America’s space agency NASA keeps collecting new information about the universe. NASA had sent the first man to the Moon and now it is preparing to go to Mars as well. But we have also shown through our space agency that we have the capability to stand shoulder to shoulder with developed countries. India’s space journey began in 1962 with a seemingly impossible dream of Vikram Sarabhai and the Indian Space Organization i.e. ISRO was born. Since then, ISRO has overcome many challenges in its journey to the Moon and Mars by bicycle. Whenever we talk about ISRO, we hear that we launched the first satellite Aryabhata. When it comes to launch vehicles, it is said that ISRO launched sounding vehicles. Then later come the names of SLV, PSLV, GSLV and LVM Mark-3. But the story is not that simple. To launch ISRO’s satellite, it did not have a launch vehicle powerful enough to lift off a fairly heavy satellite. Can take it to orbit. Then we had to look to America, the Soviets and Europe for help. He definitely helped but you also know that nothing is free. Although Aryabhata was launched by the Soviets for free.
Ram’s father Dasharatha went to meet Chandrama
By the way, it is said that India’s space travel experience is very old. Many stories of space exploration and circumnavigation are recorded in Indian religious mythology. It is written at one place that Ram’s father Dasharatha had gone to meet Chandrama. Apart from this, even in the modern world, India introduced this technology to the world. After being freed from the shackles of the British in 1947, Indian scientists and politicians planned and started work on the use of India’s rocket technology in the security sector and research and development on it.
rocket on bicycle
Dr. Vikram Sarabhai and Dr. Ramanathan established the Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR) on 16 February 1962, which later became ISRO on 15 August 1969. At that time the rocket which was launched was carried to the launch site by being loaded on a carrier attached to the back of a bicycle. That is, there was no facility, but it is said that if the intentions are strong then water can be extracted even from the rocks. The picture of carrying the rocket on a bicycle shows ISRO’s determination. The second rocket of ISRO’s first mission was heavy and quite big. Bullock cart was used to take it to the launch site.
India’s historic space missions
Aryabhata: India entered the field of space research and satellite technology with the successful launch of a satellite named Aryabhatta on 19 April 1975. India’s first satellite, launched in 1975. It was a 358 kg (787 lb) satellite that carried scientific instruments to study the Earth’s atmosphere and radiation belts. This satellite was named by Indira Gandhi after the great astronomer and mathematician Aryabhata. The successful launch of this satellite into space was done with the help of Soviet Russia. Through Aryabhata I, astronomy was used to gain a lot of information about X-rays and solar physics. On this historic occasion of the launch of Aryabhata satellite, the Reserve Bank of India had printed its picture on the Rs 2 note in 1976.
Insta: A series of geostationary satellites launched by India since 1983. Insta satellites are used for telecommunications, broadcasting, meteorology and disaster management. It was made by American company Ford Aerospace. It had a launch mass of 1152 kg and carried twelve ‘C’ and three ‘S’ band transponders.
Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV): A launch vehicle developed by India in the 1990s. PSLV is capable of launching satellites into low Earth orbit, geosynchronous transfer orbit and low Earth polar orbit.
Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV): A launch vehicle developed by India in the 2000s. GSLV is capable of launching satellites into geosynchronous orbit.
Chandrayaan-1: India’s first mission to the Moon, launched in 2008. Chandrayaan-1 orbited the Moon for 10 months and made important discoveries about the lunar surface, including the presence of water ice. 11 scientific instruments made in India, America, Britain, Germany, Sweden and Bulgaria were also installed in this spacecraft. The weight of this spacecraft was 1380 kg. Today Chandrayaan 1 is remembered by giving credit to India for discovering the possibility of water on the Moon. On 14 November 2008, Chandrayaan 1 landed a heavy 29 kg instrument named Moon Impact Craft on the North Pole of the Moon. The instrument took several images of the Moon’s surface as it fell.
Mangalyaan: India’s first interplanetary mission, launched in 2013. Mangalyaan entered Mars orbit in September 2014 and is still operational. It is the first and only spacecraft to orbit Mars on its first attempt. ISRO named this unmanned satellite Mars Orbiter Mission. It was conceived, designed and built by Indian scientists and was sent into space from Indian soil using an Indian rocket. India’s first Mars mission cost Rs 450 crore and more than 500 scientists worked on its development.
Chandrayaan-2: India’s second mission to the Moon, launched in 2019. Chandrayaan-2 was supposed to land a rover on the Moon, but the lander Vikram lost contact with ground control during its final descent. The orbiter is still operational and providing valuable data about the Moon. This orbiter has also contacted Chandrayaan 3. After the loss of contact with Vikram Lander, it was a common belief that India’s mission Chandrayaan 2 had failed, but this is not true. An ISRO official says that Vikram lander and Pragyan rover were five percent of the mission. 95 percent belongs to the orbiter, which is orbiting safely. The information obtained from this is useful for Chandrayaan 3.
Chandrayaan-3: India’s third lunar mission, launched in 2022. It consists of an orbiter, a lander and a rover. Chandrayaan-3 aims to make a soft landing of the lander and rover on the south pole of the Moon. Chandrayaan 3 has reached close to the Moon, covering a distance of more than three lakh kilometers. Chandrayaan 3 mission includes lander, rover and propulsion module. Only Rs 615 crore has been spent in this ambitious mission of India. The objective of Chandrayaan 3 is to search for oxygen and water on the south pole of the Moon.
Aditya L-1: In September 2023, ISRO launched Aditya L1 to know the secrets of the Sun. However, it was placed in the Halo orbit on January 4, 2024 this year. This was India’s first such mission, under which the Sun was to be monitored. ISRO’s objective through this mission was to find out what happens when the Sun is active.
