Day 52 – Q 2.The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has set high standards in the area of space technology. Discuss.

2. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has set high standards in the area of space technology. Discuss. 

भारतीय अंतरिक्ष अनुसंधान संगठन (ISRO) ने अंतरिक्ष प्रौद्योगिकी के क्षेत्र में उच्च मानक स्थापित किए हैं। चर्चा करें।

Introduction:

Formed in 1969, ISRO is one of the successful organizations which took the space explorations to a new level in terms of technology as well as its utility for national development. 

Body

Setting high standards in space technology:

With limited resources compared to space organizations like NASA or ESA, ISRO being rich in human capital has set milestones in the area of space technology putting itself in the league of space elites.

• ISRO space launches has one of the high success rates in space launches and also at low cost which makes it trustworthy for other countries to launch their satellites using ISRO space vehicles. This has also added to the soft power diplomacy of India.
• The cost of launch by ISRO is far less compared to other space agencies. ISRO has been a pioneer in launch of small satellites and is servicing the other countries.
• ISRO Created a world record by launching 104 satellites in single mission in 2017.
• India became only the 6th country to be successful in mission to moon when it launched Chandrayaan in 2008. The data collected by it confirmed the presence of liquid in moon which corroborated NASA and ESA’s missions on moon.
• India’s MOM/Mangalyaan mission cost was only 11% that of the NASA’s mars mission MAVEN and was launched with the help of PSLV. MOM had a budget of just Rs. 450 crores, making this Mars mission the least expensive till now. Also, India is the only country to be successful in mars mission at the very first attempt.
• ISRO is making advancement in Astrobiology as well. Three bacteria species that have a high resistance to the UV-rays were found in the earth’s upper stratosphere, in 2009 by ISRO.
• ISRO launched GSLV-MK3 on December, 2014, that has an Indian made crew capsule which can carry up to three astronauts to space. 
• ISRO, over the years has developed technologies indigenously which were denied to it by developed countries. E.g. GLSV F-09 launched in 2017 used upper cryogenic stage whose supply was denied by Russia. ISRO developed IRNSS/NAVIC after USA restricted access to GPS during Kargil war.
• India’s Gaganyaan mission is set to be launched by 2022. The required tests like Space capsule Reentry Experiment, Pad Abort Test etc., are being tested at an accelerated pace.
• ISRO is at par with the advanced space agencies in terms of latest technology developments like Reusable Launch Vehicle Technology Demonstrator (RLV-TD), Scramjet etc.,
• ISRO is at the forefront in space exploration with collaborations with other space agencies like the NISAR mission setting a standard in international space diplomacy in joint explorations.
• ISRO has been pioneer in nano-satellites development and is training 45 countries in the same which includes Brazil, Indonesia, Malaysia and so on. India has been a champion in sharing space technology with the developing and underdeveloped countries.
• Space technology for development: ISRO has undertaken development projects like Village Resource Center and so on has demonstrated the use of space investment in country’s development.
• Programmes of ISRO like UNNATI, Yuvika is setting new standards to tap the young minds towards space exploration as a career option. Also, the increasing opportunities and latest missions in ISRO is arresting the brain drain.

Conclusion

As our prime minister observed – ISRO is the pride of the nation which showed us that sky is the limit and it is in our limits. From using space technology for development to advanced space missions and explorations, ISRO has set new milestones for developed countries and has set new standards for developing countries to take leap in space technology.