Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has long been a source of national pride as well as worldwide admiration. Since its inception in 1969, they have been at the forefront of space exploration, pushing boundaries and redefining the possibilities of scientific discovery. Thanks to its relentless commitment to technological advancement and unstoppable passion for exploration, ISRO has made numerous groundbreaking contributions that have transformed not only India’s space program but also advanced its understanding of space on a global scale. In this blog, we will look at the top achievements of ISRO, demonstrating its brilliance, dedication, and relentless quest for perfection, which have firmly positioned it on the world map of space exploration.
1. Chandrayaan 3-2023
On August 23, 2023, ISRO achieved a significant milestone with the successful launch of Chandrayaan-3. It was launched using LVM3, weighing 8,400 kilograms. This spacecraft is on course to touch down on the Moon’s surface by September 7, 2023. Chandrayaan-3’s primary mission objective is the soft landing of a rover on the lunar surface, facilitating a series of experiments aimed at comprehending both the Moon’s surface and subsurface characteristics. The spacecraft has been outfitted with a laser altimeter, a spectrometer, and a magnetometer, among other instruments. Noteworthy features of Chandrayaan-3 include its three-part configuration, comprising a lander, a rover, and a propulsion module. The Vikram lander is poised to execute a gentle landing in the South Pole region of the Moon, while the subsequent deployment of the Pragyan rover will initiate an exploration phase lasting up to 14 days. Remarkably, this ambitious mission operates within a budget of approximately 615 crores, a testament to ISRO’s efficient resource management and strategic allocation of funds.
2. Launching 104 satellites – 2017
Among the numerous successes of ISRO, the first one we have on our list of the Top Achievements of ISRO is successfully launching 104 satellites with a single rocket. In 2017, they reached this milestone in partnership with six nations, employing the powerful PS: V-C37 and showcasing its remarkable capability in a single mission, achieving a significant milestone in the field of space exploration.
- ISRO successfully launched an amazing 31 satellites simultaneously, demonstrating their worldwide reach. Notable countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States, and Germany entrusted ISRO with their satellites. This historic event took place on February 15, 2017.
- Its Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) outperformed the competition, transporting and delivering 104 satellites into sun-synchronous orbits in a single flight. This remarkable effort broke the previous record of 37 satellites launched on June 19, 2014, by a Russian Dnepr rocket.
- On February 15, 2017, the 714-kilogram Cartosat-2 Series satellite, accompanied by 103 co-passenger spacecraft, was the central attraction of the show.
- PSLV-C37’s 104 satellites weighed a whopping 1378 kg in total. With this incredible achievement, the number of Indian satellites launched by PSLV has risen to 46.
3. Mars Orbit Mission – 2014
ISRO launched MOM in 2013, rightly named Mangalyaan, to expand the bounds of exploration by venturing into unknown territory, enabling humanity to unravel the secrets of the cosmos.
- The historic endeavor has caught the world’s attention, focusing clearly on understanding Martian terrain, morphology, minerals, and atmosphere. MOM, blasted into space by the powerful PSLV-XL, set out on its voyage to Mars.
- Since it first arrived at Mars on September 24, 2014, MOM has been in orbit around the planet. Its strategic orientation lets it gather detailed photographs of a whole Martian hemisphere simultaneously, thanks to a highly elliptical orbit spanning 423 80,000 km.
- MOM carries a color camera, a thermal infrared sensor, an ultraviolet spectrometer, a mass spectrometer, and a methane sensor, among other instruments that allow scientists to examine the Martian exosphere and investigate the existence of methane.
- Notably, on October 19, 2014, MOM had the unusual opportunity to view Comet Siding Spring as it gently glided by Mars, approaching 132,000 miles from the planet.
4. Chandrayan – 2008
ISRO launched India’s first lunar exploration mission, Chandrayaan-1, which is one of the top achievements of ISRO. It successfully orbited the moon and made significant discoveries, contributing to our understanding of the lunar surface.
- In October 2008, ISRO launched this ground-breaking mission. It performed successfully from launch to August 2009, leaving a lasting legacy on space exploration.
- Chandrayaan-1 set out on an incredible journey, armed with a lunar orbiter and an impactor. In 2008, India reached new heights by launching the groundbreaking Chandrayaan project, the first-ever space journey to the moon.
- On October 22, 2008, a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle launched into space the 590-kg (1,300-pound) Chandrayaan-1. The probe quickly rose into an elliptical polar orbit around the Moon, reaching an incredible altitude of 504 km (312 miles) at its closest approach to the lunar surface and a stunning 7,502 km (4,651 miles) at its farthest point.
- Following a thorough assessment, the spacecraft sank elegantly to a precise 100-kilometer (60-mile) orbit. On November 14, 2008, Chandrayaan-1 launched the Moon Impact Probe (MIP), a small but powerful craft revealing the existence of minuscule amounts of water in the Moon’s atmosphere.
5. Aryabhatta satellite – 1975
The Aryabhatta satellite, named after the ancient Indian mathematician, was launched into space. It played a significant role in advancing India’s space program and conducting scientific experiments.
- Aryabhata was launched into space on April 19, 1997. It was named after the great Indian astronomer and was built entirely in India. This ground-breaking satellite enthralled the world.
- Aryabhata was sent into orbit by the powerful Kosmos-3M launch vehicle from Kapustin Yar, a well-known Soviet rocket launch complex in Astrakhan Oblast. It embarked on a journey to unravel the mysteries of our planet and beyond with precision and grace.
- Aryabhata weighed 794 pounds (360 kg) and was outfitted with innovative technology. Its aim is to probe deep into the Earth’s ionosphere, meticulously analyzing the interesting neutrons and gamma rays emitted by our bright sun. Aryabhata was also programmed to discover the secrets of the universe through enthralling X-ray astronomy experiments.
- On the historic day of April 19, 1975, Aryabhata took flight, riding atop a Russian-made rocket within the Soviet Union’s borders. Aryabhata exemplifies India’s capability in space exploration.
6. Vikas Engine – 1970
Lastly on our list of the Top Achievements of ISRO is the Vikas Engine. The Vikas engine is a powerful and reliable liquid rocket engine developed by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). It has been extensively used in various launch vehicles, including the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV).
- The series of liquid-fueled rocket engines developed by ISRO scientists have redefined the possibilities for space exploration. A brilliant team at the Liquid Propulsion Systems Center, led by the extraordinary Nambi Narayanan, developed the Vikas engine in the 1970s.
- This marvel of Indian engineering has risen to tremendous heights by drawing inspiration from the licensed version of the Viking engine and combining it with an innovative chemical pressurization system.
- It also powers the PSLV’s second stage, boosts the performance of the GSLV Mark I and II, and serves as the fearsome core stage of the GSLV Mark III. This remarkable engine has carried missions such as Chandrayan and Mangalyaan to the stars.
- On January 30, 2023, ISRO reached a watershed moment: the Vikas engine’s initial throttling trial hot test was a success. Witness the engineering marvel’s accuracy and refinement as ISRO achieved a historic 67% power reduction for a stunning 43 seconds.
We hope that our blog on the top achievements of ISRO has provided you with valuable insights into the incredible accomplishments of this renowned space agency. To stay informed about other exciting topics, we encourage you to continue reading our blogs, where we strive to deliver valuable and engaging information on a wide range of subjects.
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