Indian Satellites and Space Programs

Study Notes

India is among the five nations in the world that have established their own satellite navigation system, with the launch of Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) IRNSS-1G on 28 April 2016.
IRNSS-1G allows users to find their location with GPS.

ISRO launched Chandrayaan-1, India's unmanned mission to the Moon, on 22 October 2008, which became the first lunar mission to discover water on the Moon.
Chandrayaan-2, India's second unmanned Lunar Mission, was successfully launched on 22 July 2019 to further understand the origin and evolution of the Moon.

ISRO launched India's first Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), called the Mangalyaan, on 5 November 2013.
On 24 September 2014, India became the first country to put a Mars Orbiter into Mars' orbit in its first attempt.

Electronic Learning (E-Learning) is an education system where the medium of instruction is through a computer.
EDUSAT is a satellite designed by ISRO, dedicated exclusively for educational services.

Aryabhata was India's first satellite, launched on 19 April 1975 from Kapustin Yar, Soviet Union, which gave ISRO experience in building and operating a satellite in space.
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 in the Earth's geo-stationary orbit.
GSAT-24 was inducted into the INSAT system on 23 June 2022 from Kourou, French Guiana, by Ariane-5 VA-231 Launch Vehicle.

Advantages of communication satellites include:
- Establishing mobile communication easily
- Being economical in remote areas where no landlines exist
- Being more economical compared to terrestrial communication, particularly for long-distance calls

SCATSAT-1, India's latest weather forecasting satellite, was launched on 26 September 2016, providing weather forecasting and cyclone predictions.
SARAL, India's remote sensing satellite, was launched on 25 February 2013, with benefits including drought monitoring, flood damage assessment, and locating underground resources.