Space & Astronomy Module
ISRO Missions & Indian Space Program
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), founded on August 15, 1969 by Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, has established India as a premier spacefaring nation. On August 23, 2023, Chandrayaan-3 achieved a historic soft landing near the lunar south pole with the Vikram lander and Pragyan rover, leading the Government of India to designate August 23 as National Space Day. Other landmark scientific missions include Chandrayaan-1 (which confirmed lunar water molecules in 2008), the Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan, 2013), and Aditya-L1, launched in September 2023 to observe the Sun from the Sun-Earth Lagrangian Point 1. ISRO relies on proven launch vehicles including the PSLV, LVM3, and SSLV.
Key Concepts & Examination Highlights
- Chandrayaan-3 achieved a successful soft landing near the lunar south pole on August 23, 2023, making India the fourth nation to land on the Moon.
- Aditya-L1 was placed into a halo orbit around the Sun-Earth Lagrangian Point 1 (L1), approximately 1.5 million kilometers from Earth.
- The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) was established on August 15, 1969, succeeding the INCOSPAR committee formed by Dr. Vikram Sarabhai.
Curriculum & Reference Sources: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Department of Space, Government of India