INDIA SECOND TO NONE IN SPACE SECTOR: SCIENTIST

INDIA SECOND TO NONE IN SPACE SECTOR: SCIENTIST - UPSC

Why in the news?

Events and workshops were held all throughout India in the lead-up to National Space Day festivities to honor the space sector’s accomplishments, with a particular emphasis on the Moon landing of Chandrayaan-3.

Highlights of India’s Space

Achievements

  • Chandrayaan-3: Following the United States, Russia, and China, India became the fourth nation to accomplish a successful soft landing on the moon with its third lunar exploration mission, Chandrayaan-3.
  • NISAR Mission: Developed in collaboration between ISRO and NASA, the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission is slated to launch in 2024. It will be the first satellite mission to survey the Earth’s land surface in unprecedented detail using dual-frequency radar.
  • Other Notable Missions: India became the first nation to orbit Mars on its first try and the fourth space agency to do so, after NASA, ESA, and Roscosmos, with the launch of its Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan) in 2013.

About ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation)

  • Formation: Dr. Vikram Sarabhai established ISRO in 1969 with the intention of using space technology for the advancement of the country.
  • Headquarters: Bengaluru, Karnataka, is home to ISRO’s headquarters.
  • Budget: For the fiscal year 2024–2025, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) was allocated ₹13,700 crore, or almost $1.9 billion.
  • Achievements: ISRO is renowned for launching more than 300 foreign satellites and for its economical space projects, including as the Chandrayaan and Mars Orbiter projects (Mangalyaan).
India’s Space Sector Overview

  • Global Position: With notable contributions to satellite technology, space exploration, and commercial satellite launches, India is acknowledged as a major player in the global space sector.
  • Commercial Ventures: Promoting and commercializing space products, providing technical consulting services, and transferring ISRO-developed technology are the responsibilities of Antrix Corporation Limited, the commercial arm of ISRO, and the recently established NewSpace India Limited (NSIL).