is a shining example of India’s technological prowess. The indigenous satellite-based navigation system, comparable to the US Global Positioning System (GPS), was conceived in 1999 following the war in Kargil, during which India’s military could not use the American GPS in the conflict zone. NAVIC provides accurate position information services over India and the surrounding regions, vital for national security and navigation in remote areas. Photo by ARUN SANKAR / AFP; Manjunath Kiran / AFP (inset photo)