Half a century after India’s space programme took its first steps with a donated rocket from the United States, the Indian Space Research Organisation is preparing to launch a 6,500 kg American-built communication satellite from Indian soil.
ISRO Chairman and Secretary of the Department of Space, V Narayanan, revealed the plan on Sunday while reflecting on the country’s remarkable journey from humble beginnings to a global space power. He was speaking at the 21st Convocation of SRM Institute of Science and Technology in Kattankulathur near Chennai, where he was conferred the honorary Doctor of Science degree by Maharashtra Governor C P Radhakrishnan.
Recalling the origins of India’s space journey, Narayanan noted that in 1963, when India was six to seven years behind advanced nations in space technology, a small rocket donated by the US was launched on November 21 that year. The collaboration continued in 1975, when satellite data from the US helped ISRO demonstrate ‘mass communication’ by installing 2,400 television sets in as many villages across six states.
From those modest beginnings, Narayanan said, ISRO had now reached a stage where it stands “shoulder to shoulder with advanced countries.” He pointed to the July 30 launch of the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission on a GSLV-F16 rocket as a milestone moment.
Also read: ISRO-NASA joint Earth observation satellite 'NISAR' lifts off
“The 30th of July was a historical day for the Indian space programme. We have launched the NISAR satellite, the costliest satellite ever built in the world. The L Band SAR payload from the USA and S Band payload provided by ISRO. The satellite was placed in orbit precisely by an Indian launcher,” he said.
Narayanan disclosed that the upcoming American communication satellite launch will be carried out entirely using an Indian launcher. “In another couple of months, a country which received a tiny rocket from the United States, is going to launch a 6,500 kg communication satellite built by the America using our own launcher from Indian soil. What a significant growth it is,” he observed.
He also revealed that since acquiring satellite technology, India has launched 433 satellites for 34 countries using its own vehicles, a record that projects its reputation as a reliable and cost-effective launch partner.
The NISAR mission, jointly developed by NASA and ISRO, carries advanced L-band and S-band synthetic aperture radar systems, designed to provide unprecedented insight into changes to Earth’s surface, helping track climate change impacts and natural disasters.
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