isro-s-inspiring-odyssey

In 1981, a team of space scientists had to use a creaking, old bullock cart to transport India’s first experimental communication satellite for a telemetry test. Over four decades later, India now occupies a place at the high table of space-faring nations and is considered a leading global player in space research.

 

This arduous journey of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) symbolises the triumph of self-reliance over technological restrictions. For decades, the Western world used export controls on strategic technologies to prevent India from developing missile or nuclear technology. Now, India is on the other side of the table, having established its niche strengths.

 

ISRO has crossed several milestones and overcome many hurdles in its insatiable quest for self-reliance in space technology. Importantly, it is now considered the frontrunner in commercial satellite launch capabilities.

 

The recent launch of the 4,410 kg CMS-03, the heaviest communication satellite to date, adds another feather to the cap of the space research organisation.

 

The launch, aboard the LVM3-M5 rocket, significantly boosts India’s space ambitions. This mission is vital for improving the Indian Navy's communication capabilities and maritime domain awareness across the Indian Ocean region, including the Indian landmass, and is meant to provide services for at least 15 years. The multi-band communication satellite—the most advanced and indigenously developed—highlights India’s growing expertise in high-end satellite technologies.

 

All eyes on ‘Gaganyaan’

 

India’s space research community is gearing up for a major leap—sending astronauts into space in the first quarter of 2027. This will be preceded by three test launches—two uncrewed and one with a robot, “Vyom Mitra”.

 

Some of the tests from the Gaganyaan mission will also feed into the development of the ‘Bharatiya Antariksh’ Station, expected in 2035. The recent success of the space docking experiment (Spadex), in early January, where two satellites moving at high speeds were ‘docked’ or conjoined autonomously, was critical to future missions, including the development of the five-module Bharatiya Antariksh Space Station.

 

In 2028, ISRO expects to employ docking technology as a ‘space docking’ experiment to the International Space Station. This will be followed by sending the first of the five modules by 2028.

 

As part of the preparations for the human spaceflight programme, ISRO had, in October 2023, successfully test-launched Gaganyaan crew module to demonstrate the efficacy of the crew escape system in the event of rocket malfunction. If everything goes according to plan, India will become the fourth country in the world to send a human into space after the Soviet Union, the United States and China.

 

Unique feat

 

India scripted history by becoming the first country to land near the Moon’s south pole, with the successful Chandrayaan-3 mission in August 2023. It was a challenging feat because landings in the thin atmosphere and low gravity of the moon can be very tricky.

 

A remarkable feature of Chandrayaan-3 was that it landed on the south pole, the dark side of the moon and a challenging terrain for landing. This feat has put India in a commanding position to take space exploration to the next level and embark on manned missions. Earlier, the Chandrayaan-1 had made a path-breaking discovery of water molecules on the lunar surface and new rock types with unique chemical composition, a feat duly acknowledged by NASA.

 

The finding has been a great contribution by India to the understanding of the lunar environment. It also gave a major fillip to the country’s indigenous space technology.

 

The successful launch of Aditya-L1, the first observation mission to the Sun, marked another key milestone for the Indian space research community.

 

By joining such areas of scientific research, the ISRO is also sending out a signal that it has the technology and maturity—and also the resources and expertise—to contribute to every aspect of planetary science.

 

Also read: ISRO's 'Bahubali' lifts off carrying heaviest CMS03 satellite

 

The Indian space industry’s major advantage is its cost-effectiveness. The ISRO has demonstrated its capabilities to be a dominant global player in the commercial satellite launch sector.

 

ISRO is now a leading service provider for companies trying to launch their satellites. India has been focusing its efforts on increasing its share of the global commercial space market ever since the country decided to open the space sector to private players in 2020.

 

By successfully launching its heaviest rocket LVM3—carrying 36 internet satellites of the UK-based OneWeb group company—in March 2023, ISRO has firmly established its reputation as a dependable player in the commercial satellite market. Keeping the commercial sector in mind, ISRO has also developed the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV), meant to provide on-demand launch services commercially.

 

‘Bahubali’ satellite

 

The latest satellite—dubbed ‘Bahubali’ for its weight capacity—is indigenously designed and developed. ISRO used its most powerful rocket, the LVM3, a modified version of which will also be used under the Gaganyaan mission to put humans in space.

 

It is equipped with a new generation of cutting-edge components designed to meet the Navy’s real-time operational needs. Its sophisticated payload carries multi-band transponders that support high-speed voice, data, and video communication links. This will enable secure and uninterrupted connectivity between the Navy’s ships, submarines, aircraft, and Maritime Operations Centres, strengthening India’s command-and-control capabilities across its vast maritime frontier. The new satellite will play a pivotal role in integrating India’s expanding network of maritime surveillance and communication assets.

 

By ensuring seamless connectivity across surface, sub-surface, and aerial platforms, the satellite will act as a force multiplier—providing the Navy with real-time situational awareness and enabling coordinated operations in the strategically vital waters of the Indo-Pacific. ISRO has modified the rocket to increase its payload capability by 10 per cent compared to the previous LVM3 launch, which carried Chandrayaan-3.

 

Another significant breakthrough achieved during the latest launch was the in-orbit test of the indigenously developed C25 cryogenic stage. It involved firing the thrust chamber of the C25 engine while in space, a first for ISRO, providing invaluable data on engine performance, stability, and control in microgravity conditions. This breakthrough demonstrated ISRO’s advancing technological prowess, particularly in enhancing space mission precision and efficiency. This successful space test is pivotal for ISRO’s future launch capabilities as it allows the agency to place multiple satellites into orbit with far greater precision and efficiency.

 

Remarkable journey

 

ISRO’s journey so far has been nothing short of extraordinary. What began as an ambitious initiative by pioneers like Vikram Sarabhai and Satish Dhawan has transformed into a globally respected space programme.

 

Its success is a testament to India’s ability to innovate, adapt, and achieve remarkable feats despite financial and technical constraints.

 

From launching India’s first satellite, Aryabhatta, in 1975 to sending the Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan) into orbit in 2013 at an astonishingly low cost, Indian space scientists have repeatedly defied expectations. The Chandrayaan missions have expanded our understanding of the Moon. India’s space achievements are not just about scientific curiosity; they have real-world implications.