INDIAN SPACE RESEARCH ORGANISATION

ISRO VISION:

HARNESS SPACE TECHNOLOGY FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT,

WHILE PURSUING SPACE SCIENCE RESEARCH AND PLANETARY
EXPLORATION.
INDIAN SPACE RESEARCH ORGANISATION

INTRODUCTION:

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is the Space Agency of the Government of India. It is
Headquartered in the City of Bangalore. Its Vision is to "Harness Space Technology for National Development
while pursuing Space Science Research and planetary Exploration."

HISTORY:

The Indian Space Research Organization was formed in India, in the year 1969.
It is the Formal Subject of the Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR), which was established
in 1962 by the efforts of independent India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Indian scientist Vikram
Sarabhai.

It is Managed by the Department of Space, India, which reports to the Prime Minister of India.

The space research activities were initiated in our country during the early 1960’s, when applications
using satellites were in experimental stages even in the United States. With the live transmission of Tokyo
Olympic Games across the Pacific by the American Satellite ‘Syncom-3’ demonstrating the power of
communication satellites, Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, the founding father of Indian Space Programme, quickly
recognized the benefits of space technologies for India, and hence, ISRO came into existence.

ISRO built India's first satellite, Aryabhata, which was launched by the Soviet Union on 19 April 1975. It
was named after the Mathematician Aryabhata.

In 1980, Rohini became the first satellite to be placed in orbit by an Indian-made launch vehicle, SLV-3.

ISRO subsequently developed two other rockets: the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) for launching
satellites into polar orbits and the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) for placing satellites into
geostationary orbits. These rockets have launched numerous communications satellites and earth observation
satellites.

Satellite navigation systems like GAGAN and IRNSS have been deployed. In January 2014, ISRO
successfully used an indigenous cryogenic engine in a GSLV-D5 launch of the GSAT-14.

MISSIONS:

ISRO sent one lunar orbiter, Chandrayaan-1, on 22 October 2008 and one Mars orbiter, Mars Orbiter
Mission, which successfully entered Mars orbit on 24 September 2014, making India the first nation to succeed
on its first attempt, and ISRO the fourth space agency in the world as well as the first space agency in Asia to
successfully reach Mars orbit.

On 18 June 2016 ISRO successfully set a record with a launch of 20 satellites in a single payload, one
being a satellite from Google. On 15 February 2017, ISRO launched 104 satellites in a single rocket (PSLV-C37)
and created a world record. ISRO launched its heaviest rocket, Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle-Mark
III (GSLV-Mk III), on 5 June 2017 and placed a communications satellite GSAT-19 in orbit. With this launch, ISRO
became capable of launching 4 ton heavy satellites.
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INDIAN SPACE RESEARCH ORGANISATION

The Space Research Wing (ISRO) maintains one of the largest fleet of Communication Satellites:
Indian National Satellite (INSAT) and Indian Remote Sensing Satellite (IRS), that cater to the demand for
fast and reliable communication across the country and earth observation.

The function of ISRO includes:-

 Development and Delivery Application

 Specific Satellite Products and Tools including:
1. Broadcasts,
2. Communications,
3. Weather Forecasts,
4. Disaster Management Tools,
5. Geographic Information Systems,
6. Cartography,
7. Navigation,
8. Telemedicine,
9. Dedicated Distance Education Satellites.

ISRO develops Launch Vehicles or Rockets for placing the satellites in the Orbit of the Earth. During the
1960s and 1970s, India initiated its own launch vehicle program owing to geopolitical and economic
considerations.

In the 1960s–1970s, the country successfully developed a Sounding Rockets Programme, and by the
1980s, research had yielded the Satellite Launch Vehicle-3 (SLV-III) and the more advanced Augmented Satellite
Launch Vehicle (ASLV), complete with operational supporting infrastructure. ISRO further applied its energies to
the advancement of launch vehicle technology resulting in the creation of PSLV and GSLV technologies.

To achieve complete self-reliance in terms of these applications, it developed the famed PSLV, which
went on to become a favoured carrier for satellites of various countries due to its reliability and cost efficiency,
promoting unprecedented international collaboration. The Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) was
developed keeping in mind the heavier and more demanding geosynchronous communication satellites.
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COMMUNICATION SATELLITE
INDIAN SPACE RESEARCH ORGANISATION

SATELLITES:
A Satellite is an Artificial Object which has been intentionally placed into orbit. Satellites are used for
many purposes. Common types include military and civilian Earth observation satellites, communications
satellites, navigation satellites, weather satellites, and space telescopes.

Space stations and human spacecraft in orbit are also satellites. A launch vehicle is a rocket that places
a satellite into orbit. Usually, it lifts off from a launch pad on land. Some are launched at sea from a submarine
or a mobile maritime platform, or aboard a plane.

Satellites are usually semi-independent computer-controlled systems. Satellite subsystems attend

many tasks, such as power generation, thermal control, telemetry, attitude control and orbit control.

ISRO develops mainly two types of Satellites: Communication Satellites and Earth Observation Satellites.
It also designs and launches GPS Aided Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) and Indian Regional Navigation Satellite
System (IRNSS).

COMMUNICATION SATELLITE:
A Communications Satellite is an Artificial Satellite that relays and amplifies Radio Telecommunications
signals via a Transponder; it creates a communication channel between a source transmitter and a receiver at
different locations on Earth. Communications satellites are used for television, telephone, radio, internet, and
military applications.

Wireless communication uses electromagnetic waves to carry signals. These waves require line-of-sight,
and are thus obstructed by the curvature of the Earth. The purpose of communications satellites is to relay the
signal around the curve of the Earth allowing communication between widely separated points.
Communications satellites use a wide range of radio and microwave frequencies. To avoid signal interference,
international organizations have regulations for which frequency ranges or "bands" certain organizations are
allowed to use. This allocation of bands minimizes the risk of signal interference.

The Indian National Satellite (INSAT) system is one of the Largest Domestic Communication Satellite
Systems in Asia-Pacific region with nine operational communication satellites placed in Geo-stationary orbit.
Established in 1983 with commissioning of INSAT-1B, it initiated a major revolution in India’s communications
sector and sustained the same later. GSAT-17 joins the constellation of INSAT System consisting 15 operational
satellites, namely - INSAT-3A, 3C, 4A, 4B, 4CR and GSAT-6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15, 16 and 18.

The INSAT system with more than 200 transponders in the C, Extended C and Ku-bands provides services
to telecommunications, television broadcasting, satellite newsgathering, societal applications, weather
forecasting, disaster warning and Search and Rescue operations.
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EARTH OBSERVATION SATELLITE

INDIAN SPACE RESEARCH ORGANISATION

EARTH OBSERVATION SATELLITE:

Earth observation satellites are satellites specifically designed for Earth observation from orbit, similar
to spy satellites but intended for non-military uses such as environmental monitoring, meteorology, map making
etc.

Most Earth observation satellites carry instruments that should be operated at a relatively low altitude.
Altitudes below 500-600 kilometers are in general avoided, though, because of the significant air-drag at such
low altitudes making frequent orbit reboost maneuvers necessary.

To get (nearly) global coverage with a low orbit it must be a polar orbit or nearly so. A low orbit will have
an orbital period of roughly 100 minutes and the Earth will rotate around its polar axis with about 25 degrees
between successive orbits, with the result that the ground track is shifted towards west with these 25 degrees
in longitude. Most are in sun-synchronous orbits.

Spacecraft carrying instruments for which an altitude of 36000 km is suitable sometimes use a
geostationary orbit. Such an orbit allows uninterrupted coverage of more than 1/3 of the Earth. Three
geostationary spacecraft at longitudes separated with 120 degrees can cover the whole Earth except the
extreme polar regions. This type of orbit is mainly used for meteorological satellites.

Starting with IRS-1A in 1988, ISRO has launched many operational remote sensing satellites. Today, India
has one of the largest constellations of remote sensing satellites in operation.

Currently, 13 operational satellites are in Sun-synchronous orbit –

RESOURCESAT-1, 2, 2A; CARTOSAT-1, 2, 2A, 2B; RISAT-1 and 2; OCEANSAT-2; Megha-Tropiques; SARAL and
SCATSAT-1,
And 4 in Geostationary orbit-
INSAT-3D; Kalpana & INSAT 3A; INSAT -3DR.

Varieties of instruments have been flown onboard these satellites to provide necessary data in a
diversified spatial, spectral and temporal resolutions to cater to different user requirements in the country and
for global usage. The data from these satellites are used for several applications covering agriculture, water
resources, urban planning, rural development, mineral prospecting, environment, forestry, ocean resources and
disaster management.
INDIAN SPACE RESEARCH ORGANISATION

Indian National Satellite (INSAT)

Indian Remote Sensing Satellite (IRS)

INDIAN SPACE RESEARCH ORGANISATION

INDIAN NATIONAL SATELLITE (INSAT):

INSAT (Indian National Satellite System) is a series of multipurpose geostationary satellites launched by
ISRO to satisfy the telecommunications, broadcasting, meteorology and search-and-rescue needs of India.
Commissioned in 1983, INSAT is the largest domestic communication system in the Asia-Pacific Region. It is a
joint venture of the Department of Space, Department of Telecommunications, India Meteorological
Department, All India Radio and Doordarshan. The overall coordination and management of INSAT system rests
with the Secretary-level INSAT Coordination Committee.

INDIAN REMOTING SATELLITE (IRS):

Indian Remote Sensing satellites (IRS) are a series of earth observation satellites, built, launched and
maintained by ISRO. The IRS series provides remote sensing services to the country. The Indian Remote Sensing
Satellite system is the largest constellation of remote sensing satellites for civilian use in operation today in the
world. All the satellites are placed in polar Sun-synchronous orbit and provide data in a variety of spatial, spectral
and temporal resolutions to enable several programmes to be undertaken relevant to national development.
The initial versions are composed of the 1 (A, B, C, D) nomenclature. The later versions are named based on their
area of application including OceanSat, CartoSat, ResourceSat.

RADAR IMAGING SATELLITE (RISAT):

ISRO currently operates two Radar Imaging Satellites. RISAT-1 was launched from Sriharikota Spaceport
on 26 April 2012 on board a PSLV. RISAT-1 carries a C-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) payload, operating
in a multi-polarisation and multi-resolution mode and can provide images with coarse, fine and high spatial
resolutions. India also operates RISAT-2, which was launched in 2009 and acquired from Israel at a cost $110
million.

NAVIGATION SATELLITE:

Satellite Navigation service is an emerging satellite based system with commercial and strategic
applications. ISRO is committed to provide the satellite based Navigation services to meet the emerging
demands of the Civil Aviation requirements and to meet the user requirements of the positioning, navigation
and timing based on the independent satellite navigation system.

To meet the Civil Aviation requirements, ISRO is working jointly with Airport Authority of India (AAI) in
establishing the GPS Aided Geo Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) system. To meet the user requirements of the
positioning, navigation and timing services based on the indigenous system, ISRO is establishing a regional
satellite navigation system called Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS).
INDIAN SPACE RESEARCH ORGANISATION
INDIAN SPACE RESEARCH ORGANISATION

SPACE LAUNCHERS / ROCKETS:

A Rocket is a Missile, Spacecraft, Aircraft or other vehicle that obtains thrust from a Rocket Engine.
Rocket engine exhaust is formed entirely from propellant carried within the rocket before use. Rocket engines
work by action and reaction and push rockets forward simply by expelling their exhaust in the opposite direction
at high speed, and can therefore work in the vacuum of space.

In fact, rockets work more efficiently in space than in an atmosphere. Multistage rockets are capable of
attaining escape velocity from Earth and therefore can achieve unlimited maximum altitude. Compared with air
breathing engines, rockets are lightweight and powerful and capable of generating large accelerations. To
control their flight, rockets rely on momentum, airfoils, auxiliary reaction engines, gimballed thrust, momentum
wheels, deflection of the exhaust stream, propellant flow, spin, and/or gravity.

Launchers or Launch Vehicles are used to carry spacecraft to space. India has two operational launchers:
Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV). GSLV with indigenous
Cryogenic Upper Stage has enabled the launching up to 2 tonne class of communication satellites. The next
variant of GSLV is GSLV Mk III, with indigenous high thrust cryogenic engine and stage, having the capability of
launching 4 tonne class of communication satellites.

In order to achieve high accuracy in placing satellites into their orbits, a combination of accuracy,
efficiency, power and immaculate planning are required. ISRO's Launch Vehicle Programme spans numerous
centres and employs over 5,000 people. Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, located in Thiruvananthapuram, is
responsible for the design and development of launch vehicles.

Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre and ISRO Propulsion Complex, located at Valiamala and Mahendragiri
respectively, develop the liquid and cryogenic stages for these launch vehicles. Satish Dhawan Space Centre,
SHAR, is the space port of India and is responsible for integration of launchers. It houses two operational launch
pads from where all GSLV and PSLV flights take place.
INDIAN SPACE RESEARCH ORGANISATION

POLAR STATIONARY LAUNCH VEHICLE GEO-SYNCHRONOUS STATIONARY LAUNCH VEHICLE

INDIAN SPACE RESEARCH ORGANISATION

POLAR SATELLITE LAUNCH VEHICLE (PSLV):

Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV): It is the third generation launch vehicle of India. It is the first Indian
launch vehicle to be equipped with liquid stages. After its first successful launch in October 1994, PSLV emerged
as the reliable and versatile workhorse launch vehicle of India with 39 consecutively successful missions by June
2017.

The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, commonly known by its abbreviation PSLV, is an expendable launch
system developed by ISRO to allow India to launch its Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) satellites into Sun synchronous
orbits. PSLV can also launch small satellites into geostationary transfer orbit (GTO).

The reliability and versatility of the PSLV is proven by the fact that it has launched, as of 2014, 71
satellites/spacecraft (31 Indian and 40 foreign) into a variety of orbits. The maximum number of satellites
launched by the PSLV in a single launch is 104, in the PSLV-C37 launch on 15 February 2017.

During 1994-2017 period, the vehicle has launched 48 Indian satellites and 209 satellites for customers
from abroad.

Besides, the vehicle successfully launched two spacecraft – Chandrayaan-1 in 2008 and Mars Orbiter
Spacecraft in 2013 – that later traveled to Moon and Mars respectively.

Vehicle Specifications
Height : 44 m
Diameter : 2.8 m
Number of Stages :4
Lift Off Mass : 320 tonnes (XL)
Variants : 3 (PSLV-G, PSLV - CA, PSLV - XL)
First Flight : September 20, 1993

GEOSYNCHRONOUS SATELLITE LAUNCH VEHICLE (GSLV):

Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark II (GSLV Mk II) is the largest launch vehicle developed by
India, which is currently in operation. This fourth generation launch vehicle is a three stage vehicle with four
liquid strap-ons. The indigenously developed cryogenic Upper Stage (CUS), which is flight proven, forms the third
stage of GSLV Mk II. From January 2014, the vehicle has achieved four consecutive successes.

The Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle, usually known by its abbreviation GSLV, is an expendable
launch system developed to enable India to launch its INSAT-type satellites into geostationary orbit and to make
India less dependent on foreign rockets. At present, it is ISRO's second-heaviest satellite launch vehicle and is
capable of putting a total payload of up to 5 tons to Low Earth Orbit. The vehicle is built by India, originally with
a cryogenic engine purchased from Russia, while the ISRO developed its own cryogenic engine.

Vehicle Specifications
Height : 49.13 m
Number of Stages :3
Lift Off Mass : 414.75 tonnes
First Flight : April 18, 2001
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GEO-SYNCHRONOUS LAUNCH
VEHICLE MARK III
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GEOSYNCHRONOUS SATELLITE LAUNCH VEHICLE MARK-III (GSLV III):

GSLV-Mk III is a launch vehicle. It is capable to launch four tonne satellites into geosynchronous transfer
orbit. GSLV-Mk III is a three-stage vehicle with a 110 tonne core liquid propellant stage (L-110) flanked by two
200 tonne solid propellant strap-on booster motors (S-200). The upper stage is cryogenic with a propellant
loading of 25 tonne (C-25). The vehicle has a lift-off mass of about 640 tonnes and be 43.43 metres tall. According
to ISRO, the payload fairing has a diameter of 5 metres and a payload volume of 100 cubic metres. It will allow
India to become less dependent on foreign rockets for heavy lifting.
Status: Active

SATELLITE LAUNCH VEHICLE (SLV):

The Satellite Launch Vehicle, usually known by its abbreviation SLV or SLV-3 was a 4-stage solid-propellant light
launcher. It was intended to reach a height of 500 km and carry a payload of 40 kg. Its first launch took place in
1979 with 2 more in each subsequent year, and the final launch in 1983. Only two of its four test flights were
successful.
Status: Decommissioned

AUGMENTED SATELLITE LAUNCH VEHICLE (ASLV):

The Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle, usually known by its abbreviation ASLV was a 5-stage solid propellant
rocket with the capability of placing a 150 kg satellite into Low Earth Orbit. This project was started by the ISRO
during the early 1980s to develop technologies needed for a payload to be placed into a geostationary orbit. Its
design was based on Satellite Launch Vehicle. The first launch test was held in 1987, and after that 3 others
followed in 1988, 1992 and 1994, out of which only 2 were successful, before it was decommissioned.
Status: Decommissioned
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CHANDARAYAAN - 1

MARS ORBITER MISSION

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MISSIONS:

CHANDRAYAAN-1:
Chandrayaan-1 was India's first mission to the moon. The unmanned lunar exploration mission included
a lunar orbiter and an impactor called the Moon Impact Probe. ISRO launched the spacecraft using a modified
version of the PSLV on 22 October 2008 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.

The vehicle was successfully inserted into lunar orbit on 8 November 2008. It carried high-resolution
remote sensing equipment for visible, near infrared, and soft and hard X-ray frequencies.

During its 312 days operational period (2 years planned), it surveyed the lunar surface to produce a
complete map of its chemical characteristics and 3-dimensional topography. The polar regions were of special
interest, as they possibly had ice deposits.

The spacecraft carried 11 instruments: 5 Indian and 6 from foreign institutes and space agencies
(including NASA, ESA, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Brown University and other European and North American
institutes/companies), which were carried free of cost.

Chandrayaan-1 became the first lunar mission to discover existence of water on the Moon. The
Chandrayaan-166 team was awarded the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics SPACE 2009 award,
the International Lunar Exploration Working Group's International Co-operation award in 2008,and the National
Space Society's 2009 Space Pioneer Award in the science and engineering category.

Mars Orbiter Mission (MANGALAYAAN):

The Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), informally known as Mangalayaan, was launched into Earth orbit on
5 November 2013 by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and has entered Mars orbit on 24
September 2014. India thus became the first country to enter Mars orbit on its first attempt. It was completed
at a record cost of $74 million.

Mars Orbiter Mission was successfully placed into Mars orbit on 24 September 2014 at 8:23 am IST.The
spacecraft had a launch mass of 1,337 kg (2,948 lb), with 15 kg (33 lb) of five scientific instruments as payload.

The National Space Society awarded the Mars Orbiter Mission team the 2015 Space Pioneer Award in
the science and engineering category.
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APPLICATIONS
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APPLICATION:
The Indian Remote sensing programme is driven by the user needs. In fact, the first remote sensing
based pilot project was carried out to identify coconut root-wilt disease in Kerala way back in 1970. This pilot
project led the development of Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) satellites. Varieties of instruments have been flown
onboard the IRS satellites to provide necessary data in a diversified spatial, spectral and temporal resolutions to
cater to different user requirements in the country and for global usage.

These IRS satellites observe the planet Earth from space and provide us periodically synoptic and
systematic information pertaining to land, ocean and atmosphere and several aspects of environment. This
information is a key ingredient in the programmes of the government at the Centre and State towards ensuring
food and water security, sustaining our environment and eco-system, understanding weather and climate,
monitoring and management of natural resources, planning and monitoring of developmental activities, support
to management and mitigation during disaster events, and information for better governance.

Agriculture & Soils

 Crop production forecast
 Saline/sodic soils mapping
 Agro-Met services & disaster surveillance
 Pest, Floods, Drought surveillance
 Horticulture development

Bio Resources and Environment

 Forest cover and type mapping
 Wetland inventory & conservation plans
 Bio diversity characterization
 Desertification status mapping
 Coastal, mangroves, Coral Related
 Snow and glacier studies

Cartography
 Large scale mapping
 Satellite based topo-map updation
 Digital Elevation Model (Carto-DEM)
 Cadastral level mapping

Geology and Mineral Resources

 Landslide hazard zonation
 Mineral /oil exploration, mining areas
 Seiesmo-tectonic studies
 Engineering and geo-environmental
studies

Ocean and Meteorology

 Ocean primary productivity
 Ocean status forecast
 Storm surge modelling
 Regional weather prediction
 Tropical cyclone and mesoscale studies
 Extended range monsoon prediction
INDIAN SPACE RESEARCH ORGANISATION
INDIAN SPACE RESEARCH ORGANISATION

Rural Development Water Resources

 National Drinking Water mission
 Wasteland mapping/updation
 watershed development and monitoring
 Land records modernization plan
Urban Development
 Urban sprawl mapping of major cities
 Master / structure plans
 Comprehensive development plans of
selected cities / towns
 Base map generation for towns
 National urban information system
 Irrigation infrastructure assessment
 Water resource information system
 Snow melt run-off estimation
 Reservoir capacity evaluation
 Site selection for hydro-power
Natural Resources Census
 Periodic inventory of natural resources
under NR Census programme
 Land use/land cover, soil, geomorphology,
wetland, land degradation, snow and
glacier, vegetation

Disaster Management Support

 Operationally addressing various natural disasters like floods, cyclone, drought, landslide, earthquake
and forest fire
 Research and development on early warning systems and decision support tools

Climate Change Studies

 Mapping the indications, monitoring the agents and modelling the impact
 Characterization of climate variables
 Methane emission and Timberline study
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INDIAN SPACE RESEARCH ORGANISATION

Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)

Status: Active
Decade-wise summary of PSLV launches:
Decade Successful Partial success Failures Total
1990s 3 1 1 5
2000s 11 0 0 11
2010s 24 0 1 25
Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV)
Status: Active

The first version of the GSLV (GSLV Mk.I), using the Russian cryogenic stage, became operational in 2004, after
an unsuccessful first launch in 2001 and a second, successful development launch in 2003.

The first attempt to launch the GSLV Mk.II with an Indian built cryogenic engine, GSLV-F06 carrying GSAT-5P,
failed on 25 December 2010. The initial evaluation implies that loss of control for the strap-on boosters caused
the rocket to veer from its intended flight path, forcing a programmed detonation. Sixty-four seconds into the
first stage of flight, the rocket began to break up due to the acute angle of attack. The body housing the 3rd
stage, the cryogenic stage, incurred structural damage, forcing the range safety team to initiate a programmed
detonation of the rocket.

On 5 January 2014, GSLV-D5 successfully launched GSAT-14 into intended orbit. This marked first successful
flight using indigenous cryogenic engine (CE-7.5), making India the sixth country in the world to have this
technology.
Again on 27 August 2015, GSLV-D6 launched GSAT-6 into the transfer orbit. ISRO used the indigenously
developed Cryogenic Upper Stage (CUS) third time on board in this GSLV flight.

On 8 September 2016, GSLV-F05 successfully launched INSAT-3DR, an advanced weather satellite, weighing
2211 kg into a Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO). GSLV is designed to inject 2 – 2.5 Tonne class of satellites
into GTO. The launch took place from the Second Launch Pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR (SDSC SHAR),
Sriharikota. GSLV-F05 flight is significant since it is the first operational flight of GSLV carrying Cryogenic Upper
Stage (CUS). The indigenously developed CUS was carried on board for the fourth time during a GSLV flight in
the GSLV-F05 flight. GSLV-F05 vehicle is configured with all its three stages including the CUS similar to the ones
successfully flown during the previous GSLV-D5 and D6 missions in January 2014 and August 2015.
Decade-wise summary of GSLV Launches:
Decade Successful Partial success Failures Total
2000s 3 1 1 5
2010s 4 0 2 6

On 18 December 2014, ISRO successfully conducted an experimental test-flight of GSLV MK III carrying a crew
module, to be used in future human space missions. This suborbital test flight demonstrated the performance
of GSLV Mk III in the atmosphere.

GSLV Mk III-D1 carrying communication satellite GSAT-19 lifted off from the second launch pad at Satish Dhawan
Space Centre in Sriharikota on 5 June 2017 and placed the advanced communication satellite into the
geosynchronous transfer orbit 16 minutes after takeoff. GSAT-19 satellite with a lift-off mass of 3136 kg, is the
communication satellite of India, configured around the ISRO’s standard I-3K bus.
Decade wise summary of GSLV III launches:
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Decade Successful Partial success Failures Total

2010s 2 0 0 2

India's first satellite, the Aryabhata, was launched by the Soviet Union on 19 April 1975 from Kapustin Yar using
a Cosmos-3M launch vehicle. This was followed by the Rohini series of experimental satellites, which were built
and launched indigenously. At present, ISRO operates a large number of earth observation satellites.

Telecommunication
India uses its satellites communication network – one of the largest in the world – for applications such as land
management, water resources management, natural disaster forecasting, radio networking, weather
forecasting, meteorological imaging and computer communication. Business, administrative services, and
schemes such as the National Informatics Centre (NICNET) are direct beneficiaries of applied satellite
technology. Dinshaw Mistry, on the subject of practical applications of the Indian space program, writes:
"The INSAT-2 satellites also provide telephone links to remote areas; data transmission for organisations such
as the National Stock Exchange; mobile satellite service communications for private operators, railways, and
road transport; and broadcast satellite services, used by India's state-owned television agency as well as
commercial television channels. India's EDUSAT (Educational Satellite), launched aboard the GSLV in 2004, was
intended for adult literacy and distance learning applications in rural areas. It augmented and would eventually
replace such capabilities already provided by INSAT-3B."
Resource management
The IRS satellites have found applications with the Indian Natural Resource Management program, with Regional
Remote Sensing Service Centres in five Indian cities, and with Remote Sensing Application Centres in twenty
Indian states that use IRS images for economic development applications. These include environmental
monitoring, analysing soil erosion and the impact of soil conservation measures, forestry management,
determining land cover for wildlife sanctuaries, delineating groundwater potential zones, flood inundation
mapping, drought monitoring, estimating crop acreage and deriving agricultural production estimates, fisheries
monitoring, mining and geological applications such as surveying metal and mineral deposits, and urban
planning.
Military
India's satellites and satellite launch vehicles have had military spin-offs. While India's 93–124-mile (150–
250 km) range Prithvi missile is not derived from the Indian space programme, the intermediate range Agni
missile is drawn from the Indian space programme's SLV-3. In its early years, when headed by Vikram Sarabhai
and Satish Dhawan, ISRO opposed military applications for its dual-use projects such as the SLV-3. Eventually,
however, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) based missile programme borrowed
human resources and technology from ISRO. Missile scientist A.P.J. Abdul Kalam (elected president of India in
2002), who had headed the SLV-3 project at ISRO, moved to DRDO to direct India's missile programme. About a
dozen scientists accompanied Kalam from ISRO to DRDO, where he designed the Agni missile using the SLV-3's
solid fuel first stage and a liquid-fuel (Prithvi-missile-derived) second stage. The IRS and INSAT satellites were
primarily intended and used for civilian-economic applications, but they also offered military spin-offs. In 1996
New Delhi's Ministry of Defence temporarily blocked the use of IRS-1C by India's environmental and agricultural
ministries to monitor ballistic missiles near India's borders. In 1997 the Indian Air Force's "Airpower Doctrine"
aspired to use space assets for surveillance and battle management.
Academic
Institutions like the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) and the Indian Institutes of Technology use
satellites for scholarly applications. Between 1975 and 1976, India conducted its largest sociological programme
using space technology, reaching 2400 villages through video programming in local languages aimed at
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educational development via ATS-6 technology developed by NASA. This experiment—named Satellite
Instructional Television Experiment (SITE)—conducted large scale video broadcasts resulting in significant
improvement in rural education. Education could reach far remote rural places with the help of above programs.
Telemedicine
ISRO has applied its technology for telemedicine, directly connecting patients in rural areas to medical
professionals in urban locations via satellites. Since high-quality healthcare is not universally available in some
of the remote areas of India, the patients in remote areas are diagnosed and analyzed by doctors in urban
centers in real time via video conferencing. The patient is then advised medicine and treatment. The patient is
then treated by the staff at one of the 'super-specialty hospitals' under instructions from the doctor. Mobile
telemedicine vans are also deployed to visit locations in far-flung areas and provide diagnosis and support to
patients.
Biodiversity Information System
ISRO has also helped implement India's Biodiversity Information System, completed in October 2002. Nirupa Sen
details the program: "Based on intensive field sampling and mapping using satellite remote sensing and
geospatial modeling tools, maps have been made of vegetation cover on a 1: 250,000 scale. This has been put
together in a web-enabled database that links gene-level information of plant species with spatial information
in a BIOSPEC database of the ecological hot spot regions, namely northeastern India, Western Ghats, Western
Himalayas and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. This has been made possible with collaboration between the
Department of Biotechnology and ISRO."
Cartography
The Indian IRS-P5 (CARTOSAT-1) was equipped with high-resolution panchromatic equipment to enable it for
cartographic purposes. IRS-P5 (CARTOSAT-1) was followed by a more advanced model named IRS-P6 developed
also for agricultural applications. The CARTOSAT-2 project, equipped with single panchromatic camera that
supported scene-specific on-spot images, succeeded the CARTOSAT-1 project.

Satellites launched by ISRO

As of June 2017, ISRO has launched 278 satellites, including 209 foreign ones using indigenously developed
launch vehicles like SLV, ASLV, PSLV and GSLV.Though reliable, the PSLV can not launch satellites having mass
greater than 1600 kg. ISRO has developed its Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle for launching heavier
satellites. ISRO also holds the world record for launching the most number of satellites, 104, in a single launch.
INDIAN SPACE RESEARCH ORGANISATION

POLAR SATELLITE LAUNCH VEHICLE

About the Launch Vehicle
Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) is the third generation launch vehicle of India. It is the first Indian launch
vehicle to be equipped with liquid stages. After its first successful launch in October 1994, PSLV emerged as the
reliable and versatile workhorse launch vehicle of India with 39 consecutively successful missions by June 2017.
During 1994-2017 period, the vehicle has launched 48 Indian satellites and 209 satellites for customers from
abroad.
Besides, the vehicle successfully launched two spacecraft – Chandrayaan-1 in 2008 and Mars Orbiter Spacecraft
in 2013 – that later traveled to Moon and Mars respectively
Vehicle Specifications
Height : 44 m

Diameter : 2.8 m

Number of Stages :4

Lift Off Mass : 320 tonnes (XL)

Variants : 3 (PSLV-G, PSLV - CA, PSLV - XL)

First Flight : September 20, 1993

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TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Payload to SSPO: 1,750 kg
PSLV earned its title 'the Workhorse of ISRO' through consistently delivering various
satellites to Low Earth Orbits, particularly the IRS series of satellites. It can take up to 1,750
kg of payload to Sun-Synchronous Polar Orbits of 600 km altitude.
Payload to Sub GTO: 1,425 kg
Due to its unmatched reliability, PSLV has also been used to launch various satellites into
Geosynchronous and Geostationary orbits, like satellites from the IRNSS constellation.
Fourth Stage: PS4
The PS4 is the uppermost stage of PSLV, comprising of two Earth storable liquid engines.
Engine : 2 x PS-4

Fuel : MMH + MON

Max. Thrust : 7.6 x 2 kN

Third Stage: PS3
The third stage of PSLV is a solid rocket motor that provides the upper stages high thrust
after the atmospheric phase of the launch.
Fuel : HTPB

Max. Thrust : 240 kN

Second Stage: PS2
PSLV uses an Earth storable liquid rocket engine for its second stage, know as the Vikas
engine, developed by Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre.
Engine : Vikas

Fuel : UDMH + N2O4

Max. Thrust : 799 kN

First Stage: PS1
PSLV uses the S139 solid rocket motor that is augmented by 6 solid strap-on boosters.
Engine : S139

Fuel : HTPB

Max. Thrust : 4800 kN

Strap-on Motors
PSLV uses 6 solid rocket strap-on motors to augment the thrust provided by the first stage
in its PSLV-G and PSLV-XL variants. However, strap-ons are not used in the core alone
version (PSLV-CA).
Fuel : HTPB

Max. Thrust : 719 kN

INDIAN SPACE RESEARCH ORGANISATION

GEOSYNCHRONOUS SATELLITE LAUNCH VEHICLE

(GSLV)
About the Launch Vehicle
Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark II (GSLV Mk II) is the largest launch vehicle developed by India,
which is currently in operation. This fourth generation launch vehicle is a three stage vehicle with four liquid
strap-ons. The indigenously developed cryogenic Upper Stage (CUS), which is flight proven, forms the third stage
of GSLV Mk II. From January 2014, the vehicle has achieved four consecutive successes.
Vehicle Specifications
Height : 49.13 m

Number of Stages :3

Lift Off Mass : 414.75 tonnes

First Flight : April 18, 2001

INDIAN SPACE RESEARCH ORGANISATION

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Payload to GTO: 2,500 kg
GSLV's primary payloads are INSAT class of communication satellites that operate
from Geostationary orbits and hence are placed in Geosynchronous Transfer
Orbits by GSLV.
Payload to LEO: 5,000 kg
Further, GSLV's capability of placing up to 5 tonnes in Low Earth Orbits broadens
the scope of payloads from heavy satellites to multiple smaller satellites.
Third Stage: CUS
Developed under the Cryogenic Upper Stage Project (CUSP), the CE-7.5 is India's
first cryogenic engine, developed by the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre. CE-
7.5 has a staged combustion operating cycle.
Fuel : LOX + LH2

Max. Thrust : 75 kN

Burn-time : 720 sec

Second Stage: GS2
One Vikas engine is used in the second stage of GSLV. The stage was derived from
the PS2 of PSLV where the Vikas engine has proved its reliability.
First Stage: GS1
The
first Engine : Vikas

Fuel : UDMH + N2O4

Max. Thrust : 800 kN

Burntime : 150 sec

stage of GSLV was also derived from the PSLV's PS1. The 138 tonne solid rocket
motor is augmented by 4 liquid strap-ons.
Strap-on Motors

Engine : S139

Fuel : HTPB

Max. Thrust : 4700 kN

Burntime : 100 sec

Fuel : UDMH + N2O4

Max. Thrust : 680 kN

INDIAN SPACE RESEARCH ORGANISATION

The four liquid engine strap-ons

Burntime : 160 sec
used in GSLV are heavier derivatives
of PSLV's PS2, and use one Vikas engine each.
INDIAN SPACE RESEARCH ORGANISATION