{"id":13122,"date":"2025-09-24T12:11:53","date_gmt":"2025-09-24T12:11:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/?p=13122"},"modified":"2025-09-25T11:48:27","modified_gmt":"2025-09-25T11:48:27","slug":"india-space-missions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/india-space-missions\/","title":{"rendered":"India\u2019s Space Missions: Satellites, Recent Missions &amp; More"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Indian space missions,<\/strong> led by ISRO, testify to the progress of the nation in space exploration and technology. Initiating satellite launches for communication and remote sensing, and later stepping into lunar and interplanetary missions like Chandrayaan and Mangalyaan, it has truly distinguished itself as the global leader in cost-effective and innovative space exploration.<\/p><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_56_1 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-transparent ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/india-space-missions\/#About_Indias_Space_Missions\" title=\"About India\u2019s Space Missions\">About India\u2019s Space Missions<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/india-space-missions\/#Indias_Early_Satellites\" title=\"India\u2019s Early Satellites\">India\u2019s Early Satellites<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3'><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/india-space-missions\/#Aryabhata\" title=\"Aryabhata\">Aryabhata<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/india-space-missions\/#Bhaskara-1\" title=\"Bhaskara-1\">Bhaskara-1<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/india-space-missions\/#Rohini\" title=\"Rohini\">Rohini<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/india-space-missions\/#Ariane_Passenger_Payload_Experiment_APPLE\" title=\"Ariane Passenger Payload Experiment (APPLE)\">Ariane Passenger Payload Experiment (APPLE)<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/india-space-missions\/#Communication_and_Educational_Satellites\" title=\"Communication and Educational Satellites\">Communication and Educational Satellites<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3'><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/india-space-missions\/#INSAT_System\" title=\"INSAT System\">INSAT System<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4'><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/india-space-missions\/#Kalpana-1\" title=\"Kalpana-1\">Kalpana-1<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/india-space-missions\/#CMS-01\" title=\"CMS-01\">CMS-01<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/india-space-missions\/#EDUSAT\" title=\"EDUSAT\">EDUSAT<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/india-space-missions\/#GRAMSAT_Scheme\" title=\"GRAMSAT Scheme\">GRAMSAT Scheme<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/india-space-missions\/#Gyan_Darshan\" title=\"Gyan Darshan\">Gyan Darshan<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/india-space-missions\/#GSAT_31\" title=\"GSAT 31\">GSAT 31<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/india-space-missions\/#Earth_Observation_Satellites\" title=\"Earth Observation Satellites\">Earth Observation Satellites<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/india-space-missions\/#Navigation_Satellite_Systems\" title=\"Navigation Satellite Systems\">Navigation Satellite Systems<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3'><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/india-space-missions\/#NavIC\" title=\"NavIC\">NavIC<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/india-space-missions\/#Positioning_Satellite_Systems_of_Foreign_Countries\" title=\"Positioning Satellite Systems of Foreign Countries\">Positioning Satellite Systems of Foreign Countries<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/india-space-missions\/#Satellites_for_Military_Purposes_by_ISRO\" title=\"Satellites for Military Purposes by ISRO\">Satellites for Military Purposes by ISRO<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-20\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/india-space-missions\/#Indias_Recent_Space_Missions\" title=\"India\u2019s Recent Space Missions\">India\u2019s Recent Space Missions<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-21\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/india-space-missions\/#Way_Forward\" title=\"Way Forward\">Way Forward<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-22\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/india-space-missions\/#Conclusion\" title=\"Conclusion\">Conclusion<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-23\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/india-space-missions\/#FAQs_Indias_Space_Programs\" title=\"FAQs: India&#8217;s Space Programs\">FAQs: India&#8217;s Space Programs<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3'><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-24\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/india-space-missions\/#What_is_the_primary_focus_of_the_ISRO_astronaut_mission\" title=\"What is the primary focus of the ISRO astronaut mission?\">What is the primary focus of the ISRO astronaut mission?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-25\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/india-space-missions\/#What_is_the_most_expensive_space_mission_of_India\" title=\"What is the most expensive space mission of India?\">What is the most expensive space mission of India?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-26\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/india-space-missions\/#How_many_space_missions_has_India_done\" title=\"How many space missions has India done?\">How many space missions has India done?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-27\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/india-space-missions\/#What_is_the_latest_space_mission_of_India\" title=\"What is the latest space mission of India?\">What is the latest space mission of India?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-28\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/india-space-missions\/#Who_is_the_father_of_the_Indian_space_programme\" title=\"Who is the father of the Indian space programme?\">Who is the father of the Indian space programme?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-1c57ac7f0d354ffbcde191b0e86ae4ff\" style=\"color:#015aa7\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"About_Indias_Space_Missions\"><\/span><strong>About India\u2019s Space Missions<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The strategy of our Space programme is thus self-sufficiency, indigenisation, building exclusive satellites, and our own GSLVs, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A Space Vision 2025 was unveiled at the Indian Science Congress \u2013 2003 at Bangalore. The vision document spells out the measures to bring the space programme onto a higher plane, the accent being on self-reliance in launch capabilities and therefore alienation from foreign agencies for the same.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Of course, self-sufficiency has been attained in the fabrication of satellites. The mission to the moon is also a part of the vision.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>With its constant efforts by the ISRO, India has been able to achieve huge accomplishments in space exploration and technological advancements.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Starting with the launch of <strong>Aryabhata in 1975<\/strong>, ISRO has developed satellite programs for communication, weather monitoring, and navigation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Key missions are <strong>Chandrayaan (Lunar Exploration)<\/strong>, <strong>Mangalyaan (Mars Orbiter Mission)<\/strong>, and recently, with a great triumph, Chandrayaan-3 soft-landed on the south pole of the Moon. Gaganyaan is ISRO&#8217;s effort towards human spaceflight.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Known for cost-effective missions, India contributes significantly to global space research, commercial satellite launches, and collaborative scientific projects.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-5778b8b70fbb36932db28eff0e77eee8\" style=\"color:#015aa7\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Indias_Early_Satellites\"><\/span><strong>India\u2019s Early Satellites<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-5f47fc1933aea2b1d641960abd337b3c\" style=\"color:#ff6a00\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Aryabhata\"><\/span><strong>Aryabhata<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>On A<strong>pril 19, 1975<\/strong>, India entered the space age by launching their first-ever satellite, the <strong>Aryabhata<\/strong>. Built by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to gain experience in building and operating a satellite in space, it was actually launched by the Soviet Union. Aryabhata was built to conduct experiments in X-ray astronomy, aeronomics, and solar physics.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bhaskara -1<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-5422ac7dce6ace3ef95467efc88eeef1\" style=\"color:#ff6a00\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Bhaskara-1\"><\/span><strong>Bhaskara-1<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The First Experimental Remote Sensing Satellite built in India. The onboard TV camera imageries were used in the field of Hydrology and Forestry. Rich scientific data sent by <strong>Satellite Microwave Radiometer (SAMIR)<\/strong> was used for oceanographic studies.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-de8d6cd8341e974ca5eeda4025f25ba3\" style=\"color:#ff6a00\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Rohini\"><\/span><strong>Rohini<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Rohini Satellite RS-1 was a 35 kg<\/strong> experimental spin stabilized satellite designed with a power handling capability of 16W. It was successfully launched onboard <strong>SLV-3 from Sriharikota Range (SHAR)<\/strong> Centre on July 18, 1980.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-82847b88e44affaf66bab1a34ef97b41\" style=\"color:#ff6a00\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Ariane_Passenger_Payload_Experiment_APPLE\"><\/span><strong><strong>Ariane Passenger Payload Experiment (APPLE)<\/strong><\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The Ariane Passenger Payload Experiment (APPLE)<\/strong> was ISRO\u2019s first indigenous, experimental communication satellite. It was launched into GTO (Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit) by the third development flight of ESA&#8217;s Ariane vehicle from Kourou on June 19, 1981.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-53d7860c52a03ceeaae4895f412830af\" style=\"color:#015aa7\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Communication_and_Educational_Satellites\"><\/span><strong>Communication and Educational Satellites<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-fc1200531ae79401e6da3c19a67fccf8\" style=\"color:#ff6a00\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"INSAT_System\"><\/span><strong>INSAT System<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Indian National Satellite (INSAT) system is one of the largest domestic communication satellite systems in the Asia-Pacific region with nine operational communication satellites placed in Geo-stationary orbit.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Here are some applications of INSAT satellites:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#ebecf0\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>EDUSAT<\/strong><\/td><td>launched by <strong>Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-F01)<\/strong> in September 2004, is India\u2019s first thematic satellite dedicated exclusively for educational services.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>INSAT<\/strong><\/td><td>INSAT is being used to provide Educational TV(ETV) service for primary school children in Tamil, Marathi, Oriya, Telugu and Hindi.<br><br>INSAT provides a facility of tele-medicine which aims at providing Tele-medicine Technology &amp; connectivity between remote\/rural hospital and Super Speciality Hospital for Tele-consultation, Treatment &amp; Training of doctors &amp; paramedics.<br><br>INSAT has been a major catalyst for the expansion of television coverage in India, presently 40 Doordarshan TV channels including news uplinks are operating through C-band transponders of <strong>INSAT-3A, INSAT-4B, INSAT-3C and INSAT-2E.<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Kalpana-1\"><\/span><strong>Kalpana-1<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>METSAT <\/strong>(renamed as <strong>Kalpana-1 <\/strong>on February 5, 2003 after the Indian born American Astronaut Dr. Kalpana Chawla, who died on February 1, 2003 in the US Space Shuttle Columbia disaster) is the first in the series of exclusive meteorological satellites built by ISRO.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"CMS-01\"><\/span><strong>CMS-01<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>CMS-01 is a communication satellite envisaged for providing services in Extended-C Band of the frequency spectrum. The Extended-C Band coverage will include Indian mainland, Andaman-Nicobar &amp; Lakshadweep Islands. CMS-01 is the 42nd Communication Satellite of India. Its mission life is 7 years and it was launched by PSLV-C50.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"EDUSAT\"><\/span><strong>EDUSAT<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>GSAT-3, known as EDUSAT is meant for distant classroom education from school level to higher education. This was the first dedicated \u201cEducational Satellite\u201d that provide the country with satellite based two way communication to class room for delivering educational materials. This is a Geo-synchronous satellite developed on I-2K bus. GSAT-3 was co-located with METSAT (KALPANA-1) and INSAT-3C.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"GRAMSAT_Scheme\"><\/span><strong>GRAMSAT Scheme<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Under <strong>\u201cGramsat Scheme\u201d<\/strong>, ISRO\u2019s contribution is to provide the necessary satellite bandwidth to respective State Governments. Generally, these programmes cover areas such as mass education, tribal culture, anganwadi workers\u2019 training, fisheries, forest and environment.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Gyan_Darshan\"><\/span><strong>Gyan Darshan<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It is an educational channel which carries programmes on IGNOU\u2019s courses, general awareness programmes, and interactive sessions with subject experts and scholars besides promoting nationalism, harmony and peace.ce.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"GSAT_31\"><\/span><strong>GSAT 31<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India\u2019s telecommunication satellite, GSAT-31 was successfully launched in 2019 from Kourou launch base, <strong>French Guiana by Ariane-5 VA-247. <\/strong>GSAT-31 will provide continuity to operational services on some of the in-orbit satellites.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-0066db1ad4ef44a27e1e6fc2e543f9f0\" style=\"color:#015aa7\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Earth_Observation_Satellites\"><\/span><strong>Earth Observation Satellites<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>ISRO&#8217;s Earth Observation Satellites (EOS) support applications in agriculture, urban planning, water management, forestry, disaster management, and oceanography. The program began with<strong> IRS-1A<\/strong> in 1988 and includes satellites in <strong>Sun-synchronous <\/strong>(e.g., RESOURCESAT, CARTOSAT, RISAT, OCEANSAT) and <strong>Geostationary orbits<\/strong> (e.g., INSAT-3D, Kalpana).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The <strong>CARTOSAT series<\/strong> provides imagery for cartographic and urban planning needs, while<strong> RESOURCESAT-2A<\/strong> monitors resources, crops, and water bodies. <strong>SARAL<\/strong>, a joint Indo-French mission, supports oceanographic research.<strong> EOS-01 <\/strong>aids agriculture and disaster management, and <strong>EOS-04<\/strong>, launched in 2022, provides radar imaging under all weather conditions for hydrology, forestry, and flood mapping.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-3ae9e08710cb7efff0fe99a3f290d909\" style=\"color:#015aa7\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Navigation_Satellite_Systems\"><\/span><strong>Navigation Satellite Systems<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India\u2019s navigation satellite systems, led by ISRO, provide accurate geospatial positioning and timing services.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"NavIC\"><\/span><strong>NavIC<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>NavIC <\/strong>is India&#8217;s indigenous system that offers Standard Positioning Service (SPS) for general use and Restricted Service (RS) for authorized users, each with an accuracy of better than 20 meters.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>NavIC&#8217;s constellation<\/strong> consists of eight active satellites in both geostationary and geosynchronous orbits that aid navigation-related applications, emergency management, vehicle tracking, and capture of geodetic data.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>GAGAN is a satellite navigation augmentation for civil aviation<\/strong> that ensures precise guidance and fuel-efficient air traffic management. It is the world&#8217;s first Satellite-Based Augmentation System (SBAS) to be incorporated in the equatorial region that provides uninterrupted navigation from Africa to Australia.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The GEMINI device, developed using GAGAN<\/strong>, offers ocean state forecasting and disaster warning to fishermen upto 300 nm offshore, fostering their safety and productivity. GAGAN further aids location-based services and operational safety in railway, shipping, scientific research, and tourism sectors.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"324\" height=\"598\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/blog\/uploads\/2024\/11\/irnss.png\" alt=\"IRNSS: India's own GPS\" class=\"wp-image-13123\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/blog\/uploads\/2024\/11\/irnss.png 324w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/blog\/uploads\/2024\/11\/irnss-140x258.png 140w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/blog\/uploads\/2024\/11\/irnss-150x277.png 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 324px) 100vw, 324px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#ebecf0\">Read our detailed article on<strong> <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/navic\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/navic\/\"><strong>Navic<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-23cb31a6a11cefd27768337b3380d94c\" style=\"color:#015aa7\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Positioning_Satellite_Systems_of_Foreign_Countries\"><\/span><strong>Positioning Satellite Systems of Foreign Countries<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The Global Positioning System, or GPS,<\/strong> is a satellite-based navigation system from the United States that provides uninterrupted PNT (Positioning, Navigation, and Timing) services worldwide, including for military and civilian users.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Galileo<\/strong> is a European project for free services that are more accurate at providing performance metrics, especially at higher latitudes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>China&#8217;s independent navigation system gives worldwide PNT services with positional accuracy between 2.6 and 3.6 meters and some telecommunication features, such as text messaging.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>GLONASS<\/strong>, Russia&#8217;s version of GPS, functions better at northern latitudes; it was initially intended for military purposes but has now been open for civil use.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Thus these systems are used worldwide for various activities requiring accurate navigation, from military to commercial to civilian uses.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-161835fed547f63f10ce98abee90f9dc\" style=\"color:#015aa7\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Satellites_for_Military_Purposes_by_ISRO\"><\/span><strong>Satellites for Military Purposes by ISRO<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India has around 15 military satellites supporting defense operations. Key ones include <strong>GSAT-7 (Rukmini)<\/strong>, launched in 2013 for naval communication, covering the Indian Ocean Region.<strong> GSAT-7A<\/strong>, launched in 2018, enhances Air Force capabilities, and <strong>GSAT-7R<\/strong> will replace Rukmini for naval use.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>EMISAT<\/strong>, developed by ISRO-DRDO, is India\u2019s first ELINT satellite, aiding electronic surveillance and tracking hostile radars.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Microsat-R<\/strong>, launched in 2019, provided imaging services and served as a target for the<strong> Mission Shakti <\/strong>anti-satellite test, showcasing India&#8217;s space defense capability.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-cdcd55493782df4bd18fa42a41c1fd41\" style=\"color:#015aa7\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Indias_Recent_Space_Missions\"><\/span><strong>India\u2019s Recent Space Missions<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India&#8217;s recent space missions have given evidence to ISRO&#8217;s growing capabilities.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/chandrayaan-3\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/chandrayaan-3\/\"><strong>Chandrayaan-3<\/strong> <\/a>soft-landed successfully on the south pole of the Moon in 2023.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The Aditya-L1 mission<\/strong> was launched to study the Sun in 2023 itself.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>And then came Gaganyaan, the first crewed space mission of India, soon to be launched to mark the milestone in human spaceflight.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>EOS-04<\/strong>, launched in 2022, provides enhanced radar imaging for agriculture and disaster management. Commercial missions such as PSLV-C57, in which satellites were deployed for clients worldwide, were also conducted by ISRO, which firmly put India on the map of space research and exploration.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-1e603a2ea607b35340e5267a97dffca5\" style=\"color:#015aa7\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Way_Forward\"><\/span><strong>Way Forward<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>With ISRO in pursuit of ambitious goals, India\u2019s space missions are just about to witness exciting developments. The Gaganyaan mission will mark India\u2019s entry into human spaceflight, thus setting in motion the future crewed exploration. The stages for Chandrayaan-4 are arranged for more lunar studies, with interplanetary missions of sorts envisioned with Mangalyaan-2 to Mars and Shukrayaan to Venus.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>ISRO also keenly wishes to build its satellite constellations for Earth observation, navigation, and communication. Collaborations with private players through Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACe) will foment innovation. India\u2019s focus for space-related work remains sustainability, scientific discovery, global partnerships, and development of technologies for space exploration and commercialization.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-d0adc4bd9eb2e9b9b187dc32f0e06642\" style=\"color:#015aa7\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion\"><\/span><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Space missions of India stand for technology advancement in the country and aspirations for space exploration. From lunar and interplanetary missions to Earth observation and navigation systems, ISRO has made giant strides in cost-effective innovations. With the advent of Gaganyaan and associated missions, there can be several more developments that should place India in the serious considerations of global players in space research and commercial satellite services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQs_Indias_Space_Programs\"><\/span><strong>FAQs: India&#8217;s Space Programs<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n<div id=\"rank-math-faq\" class=\"rank-math-block\">\n<div class=\"rank-math-list \">\n<div id=\"faq-question-1755166081996\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_the_primary_focus_of_the_ISRO_astronaut_mission\"><\/span><strong>What is the primary focus of the ISRO astronaut mission?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Gaganyaan intended to demonstrate India&#8217;s capability in carrying humans into space by putting them into low Earth orbit, develop crucial technologies, enable scientific experiments, and lay the foundation for further crewed missions in the interest of scientific and technological development of the country.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1755166105047\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_the_most_expensive_space_mission_of_India\"><\/span><strong>What is the most expensive space mission of India?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Being ISRO&#8217;s costliest mission, Gaganyaan concentrates on human spaceflight technologies of higher complexity so that astronauts can train, the environment can be sustained, and the vehicle can be recovered after re-entry. In addition, it intends to place astronauts in low Earth orbit and bring them back safely; it will cost and be more big than previous flights. This is the first step in an autonomous human spaceflight program of India.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1755166127924\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_many_space_missions_has_India_done\"><\/span>How many space missions has India done?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Since its inception in 1969, India has carried out over 100 space missions under ISRO. They include satellite launches, interplanetary missions of Chandrayaan and Mangalyaan, and ongoing projects of a more advanced nature, such as Aditya-L1 and Gaganyaan.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1755168074948\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_the_latest_space_mission_of_India\"><\/span><strong>What is the latest space mission of India?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Aditya-L1 is a comprehensive solar observatory mission aimed at multi-messenger solar astronomy, advancing scientific understanding and space weather prediction through cutting-edge instruments and innovative technologies onboard.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1755168096227\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Who_is_the_father_of_the_Indian_space_programme\"><\/span><strong>Who is the father of the Indian space programme?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>The father of the Indian space programme is Dr. Vikram Sarabhai. He is widely recognized as the visionary leader who laid the foundation for India&#8217;s space endeavors and established the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in 1969. Dr. Sarabhai&#8217;s vision and efforts were instrumental in initiating India&#8217;s journey in space technology and exploration.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-background\" style=\"background-color:#ebecf0\"><strong>Also Read: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/achievements-of-indian-space-program\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/achievements-of-indian-space-program\/\">Achievements of India&#8217;s Space Programs<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>India&#8217;s space missions, led by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), showcase the nation&#8217;s progress in space exploration and technology. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":13199,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[63],"tags":[72],"class_list":["post-13122","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-science-and-technology","tag-gs-3"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13122","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13122"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13122\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22180,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13122\/revisions\/22180"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13199"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13122"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13122"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13122"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}