A look into how ISRO evolved into a major player in global space exploration after the turn of the millennium.
Image source: Nesnad, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Launched in 2008, Chandrayaan-1 discovered water on the Moon and marked India’s debut in lunar exploration.
Image source: By Indian Space Research Organisation (GODL-India), GODL-India, https://commons.wikimedia.org
Chandrayaan-1’s landmark discovery of water molecules redefined lunar science.
Image source: By Credits: ISRO/NASA/JPL-Caltech/USGS/Brown Univ. - http://www.nasa.gov/topics/moonmars/features/moon20090924.html, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org
The 2013 Mars Orbiter Mission made India the first country to reach Mars on its first attempt—at a record-low cost.
Image source: Indian Space Research Organisation, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Mangalyaan showed the world how space missions can be successful and affordable.
Image source: Madhav fallusion, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
In 2019, ISRO launched Chandrayaan-2 to study the Moon and attempt a soft landing on its South Pole.
Image source: Indian Space Research Organisation (GODL-India), GODL-India <https://data.gov.in/sites/default/files/Gazette_Notification_OGDL.pdf>, via Wikimedia Commons
Despite the Vikram lander crashing, the mission contributed valuable lunar data and experience.
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In 2023, ISRO became the first to land near the Moon’s South Pole with Chandrayaan-3.
Image source: By Indian Space Research Organisation (GODL-India), GODL-India, https://commons.wikimedia.org
Launched in 2023, Aditya-L1 is India’s first solar mission to study solar storms and space weather.
Image source: Indian Space Research Organisation (GODL-India), GODL-India <https://data.gov.in/sites/default/files/Gazette_Notification_OGDL.pdf>, via Wikimedia Commons
Aditya-L1 orbits a special location in space where gravity helps it stay put and study the Sun.
Image source: Tobias ToBeFree Frei, tfrei.de, based on File:Lagrange.jpg, which was made by NASA / WMAP Science Team, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Set for 2025, Gaganyaan aims to send Indian astronauts into low Earth orbit.
Image source: By Indian Space Research Organisation (GODL-India), GODL-India, https://commons.wikimedia.org
With past triumphs and ambitious plans ahead, ISRO is poised to lead a new era in global space exploration.
Image source: Photo by ISRO, licensed under CC BY-ND, via flickr.com
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Image source: Nesnad, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons