indian space essay

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The Planetary Society • Feb 13, 2024

The history and motivations behind India's growing space program

In 2023, India became the fourth nation to successfully land a spacecraft on the Moon. The success of the Chandrayaan-3 mission helped establish India as a capable space power and bolstered its growing space ambitions.

The history of India's space program is in many ways the inverse of the history of the U.S. and Russia’s programs. While these superpowers were racing to outdo each other with symbolic, high-profile achievements that culminated in the Apollo Moon landings, India focused on the practical and immediate benefits of space.

That has recently started to change. Buoyed by the success of Chandrayaan-3 and a desire to compete with China, India has announced ambitious human spaceflight plans that include space stations and a Moon landing.

Gurbir Singh joined us on Planetary Radio: Space Policy Edition on Jan. 5, 2024 to talk about the history and motivations behind India’s space program. Singh is the author of The Indian Space Programme: India's Incredible Journey from the Third World towards the First.

The original transcript has been condensed and edited for clarity.

Casey Dreier: Gurbir Singh, thank you so much for joining us on Planetary Radio: Space Policy Edition this month. I'm happy you're here.

Gurbir Singh: Well, thanks very much for reaching out. I'm really delighted to be here.

Casey Dreier: This is a big topic, so we might as well start at the beginning. Why did India start a space program in 1963?

Gurbir Singh: I use the launch of the very first rocket from Indian soil as a marker for the start of the program. That was a suborbital rocket launched from southern India. The payload was a small sodium capsule, which diffused at an altitude of about 150 kilometers. Watching how that payload dispersed was the experiment. That started what we today call the Indian Space Research Organization, or ISRO.

At that point India had been independent [from the British] for about a decade and a half, and the space program was part of the nation-building activities that were taking place. At that time, there were post-World War II developments in England and most of Europe, such as televisions, telephones, and commercial air flights. These were really becoming available to just about everybody.

The space age had started with the launch of Sputnik in 1957 and Yuri Gagarin's flight in 1961. The Indian prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, really believed in science. He believed that the new nation of India, independent India, should be forged on what he called the scientific temper, the temperament of science. So he put science at the forefront, and that's really why space was almost inevitable.

Casey Dreier: What's interesting to me is that India didn’t create this as a Cold War competition. It wasn’t throwing its hat in to compete directly, or to establish itself as a regional power. There were internal and domestic reasons that it wanted to establish a space capability. Is that an accurate way to think of this?

Gurbir Singh: There is a very long tradition of science in Indian history. By the time India became independent, there were many successful Indian scientists of international repute, such as Vikram Sarabhai, who's considered as the father of the Indian space program. They were bright, gifted, and came from very successful industrial families. They had a lot of cash, and they also had contacts in high society. They knew the prime minister. So they were moving in the right circles. And I think that synergy helped to kickstart India in the direction it went.

Casey Dreier: You write that, unlike the space programs being established at the time in the U.S. and Soviet Union, India’s program from the outset was wholly non-military and built to meet the social needs of its huge population. It was really almost inwardly directed as a modernizing force rather than a demonstration of technological competition or global hegemony.

Gurbir Singh: Having lived under suppression, under the control of another nation, was seen as a national humiliation. India did not want to return to that. There was a desire for self-sufficiency rather than some sort of hegemony or sense of superiority over other countries. India is probably the only country with a space program which had entirely non-military foundations, although since then, it has grown to include military aspects.

Casey Dreier: For the first few decades, ISRO focused on servicing the Indian population. But then, in the 1990s, there’s a proposal to send the Chandrayaan-1 scientific mission to the Moon. What caused this new era of exploration to develop within ISRO?

Gurbir Singh: The Moon mission and many other ISRO space programs have been influenced by similar programs in China. In 2003, China had its first human spaceflight success. In 2007, they sent a spacecraft to the Moon. They have built their own space stations. So India has been following in China’s footsteps, just like what happened in the Cold War between the U.S. and Soviet Union.

If China had not gone to the Moon, India wouldn't have gone to the Moon. There's this wonderful quote in a book by the Soviet engineer Boris Chertok where he says that if there hadn't been a Gagarin, there wouldn’t have been an Armstrong.

Casey Dreier: You write that in 2013, India went to Mars with the Mars Orbiter Mission Mangalyaan because both Japan and China had tried and failed. After Mangalyaan, China followed up with its own Tianwen mission and successfully landed. Are we seeing an increase in this tit-for-tat competition?

Gurbir Singh: India went to Mars in 2013 because there was a Chinese spacecraft on board the Fobos-Grunt spacecraft launched by Russia in 2011. That spacecraft never left Earth orbit and failed. India realized that there would be an opportunity to launch a small mission to Mars in 2013, and get there before China.

The spacecraft only had five instruments, which was very stark. A few years after the ISRO chairman had served his time and wrote a book, he admitted that the whole reason why India went to Mars was because China failed, and the whole intention was to be able to say that India got to Mars before China.

We saw this behavior during the Cold War with Sputnik, Gagarin, and Valentina Tereshkova. Every country's trying to wave a flag and say, “we did this.” There's nothing politicians like more than that.

Casey Dreier: Let's talk about the Modi government's relationship to space. Would you characterize that as a natural extension of the previous government's approach to ISRO and space, or is there something different in their approach and embrace of ISRO and its ambitions?

Gurbir Singh: India has always treated ISRO as the goose that lays the golden eggs. It's something all political parties can benefit from, because apart from the fact that it allows the incumbent prime minister to wave India's flag at every ISRO success, ISRO actually is one of the more successful and competent departments of the government. It's traditionally been supported throughout India's history, regardless of the government.

In prime minister Modi's case, during the Chandrayaan-3 touchdown, he was in a live stream split screen. You could see the lander coming into land, and Modi was there waving a small Indian flag. Immediately after the soft landing of Chandrayaan-3, chairman Somanath got onto the pedestal and said, "India is on the Moon." And then he handed the microphone to the prime minister. I hadn't appreciated what an opportunity he would have to address an international audience. He made a 10-minute speech and said all the things that any politician would say.

Casey Dreier: You wrote in your 2017 book that the Modi government is a dynamic government with a nationalist and aggressive economic agenda, and it’s been positioning itself to use the Indian space program as an instrument for regional influence. Has that played out in the way that you thought it would?

Gurbir Singh: The desire for India to be a regional superpower hasn't quite worked out, mainly because India hoped to capture the launch market for nearby countries: Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bhutan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. But the growth in the international commercial space sector has meant that it's actually quite practical and cost-effective for these countries not to go to the nearest provider, India.

India’s cadence of launches is still very low. Its highest launch rate to Earth orbit or beyond has been seven launches in a year. This year alone, China has already achieved 47, and the U.S. more than 100. I think this has been driving the political changes that's opened up the commercial space sector in India.

The main thing that's been preoccupying ISRO is the Gaganyaan program. India has been developing a launch abort system, parachutes, and capsule recovery techniques. The recent signing of the Artemis Accords and the agreement to have an Indian astronaut go to the International Space Station with NASA will help accelerate the Gaganyaan program. There will be various deals of technology transfer and systems components being sold to India as a result of the collaborative arrangements that are now in place.

Casey Dreier: If the U.S. is increasingly seeing China as a competitive nation in space, then it starts to become a U.S. interest to support India as a backstop against regional influence from China.

Gurbir Singh: That's spot on, and really the reason why India signed the Artemis Accords.

The Artemis Accords would not have been as significant or profound if the International Lunar Research Station did not exist. The International Lunar Research Station is essentially an organization that China and Russia established, but now really China's running with it. The U.S. offered India a really good deal because they didn't want India to go to the International Lunar Research Station.

I think the main reason why India signed is because as part of this agreement, your president offered the Indian prime minister to come speak to a joint assembly of Congress. Any prime minister, especially one who has an election coming up next year, is not going to let that go. He had, I think, a four-day state visit to the U.S. and it's that package deal that made India sign the Artemis Accords.

Casey Dreier: In the past few years, ISRO has opened up to commercial space flight, started a serious effort for human spaceflight, announced an Indian space station, and is aiming for the Moon by 2040. This strikes me as a profound transformation of the role ISRO is going to play in Indian geopolitics.

It seems like the organization has a huge amount of capability to do things, but it's also struggling with capacity. Does that strike you as the biggest challenge facing ISRO and the Indian space community?

Gurbir Singh: I think a lack of capacity has been something that many previous ISRO chairs have identified, and that’s been the motivating factor for opening up the private space sector.

As a result of new space policies, about 200 startup space companies are now operating in India. I think this is where the future of Indian space activities lies: with ISRO helping startups and being supported by startups.

Casey Dreier: I saw that ISRO is facing a budget cut from the Modi government despite all these new ambitions being proposed. What does that tell you about the political commitment to the Indian space program?

Gurbir Singh: Generally, over the last decade or so, ISRO's budget has been increasing. It's at about one-and-a-quarter to one-and-a-half billion U.S. dollars annually. The Gaganyaan program itself, just as a standalone, multi-year program, has been awarded about one billion U.S. dollars. And there was some unspent budget from 2020 and 2021, when not much happened. The Indian economy is doing really well relative to many other Western countries. Economic growth this coming year should lead to a budget increase in the next year.

Casey Dreier: Gurbir Singh is the author of The Indian Space Programme, a book that I really enjoyed and highly recommend to anyone fascinated by this topic. Gurbir, how can people find you online?

Gurbir Singh: The web address for me is gurbir.co.uk , and if anybody's interested in my podcast, I do that on astrotalkuk.org .

Casey Dreier: Thank you so much for being here this month. I hope to have you back in the future.

Gurbir Singh: Great talking to you.

Listen to the full interview on Planetary Radio: Space Policy Edition .

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Shiv Shakti —

India’s accomplishments in space are getting more impressive, these images from the moon are a crowning achievement for india's space program..

Stephen Clark - Sep 1, 2023 12:32 am UTC

It's been more than a week since India's Chandrayaan 3 mission landed on the Moon, and it's a good time to assess where the world's most populous nation stands relative to other global space powers.

The successful arrival of the Chandrayaan 3 mission's Vikram lander on the Moon made India the first country besides China to achieve a soft landing on the lunar surface since 1976, following a series of failed landings by private organizations and India itself four years ago. And it made India just the fourth nation overall to achieve this feat.

Since the landing of Chandrayaan 3 on August 23, India has released some early findings from the lander and its mobile rover, named Pragyan, along with photos of the vehicles exploring the Moon's alien charcoal-color landscape.

The Moon landing is just the latest in a string of successes in space for India, which has a thriving rocket program with a family of four launch vehicles, its own regional satellite navigation network, and nearly 10 years ago sent an orbiter to Mars. If India can notch another success in its space program in the next few years, the country could become the fourth nation capable of sending its astronauts into low-Earth orbit.

India is still well behind the space programs of the United States and China, but one could argue India has moved closer to Europe and Russia and could be on par with Japan when you take into account several factors: access to space, space exploration, military space projects, and applications like communications, navigation, and remote sensing from orbit.

Among the space powers considered here, India has the lowest human development index, a measure of social factors such as quality of life, income, and education. But its space program is a point of national pride, and Narendra Modi, India's nationalist prime minister, has made a point to associate himself with Indian successes in space.

Those successes have come on a shoestring budget. The Indian government this year is allocating $1.52 billion to space efforts, and India developed and launched Chandrayaan 3 for less than $100 million, lower than the cost of many blockbuster Hollywood films.

“I’ve described India as a sleeping giant and one that is quickly awakening," said Mike Gold, an attorney and space industry official who previously led NASA's space policy office. "India is absolutely vital to global space development... since the country is active with lunar programs, Martian programs, and now even human spaceflight.”

Since the landing of Chandrayaan 3, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO)—India's space agency—has released a handful of images, including a black-and-white shot of the stationary SUV-size Vikram lander taken by the Pragyan rover. There's also a video, shown below, of the Pragyan rover rolling down the ramp from the Vikram lander in the hours after arriving on the Moon on August 23.

So far, ISRO hasn't been releasing all of the pictures taken by the rover and lander on the Moon, and the Indian space agency hasn't posted many images on its website, preferring to share them on social media. Let's hope Indian officials develop a better way of releasing high-resolution imagery from Chandrayaan 3 and future deep space probes.

But it's always exciting to see a place human eyes have never seen before, and India's triumph with Chandrayaan 3 is worth celebrating.

In a visit with Indian space scientists in Bangalore last week, Modi announced the Chandrayaan 3 landing site would be named Shiv Shakti Point, a reference to Shiva, a principal deity in Hinduism, and Shakti, which honors the role of women scientists on the mission.

The Vikram lander and Pragyan rover settled onto a landing site closer to the Moon's south pole than any previous lunar lander. Early science results from the mission include the detection of a seismic "event" on the Moon, and the first measurements of the plasma environment near the lunar surface close to the south pole.

"These quantitative measurements potentially assist in mitigating the noise that lunar plasma introduces into radio wave communication. Also, they could contribute to the enhanced designs for upcoming lunar visitors," ISRO said.

Instruments on the rover have detected sulfur in the lunar crust at the landing site. "This finding... compels scientists to develop fresh explanations for the source of sulfur in the area," ISRO said, adding that the element could be intrinsic to the landing site or may have been produced by an ancient volcanic eruption or an asteroid or cometary impact.

The Times of India reported this week that Indian engineers are increasingly optimistic that the Vikram lander and Pragyan rover could wake up and continue their mission after the upcoming two-week-long lunar night. When the Sun sets at the landing site next week, the two vehicles will hibernate as temperatures plummet to minus 333° Fahrenheit (minus 203° Celsius).

The original design life of the lander and rover was to operate for one lunar day, or 14 Earth days, but assuming electronics and batteries hold up to the frigid conditions, there's a chance the vehicles will automatically wake up when rays of sunlight again fall on their solar panels in mid-September.

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Why does India want to be a space power? Chandrayaan-3 and the politics of India’s space programme

With its chandrayaan-3 mission, india has become the fourth nation to land on the moon. dimitrios stroikos has been exploring the complexities around the international politics of space, with a specific focus on china and india as rising powers, and the connections between power, technology and modernity. he sets out how india’s space programme has developed, and why its latest mission is largely a reflection of its great power aspirations..

On 14 July 2023, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched a rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota in southern India that sent India’s third lunar exploration mission, Chandrayaan-3 , consisting of a propulsion module, a lander and a rover. The lander touched down on the surface of the moon on 23 August 2023, making India the fourth country in the world, after the United States, the Soviet Union and China, to carry out a soft landing on the moon.

According to ISRO , the three main goals of the mission were: 1) achieving a soft landing on the lunar surface; 2) realising rover roving on the lunar terrain; and 3) carrying out in-situ experiments.

After landing near the south pole region, Chandrayaan-3’s lander deployed a rover to perform in-situ analysis of the lunar surface. As outlined by ISRO, the lander and the rover have scientific payloads to explore the lunar surface, collect data and perform various experiments. From a scientific point of view, such a mission is important because the south pole region remains underexplored, and thus has the potential for scientific discoveries . For example, it is believed that this region of the moon might contain deposits of ice water. The possibility of the presence of ice water on the moon has already attracted the interest of other space agencies and private companies, especially since the extraction and use of water from the moon could support the feasibility of prolonged lunar missions and serve as a potential stepping stone towards Mars and other missions venturing deeper in space.

But while the possibilities of such discoveries hold great potential for whichever nation makes them and can contribute to the advancement of scientific knowledge, as we shall see, scientific research is just one of the reasons driving India’s vigorous space endeavour.

Science alone is not usually sufficient to explain such activities. Broader political considerations and strategic dynamics may be equally or even more important drivers behind India’s forays in space and the Chandrayaan programme in particular.

More specifically, Chandrayaan-3 is not India’s first attempt at soft landing on the moon. It is essentially a follow-up mission to Chandrayaan-2 , which was launched in July 2019 and was designed to explore the lunar surface near the south pole. Chandrayaan-2 consisted of an orbiter, a lander and a rover, but it was considered a partial success . Although the lander was successfully separated from the orbiter, due to a communication breakdown it had a hard landing  500 metres from the designated site on the lunar surface in September 2019. However, since 2019 the orbiter has continued to operate successfully, providing valuable data about the moon, and it will also support the latest mission.

Chandrayaan-3 also comes roughly 15 years after India’s first lunar exploration mission, Chandrayaan-1 , which was launched in October 2008 with the goal of mapping the lunar surface. Apart from five Indian payloads, the spacecraft carried instruments from NASA, British, German and Swedish research institutes (through the European Space Agency), and Bulgaria. As such, the mission was also an example of international scientific cooperation. Eventually, Chandrayaan-1 encountered technical hurdles when ISRO lost communication with the spacecraft and the mission had to end prematurely. Still, it was considered a remarkable success, not least because data gathered from one of the NASA instruments carried on the Chandrayaan-1 mission found clear evidence of water molecules on the moon.

The international politics of outer space

Chris Alden and Dimitrios Stroikos explore the complexities around the international politics of space, addressing topics such as: the challenges underpinning the international politics of space, state and non-state engagement in space activities.

Explaining Chandrayaan and India’s space programme

Despite the fact that India has one of the world’s oldest space programmes, established in the early 1960s, the focus has been on the use of space for socio-economic development . To this end, priority was given to the development of space applications, such as communications, remote sending and meteorology, that could provide tangible practical benefits tailored to the needs of a developing and large country. This developmental rationale has been associated with the vision of Dr Vikram Sarabhai , who is considered the ‘‘father’’ of India’s space programme and was one of the most influential and respected scientists in post-independence India. Although Sarabhai was a keen supporter of the use of space technology as a way of leapfrogging some of the stages of social and economic development, he was famously against highly visible space stunts for the sake of prestige and news headlines that offered little in economic and social terms.

It was against this backdrop that Chandrayaan-1, India’s first ever space exploration mission, signalled a shift towards highly visible space projects, which seemed to be at odds with India’s traditional developmental rationale. Further reflecting this reorientation of India’s space effort, in addition to the Chandrayaan lunar programme, other notable examples include the 2013 Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) , also called Mangalyaan , and plans for India’s first human spaceflight mission, the Gaganyaan programme , which is targeted to be launched within the next few years.

As far as India is concerned, the recent focus on space exploration can largely be seen as a response to China’s emergence as a great space power.

The China factor and the quest for great power status in space

What explains this change in India’s space programme? To be sure, the potential scientific benefits of lunar missions can be significant. What is more, I have long argued that scientific internationalism has been a key feature of space activities from the beginning of the Space Age. However, science alone is not usually sufficient to explain such activities. Broader political considerations and strategic dynamics may be equally or even more important drivers behind India’s forays in space and the Chandrayaan programme in particular.

A number of observations are worth making here. First, it is useful to recognise from the outset that international imperatives have rendered space a complex domain of international relations amid a surge of interest in the use of space for military, civilian and commercial purposes. As far as India is concerned, the recent focus on space exploration can largely be seen as a response to China’s emergence as a great space power , manifested not only in a series of remarkable Chinese space achievements, but also in the ways in which Beijing uses its space programme as a foreign policy and diplomacy tool . While India’s competition with China in space increasingly involves a military component , high-profile exploration projects are part of the contest for leadership , influence and soft power in Asia, contributing to the notion of an Asian space race .

Highly visible technoscientific projects serve as markers of power, status and modernity, a practice rooted in the 19th century.

Second, and related to the previous point, underlying India’s interest in lunar exploration is its great power aspirations . Highly visible technoscientific projects serve as markers of power, status and modernity, a practice rooted in the 19th century when technoscientific advancement emerged as a standard of “civilisation” demarcating the “society of civilised states” from non-European societies through a “techno-scientific orientalist” discourse. In this way, the space programme can be understood as a powerful symbol of postcolonial India’s modernity, statehood, and national prestige . From this perspective, the pursuit of the Chandrayaan lunar programme is part of India’s effort to climb up the ladder to the top tier of the hierarchical global space order and have a bigger “seat at the table’’ of space affairs.

Domestic influences

The role of domestic politics should also be acknowledged. For example, India’s space programme is an important source of national pride and prestige, and thus Indian leaders, including the current Prime Minister Narendra Modi, are keen to leverage the country's achievements in space to bolster the legitimacy of their governments whenever an opportunity arises. At the same time, powerful institutions, such as ISRO, have their own organisational and bureaucratic interests that compel them to push for highly visible projects to gain political approval. Finally, apart from foreign policy and military spin-offs due to the inherent dual-use nature of space technology, Chandrayaan-3 will help to inculcate and attract young talent in space science and showcase India’s vigorous private space sector , as this is the first time that ISRO has partnered in a major mission with the private space industry.

Consequently, and given the technical problems experienced by India's previous lunar mission, the stakes for Chandrayaan-3 could not be higher. Regardless of the outcome of Chandrayaan-3, however, the success of India’s lunar programme hinges on more than simply scientific gains, encompassing broader political and strategic considerations that will continue to animate India’s space ambitions.

" International Relations and Outer Space " by Dr Dimitrios Stroikos is published by the Oxford Research Encyclopedia of International Studies. 

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LSE Fellow, Department of International Relations, LSE

Dr Dimitrios Stroikos is an LSE Fellow in the Department of International Relations at LSE and Head of the Space Policy Programme at LSE IDEAS. He is also the Editor-in-chief of Space Policy: an International Journal, hosted by LSE IDEAS.

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Stunningly detailed Mars hangs like a ruddy ornament against the blackness of space in a high-resloution global view from the Mangalyaan probe.

Dear Mangalyaan: What India's Mars mission means to me

The record-breaking orbiter inspired one writer to keep dreaming of Mars—and showed the world what our shared future in space can look like.

Dear Mangalyaan,

It’s been five years since your historic launch off the east coast of India, and over four years since you settled into orbit around Mars. You’re living my dream. I must have been around your age now when my father first took me to the Nehru Planetarium in Mumbai, to show me how large my world truly was. We sat under the half-dome of the theater, and the lights faded out into a star field denser than any sky a city child ever sees. I could have fallen into that bowl of nightlight.

I felt the beginnings of a lifelong wanderlust for space. Mars would be my first stop—a hop-skip away, I thought. My father agreed. “It should be possible to land a person on Mars within our lifetime,” he said. “It could even be you.”

That was nearly 30 years ago. Today, you, Mangalyaan, represent what happens when people are bold enough to say something as audacious as, “It could even be you.” Indian scientists took less than two years to build you, and from your launch on November 5, 2013 , to your capture in Mars orbit on September 24, 2014 , you traveled more than 400 million miles.

Yours has been a remarkable voyage: nearly half of all attempted missions to Mars have failed , but with your success, India became the first country to put a spacecraft in orbit around another planet on its first try. What’s more, India accomplished this feat on a tiny budget : 4.5 billion rupees, or U.S. $73 million—less than the budgets of science fiction blockbusters like The Martian or Gravity .

FREE BONUS ISSUE

And while your official objectives are scientific in nature, I cannot overlook your unofficial mission: to stoke young Indians’ interest in engineering and astronomy. I will leave it to others to explain how you’ve inspired their career paths. Perhaps they will note with pride that indigenous know-how built the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle , the rocket that carried you into space. Perhaps they’ll cite the photos from the mission control room, when you sent word you’d made it—images of jubilant women staffers in saris, role models who resembled their mothers and grandmothers .

Fast Facts: Mangalyaan (Mars Orbiter Mission)

Agency: Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO)

Launch Date: November 5, 2013

Launch Vehicle: ISRO Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)

Mars Orbital Insertion: September 23, 2014

Mass: 1,075 pounds (488 kilograms)

Power Source: 840-watt solar panel array

Their stories, and yours, motivate future generations of scientists who’ll spearhead the next Indian mission to Mars , or Venus , or back to the moon .

Engineering was never my expertise—I am a writer, a daydreamer. The only things I would pack for Mars are a box of paints, pens, and paper. But your presence allows me to imagine myself in your wake: not charting flight trajectories or studying the composition of Mars’s atmosphere, but writing poetry and sketching postcard vistas to send back home.

During your orbit’s closest approach, some 300 kilometers above the surface, we may drift over Olympus Mons, three times higher than the Himalayas’ Mount Everest , or Valles Marineris, a canyon longer than India itself that cuts up to four miles into the red planet’s surface. Then we’ll swoop out to the farthest point of your elliptical orbit, some 71,000 kilometers away. From this distance, you are in a unique position to capture Mars as a full globe —the planet resembles a cup of tea we share, a touch milky where clouds have gathered, resting upon a sugar-sprinkled black tablecloth.

I want to thank you for making space for me at the table. We both know how difficult it has been to get here.

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The Indian Space Research Organization , the group that built you, was formed in 1969, the same year as the Apollo 11 moon landing. The timing is no coincidence. My father followed the news as it unfolded: the Cold War, the Space Race, one technological breakthrough after the other as the United States and the Soviet Union competed for military might. India, meanwhile, was a mere two decades post-Independence, rapidly modernizing and eager to establish a sense of self-reliance. Investing in space would let us build a telecommunications infrastructure, monitor our weather, survey our agriculture and natural resources, and conduct basic scientific research.

To this day, ISRO’s goal is to use space-based technology to foster national development , because even as we look to the stars for inspiration, our feet remain firmly planted on Earth. You are rightly feted, Mangalyaan—there’s even an image of you on our new 2,000-rupee note . But the current United Nations Human Development Indicators for India suggest that to earn this much money, roughly U.S. $27, more than 40 percent of India’s employed population would need to work for a week and a half. I follow your discoveries on the internet, a resource only 30 percent of the Indian population can access.

ISRO is presently one of just six government organizations around the world that can design, launch, and recover satellites and operate space probes—yet women in India represent a little over a quarter of the share of university graduates with degrees in the sciences, mathematics, engineering, and related fields. You symbolize where we come from and where we wish to go.

Exploring Mars in Photos

My father grew up keenly aware of educational and career-access disparities in India, which is why he moved our family soon after I was born. We went as far as he could afford: Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates. I hopped countries twice after that, and now, I live halfway around the world from my place of birth. You know what that feels like. Home is not a place for you: it’s the people who made you, the things you carry inside, and the people you write back to with missives about your latest experiences.

My father still lives in Dubai. Presently, I live in Panama. Just as you transmit data back home, we email each other the latest news about Mars. Did he watch the Curiosity landing livestream?, I write. Did I know more than 10,000 people applied to be a part of Mars One’s one-way trip to the red planet ?, he writes. Elon Musk wants to set up a colony there, can you believe it?, I ask him. My father says he wishes he could go. I tell him we could never afford it.

As public interest in Mars continues to grow, I begin to fear a repeat of the old news from my father’s time of countries flexing their muscles to be the first to put a flag on Martian soil. Indians know the cost of colonization, as do most citizens of the global South. I am just one voice among 1.3 billion, but I use it to say that India orbits Mars today not because it wants a slice of that cold red pie, but because everyone deserves it. Space is our common heritage , no matter our place of birth or our means of access.

Mangalyaan, if you’ve shown me anything, it’s that there’s more than one way to get as far as you’d like to go, and the tenacity of the people who built you gives me a sense of hope. When I think back to my time at the Nehru Planetarium, no one told me I didn’t have a right to look up at the stars and see myself out there among them. On the contrary, I was encouraged to imagine freely—to feel that I could choose my own orbit.

You mean a lot to us, Mangalyaan. I say this now not as a member of the Indian diaspora, but as a very young girl in complete awe of the size of the known universe. We are all of us so small, and so lucky to be alive at a time when everything we discover makes our world seem larger, more complex, more profound than we knew before.

Thank you for showing us that we are capable of such discovery, that we are resourceful even with the odds stacked against us. Thank you for showing us that we belong.

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• Published: 22 October 2021

Indian space science missions

• Tirtha Pratim Das 1 ,
• Mohammad Hasan 1 ,
• S. Megala 1 ,
• K. Praveen Kumar 1 ,
• V. Girish 1 &
• T. Maria Antonita 1  

Nature Reviews Physics volume  3 ,  pages 722–723 ( 2021 ) Cite this article

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• Astronomy and planetary science

The Indian space science programme dates back to the 1960s, but has hit the headlines in the 21st century after successful missions to the Moon and Mars. Scientists from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) reflect on the past successes and share their plans for the future.

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Science Programme Office, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Headquarters, Department of Space, Government of India, Bangalore, Karnataka, India

Tirtha Pratim Das, Mohammad Hasan, S. Megala, K. Praveen Kumar, V. Girish & T. Maria Antonita

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Das, T.P., Hasan, M., Megala, S. et al. Indian space science missions. Nat Rev Phys 3 , 722–723 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s42254-021-00390-7

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Indian Space Program: Phases and Achievements

Last updated on January 5, 2024 by ClearIAS Team

Indian Space Research Organization ( ISRO ) is the nodal agency and flag bearer in the Indian Space Program.

The Indian Space Program is guided by a probabilistic perspective. It is a regional development instrument. This built on an optical fibre network and wireless communication devices.

Learn more about this topic.

Also read: Aditya-L1 Mission

Table of Contents

Objectives of the Indian Space Program

ISRO has also contributed to science and science education in the country. The Department of Space oversees several dedicated research centers and independent organizations for remote sensing, astronomy and astrophysics, atmospheric sciences, and space sciences in general. the objectives of the Indian Space Program are twofold:

• Space discovery and exploration through space missions.
• Promotion of research and education related to space science in the country. E.g. Tele-education in remote areas in India.

Some of the other functions of the Indian Space Program are:

Learn more from: ClearIAS Study Materials

• Resource management such as mineral resources, agriculture, marine resources, etc.
• Environment conservation.
• Internal security and terrorism. E.g. use of IRNSS for regional security.
• Weather forecasting.
• Disaster Management.

Also read about SSLV , PSLV , and GSLV .

Communications satellites India

Communications satellites allow radio, television, and telephone transmissions to be sent live anywhere in the world. The purpose of communications satellites is to relay the signal around the curve of the Earth allowing communication between widely separated points. Communication Satellites use Microwaves and Radio waves for transmitting signals.

Indian National Satellite (INSAT) Series

• With nine operational communication satellites in Geo-stationary orbit, the Indian National Satellite (INSAT) system is one of the largest domestic communication satellite systems in the Asia-Pacific area.
• INSAT System consists of 14 operational satellites, namely – INSAT-3A, 3C, 4A, 4B, 4CR, 3DR and GSAT-6, 7, 8, 10, 12, 14, 15 and 16.
• Educational TV Services
• Telemedicine Programme
• Satellite-Aided Search and Rescue
• Disaster management
• Helps in geopolitics like the SAARC satellite.
• Helps in the commercialization of space programs, like launching the communication satellites of Russia USA, etc.

Indian Remote Sensing Satellite (IRS)

• ISRO has deployed numerous operational remote sensing satellites since IRS-1A in 1988. India now operates one of the largest constellations of remote-sensing satellites.
• IRS satellite consists of CARTOSAT, OCEANSAT & RISAT (Resource Sat) Satellites

Application of IRS satellites:

• Disaster Management Support
• BioResources and Environment survey and mapping e.g. RESOURCESAT
• Cartography e.g. CARTOSAT
• Agriculture & Soil
• Rural and Urban Development e.g. National Drinking Water mission

Important Milestones in the Indian Space Program

Phase I: 1960-70 (Incipient Stage)

• Dr. Vikram Sarabhai is regarded as a scientific visionary as well as the founding father of the Indian space programme.
• He recognized the potential of satellites after the launch of Sputnik in 1957. Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first Prime Minister, who considered scientific advancement as an important component of India’s future, placed space research under the jurisdiction of the Department of Atomic Energy in 1961.
• Homi Bhabha, the father of India’s atomic programme, then founded the Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR) in 1962, with Dr. Sarabhai as Chairman.
• The Indian space programme began establishing itself with the launch of sounding rockets in 1962, which was aided by India’s geographical proximity to the equator.
• Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS) was built near Thiruvananthapuram in south Kerala.
• India developed an indigenous technology of sounding rockets called the Rohini Family of sounding rockets.
• The India Space Research Organisation (ISRO) was established in 1969, and the Department of Space was established in 1972.

Phase II: 1970-80

• Sarabhai had participated in an early NASA study on the viability of employing satellites for uses as diverse as direct television broadcasting.
• India began developing satellite technology in anticipation of future remote sensing and communication requirements.
• India’s first venture into space occurred in 1975, with the launch of their satellite Aryabhata by a Soviet launcher.
• By 1979, the SLV was ready to launch from the Sriharikota Rocket Launching Station, a newly created second launch site (SRLS).
• The first launch in 1979 failed due to a control malfunction in the second stage. This problem had been solved by 1980.
• The first indigenous satellite launched by India was called Rohini.

Phase III: 1980-90

• Following the success of the SLV, ISRO was eager to begin work on a satellite launch vehicle capable of placing a truly useful satellite into polar orbit.
• In 1987, the Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV) was tested, but the launch failed. After modest adjustments, another launch attempt was made in 1988, which also failed.

Phase IV: 1990-2000

• It was not until 1992 that the first successful launch of the ASLV took place.
• Since its first successful launch in 1994, the PSLV has become the workhorse launch vehicle, launching both remote sensing and communications satellites into orbit, establishing the world’s largest cluster, and giving unique data to Indian industry and agriculture.

Developments after 2000

• In 2001, the first development flight of the GSLV took place.
• As the first attempt at exploring the solar system, India pursued a mission to send unmanned probes to the moon in 2008 namely Chandrayaan.
• ISRO has entered the lucrative industry of launching foreign payloads from Indian soil using its rockets.
• After 2010, ISRO embarked on the following programmes: Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV), and next-generation GSLV Mark-III launch vehicle missions are part of the launch vehicle development programme.
• The Earth Observation programme includes cutting-edge Indian remote sensing (IRS) satellites such as Resourcesat, Cartosat, Oceansat, Radar Imaging Satellite, Geo-Imaging Satellite, and weather/climate satellites such as INSAT-3DR missions.
• The satellite navigation programme consists of a constellation of seven Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) satellites and an associated ground segment designed to deliver accurate positional and timing information.

India’s Manned Mission to Space

• Three flights will be sent into orbit.
• There will be two unmanned flights and one human spaceflight.
• The Gaganyaan system module, known as the Orbital Module, would house three Indian astronauts, one of whom would be a woman.
• For 5-7 days, it will circle the Earth in a low-Earth orbit at an altitude of 300-400 km.
• In addition, to assure crew safety during the Gaganyaan mission, ISRO will perform two unmanned ‘Abort Missions’ in 2022.

Scramjet (Supersonic Combusting Ramjet) engine

• In August 2016, ISRO successfully conducted the Scramjet (Supersonic Combusting Ramjet) engine test.
• The Scramjet engine uses Hydrogen as fuel and Oxygen from the atmospheric air as the oxidizer.
• This test was the maiden short-duration experimental test of ISRO’s Scramjet engine with a hypersonic flight at Mach 6.
• ISRO’s Advanced Technology Vehicle (ATV), a futuristic-sounding rocket, served as the solid rocket booster for the supersonic testing of Scramjet engines.
• The new propulsion system will complement ISRO’s reusable launch vehicle that will have a longer flight duration.
• IN-SPACe was launched to provide a level playing field for private companies to use Indian space infrastructure.
• It serves as a single point of contact between the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and anyone interested in participating in space-related activities or utilizing India’s space resources.

NewSpace India Limited (NSIL):

• It is a Central Public Sector Enterprise of the Government of India that was founded in 2019 and is managed by the Department of Space.
• It is ISRO’s commercial arm, and its major purpose is to enable Indian enterprises to engage in high-technology space-related operations.
• It is headquartered in Bengaluru.

Indian Space Association (ISpA):

• ISpAaspires to be the collective voice of the Indian Space industry. ISpA will be represented by leading domestic and global corporations that have advanced capabilities in space and satellite technologies.

Amazonia-1:

• The 53 rd flight of PSLV-C51 marked the first dedicated mission for New Space India Ltd (NSIL), the commercial arm of ISRO.
• Amazonia-1, the National Institute for Space Research (INPE) optical earth observation satellite, would offer users remote sensing data for monitoring deforestation in the Amazon region and analyzing diverse agriculture across the Brazilian territory.

UNITYsat (three satellites):

• They have been deployed to provide Radio relay services.
• Satish Dhawan Satellite (SDSAT) is a nanosatellite intended to study the radiation levels/space weather and demonstrate long-range communication technologies.

Upcoming Missions:

• Chandrayaan-3 Mission:   Chandrayaan-3 is likely to be launched during the third quarter of 2022.
• EOS-4 (Risat-1A) and EOS-6 (Oceansat-3) — will be launched using ISRO’s workhorse PSLV, and the third one,  EOS-2 (Microsat) , will be launched in the first developmental flight of the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV).
• These satellites will be launched in the first quarter of 2022.
• Shukrayaan Mission:  The ISRO is also planning a mission to Venus, tentatively called Shukrayaan .
• Own Space Station : India is planning to launch its space station by 2030 , joining the league of the US, Russia, and China to an elite space club
• XpoSat:  Space observatory, XpoSat, designed to study cosmic x-rays.
• There are five Lagrangian points between any two celestial bodies on the satellite where the gravitational attraction of both bodies is equivalent to the force required to keep the satellite in orbit without spending fuel, implying a parking area in space.

Also read:  Space missions in 2024

Article Written by: Remya

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Monday briefing: The story of India’s space programme – and why it took off

In today’s newsletter: The country’s lunar landing was a triumph. This is how it quietly built a successful mission

Sign up here for our daily newsletter, First Edition

Good morning.

Last week India became the fourth ever country to land a spacecraft on the moon, and the first to touch down successfully near its south pole. It was hailed as a success for “budget” missions, with the project costing £60m, less than half of the £131m it cost Christopher Nolan to make his 2014 space epic, Interstellar .

The triumph was greeted with wild excitement in India , with the prime minister, Narendra Modi, saying it “mirrors the aspirations and capabilities of 1.4 billion Indians”.

Others point out that 280 million of those Indian citizens still don’t have toilets , and perhaps Modi should fix that before funding further space exploration. In the UK, the usual voices are using the lunar landing to further their argument that we should stop sending aid to India.

But are such criticisms fair? For today’s newsletter I talked to Martin Barstow, professor of astrophysics and space science, and director of strategic partnerships at Space Park Leicester, which was opened by British astronaut Tim Peake last year.

In depth: ‘The money you spend in space pays people’s wages, creates jobs and supports economic growth’

A short history of India’s space programme

India’s space programme was established in 1962, a year after John F Kennedy set a target to land an American on the moon by the end of the decade. But it wasn’t until the 1970s and 80s that the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) really got going, using satellites to map and survey crops, monitor damage from natural disasters and erosion, and to bring telemedicine and telecommunication to remote rural areas.

The country now has one of the world’s largest space programmes. It designs, builds, launches, operates and tracks the full spectrum of satellites, rockets and lunar and interplanetary probes. It brings priceless prestige to India: witness Modi’s beaming face at the meeting of the Brics emerging nations this week , when he declared the lunar landing “the movement for new, developing India”. He resisted the temptation to draw comparisons with the Russian delegation’s effort – their Luna-25 spacecraft crashed into the moon four days earlier.

How India paid for it

In short, it operates to a tight budget and manages to outperform expectations. The ISRO has a reputation for parsimony , with Indian space scientists paid one-fifth of the global average, according to a former ISRO chair . And although India’s government allocated the equivalent of £1.3bn for the department of space for the fiscal year ending in March, it spent about 25% less. By contrast, Nasa has a £20bn budget for the current year.

In any case, Martin Barstow has no truck with the argument that it’s ridiculous for India to spend anything on space exploration when 10% of its population still live below the $2.15 a day poverty line.

“I see this argument all the time and it is really missing the point. The space science bit is a very small fraction of the programme,” says Barstow. Most of it is spent “keeping people alive” on Earth, he adds. “That’s helping people with agriculture, helping people in poor areas who don’t have good communication or infrastructure. It’s really about developing the country.”

He hears the same arguments in the UK. “People ask: ‘Why do we do space in the UK? We can spend that money building hospitals.’ But all the money you spend in space isn’t really spent in space. It is spent on the ground. It pays people’s wages, it develops high-tech jobs. It supports economic growth. In the UK, space brings £17bn a year to the economy.”

Is it time for the UK to stop sending aid to India?

The Foreign Office, which distributes aid, sent India £33.4m in cash in 2022/23. Former Brexit party MEP Ben Habib said the lunar landing showed it was time for the UK to stop sending India any money at all: “It is odd, to put it mildly, that the UK gives increasing amounts of aid to India, a country with a space programme and an economy bigger than our own,” he grumbled.

Barstow sees it differently: “We still need to support India, which remains a poor country,” he says. GDP per capita in India is £1,789, compared with £36,863 in the UK. Almost 20% of Indian households – about 280 million people – do not use any toilet facility, according to India’s national family health survey . Then there are arguments about the soft power that such aid allows the UK to wield and reparations owed to India due to the legacies of empire, neither of which claims are dented by India’s supposed extravagance in investing in space exploration.

What next for India’s space ambitions?

Next, India wants to send three astronauts into space with a mission called Gaganyaan. Although an Indian flew to orbit on a Soviet spacecraft in 1984, the country has never managed this feat on its own. The project was scheduled to be complete by 2023 but has faced numerous delays .

It also hopes to launch another mission to Mars , after its Mangalyaan orbiter successfully observed the planet from 2014 to 2022. A solar observatory called Aditya-L1 is also in the pipeline, as well as an Earth observation satellite built jointly with Nasa.

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For the New Yorker (£), Dhruv Khullar goes to extreme lengths to chronicle the impact of extreme heat on the human body , including putting himself in a 40C chamber while walking on a treadmill. A fascinating, terrifying read. Nimo

To hell with good intentions? Joel Snape asks whether you should worry about working out too hard . Helen

Two years after his 13-year-old daughter’s preventable death , Paul Laity reflects on his life without her. The article is in equal measure heartbreaking and revelatory as it describes the “litany of failures” in the hospital in the days before Martha’s death. Nimo

The front pages

The Guardian print edition begins the week with “Ultra-processed foods causing a ‘tidal wave of harm’, say experts”. “Great British food scandal” – that’s the Daily Mirror on this “processed hell” of our diet. “NHS ‘trying to erase women’” says the Daily Mail about something called the Rainbow Badge scheme, which it says is about removing gendered language from hospitals. The i has “Tory ‘big beasts’ facing wipeout at next election – as Dorries opens up new splits” while on the same theme the Daily Express says “Tory infighting will gift Labour the keys to No10”. “Electronic tagging plan to stop migrants fleeing” is the top story in the Times while the Daily Telegraph goes with “Braverman: police must investigate every theft”. Lead story in today’s Financial Times is “China’s sluggish economy will weigh on global trade, western groups warn”.

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Essay on India’s Achievements in Space

Students are often asked to write an essay on India’s Achievements in Space in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on India’s Achievements in Space

Introduction.

India has made great strides in space exploration. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) leads these efforts, launching numerous satellites and missions.

Chandrayaan Missions

ISRO launched Chandrayaan-1 in 2008, marking India’s first lunar probe. Chandrayaan-2, launched in 2019, aimed to land on the moon, showcasing India’s ambitions.

Mars Orbiter Mission

The Mars Orbiter Mission, or Mangalyaan, launched in 2013, made India the first Asian nation to reach Mars orbit and the first globally to do so in its maiden attempt.

Satellite Launches

India has launched over 100 satellites, serving various purposes like communication, weather monitoring, and navigation.

Future Plans

ISRO plans to launch Gaganyaan, its first manned mission, and continue exploring the moon, Mars, Venus, and the Sun.

250 Words Essay on India’s Achievements in Space

India’s journey into space began with the establishment of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in 1969. Under the visionary leadership of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, the nation embarked on an ambitious journey to explore the cosmos.

Launching Satellites

India’s first significant achievement in space was the launch of Aryabhata, its first satellite, in 1975. This was followed by the launch of Bhaskara, Rohini, and INSAT series, affirming India’s growing capabilities in satellite technology. The Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), also known as Mangalyaan, marked a landmark achievement, making India the first Asian nation to reach Mars orbit and the first globally to do so in its maiden attempt.

Indigenous Developments

India’s space program stands out for its emphasis on indigenous technology. The development of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) are noteworthy achievements. The successful testing of the GSLV Mark III, capable of carrying heavier payloads, further underscores India’s self-reliance in space technology.

India’s lunar missions, Chandrayaan-1 and Chandrayaan-2, have significantly contributed to lunar science. Chandrayaan-1 discovered traces of water on the moon, a groundbreaking discovery that has reshaped our understanding of Earth’s satellite.

India’s accomplishments in space are a testament to the nation’s scientific prowess and determination. The upcoming Gaganyaan mission, aiming to send humans into space, signifies the next leap forward. Despite budget constraints, India’s space program has achieved remarkable feats, inspiring a new generation of scientists and positioning the country as a global space power.

500 Words Essay on India’s Achievements in Space

India’s journey into space exploration began with small steps in the late 1960s and has since evolved into a fully-fledged space program that is recognized globally. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has been the pioneer and driving force behind this success.

Early Achievements

India’s first satellite, Aryabhata, was launched by the Soviet Union in 1975. However, the real breakthrough came in 1980 when ISRO successfully launched Rohini, its first indigenously developed satellite, into orbit using the Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV). This was a significant achievement, marking India’s entry into the select group of nations capable of launching their own satellites.

Progress in Satellite Technology

Over the years, India has developed a range of satellites serving different purposes. The Indian National Satellite (INSAT) system, launched in the 1980s, revolutionized communications, meteorology, and broadcasting in India. The Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) satellites have been instrumental in managing natural resources and monitoring environmental factors.

ISRO’s Chandrayaan-1 mission in 2008 was a major milestone. The mission discovered water molecules on the moon, contributing significantly to lunar science. This was followed by the Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), or Mangalyaan, in 2013, making India the first Asian country to reach Mars orbit and the only one to do so on its first attempt.

Development of Launch Vehicles

Parallel to satellite development, ISRO has also made significant strides in launch vehicle technology. The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) has been ISRO’s workhorse, with a remarkable track record of successful launches. The Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) and its variants have enabled India to launch heavier satellites into geostationary orbits.

The successful testing of the GSLV Mark III, India’s heaviest rocket, and the development of reusable launch vehicle technology demonstrate ISRO’s commitment to innovation and cost-effectiveness.

Human Spaceflight and Future Endeavors

India’s ambitions are not limited to unmanned missions. The Gaganyaan mission, scheduled for 2022, aims to send Indian astronauts into space, further cementing India’s place in space exploration.

ISRO also has plans for missions to study the sun (Aditya-L1), Venus (Shukrayaan-1), and a second mission to Mars (Mangalyaan-2). The proposed Chandrayaan-3 mission aims to land an Indian rover on the moon.

India’s achievements in space have been remarkable, especially considering the resource constraints. These achievements have not only advanced scientific understanding but also have practical applications for everyday life, from weather forecasting to communication and disaster management. As India continues its journey into the cosmos, one can expect further groundbreaking discoveries and advancements in technology. This journey is a testament to India’s spirit of exploration and its capacity for technological innovation.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

• Essay on India in Space
• Essay on Space Shuttle
• Essay on Space

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

Happy studying!

One Comment

Tqsm sir…. From this essay I knew very much about the achievements of india in the field of space…….🙏🏻🙏🏻

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India’s Space Exploration Affairs Essay

Ever since the early 1960s when the first manned space mission was successfully accomplished, space exploration has become easier nowadays. Even though much has been achieved in space exploration since then, humans’ desire for further outer space experimentation has never ceased. Currently, a visit on Mars is the central focus of modern space exploration, and this would come after a couple of successful space explorations that would see man step on the moon a few decades ago. So far, several countries such as Russia, the US, and the European Union have successfully managed to send people to Mars (Burke, 2013).

Despite the scientific and technological achievements associated with space exploration, this experience has brought a lot of national pride and fame for the three nations. India is likely to be the next country to join in this glory, following the launch of their first spacecraft to Mars on November 13, 2013. Even though the success of this exploration will earn India a lot of fame, the mission can never be justified, considering the diverse issues surrounding the country’s population that should have come first.

Space exploration has become a key area of concern for modern scientists and this is evident from the many attempts being undertaken in the world today to explore every bit of the outer space. The history of space exploration dates backs over 70 years when several experimental rocket launches were conducted time after time by the Soviet Union (Siddiqi, 2003). This came as a result of man’s big desire to travel to space and get to explore the outer space environment. This riddle, however, appeared to get an answer when the Soviet Union successfully managed to send two satellites into space in 1957.

This achievement resulted into the space race and this would, in turn help to facilitate the revolution in space exploration. With the rampant advancement in modern technology, space exploration is becoming easier and safer nowadays. This explains the reason why it is possible for any country to assume that it can easily embark on outer space explorations. However, such space explorations are usually costly and are only fit for developed nations, but not for a country like India which is struggling to feed its population.

India is a country with a long history of poverty. According to recent reports, even though poverty levels in the country have significantly declined over the years, there are still hundreds of millions of Indians who are languishing in adept poverty today. These high levels of poverty have continued to impose an oppressive weight on the citizens, especially in the rural India where over 70 percent of the country’s poor live. India is said to have the highest concentration of poor people living below the poverty line in the world (Gupta, 2008). This however, has been a major barrier to economic opportunities in the country.

This clearly explains why India has lagged behind other Asian countries in matters involving economic development. Even though India has tried to apply some effective interventions that have helped to improve its ailing economy, there is still an opportunity for the country to reexamine its approach to deal with poverty. In this regard, I believe it would have made much sense if the $72 million allocated for the space program was used to improve the living standards of the Indians, rather than being used for a pride-seeking experiment that will never help the citizens in any way.

Apart from the issues of poverty and hunger in India where over 40 percent of children are said to be malnourished, the country is also associated with a failing infrastructure in almost all sectors. Some key buildings in major urban centres are dilapidated and most roads are in bad shape, thus making it difficulty for people to drive on them. It is also very clear that half of the country’s population lack toilets, among other significant facilities such as proper shelter and health care services.

Moreover, India is a place where people are used to ruining public property, especially when they are demonstrating. In fact, this has over the time contributed to poor management of solid waste and sewerage in most parts of the country. As a result of this, dirty places that are characterized by garbage on the roads and uncovered drains have become more common in most parts of India. As a matter of fact, one can never stop wondering how a country with so many basic needs can afford to undertake such a costly space program.

As Kingdon (2007) observes, recent demographic statistics have shown about 40 percent of the Indian population to be illiterate and unemployed. Obviously, high population growth rates such as the ones witnessed in India usually come with a lot of effects on people. For instance, there would be a high competition for available facilities and resources. In this regard, only a little percentage of the population is likely to have full access of the resources. This scenario can be used to explain the case of India where the number of learning facilities is far less than the level needed to adequately cater for the educational needs of every child in the country. Based on these observations, there is no doubt that there is need for more schools in India to ensure that more children can access education. In that case, the money intended for the Mars space program would have had a better use in such facilities that are likely to bring positive impacts on the country’s future economic development.

Based on the observations made on this paper, India’s space program cannot be anything else but a space race between the country and its rivals from Asia, particularly China. There can never be any doubt about this conclusion, considering the fact that India is focused on showcasing its technology more than it is concerned about the welfare of its population. It is unimaginable that the Indian government can even think of investing in a space program that would cost the taxpayers over $70m while the same taxpayers are suffering due to lack of common basic needs (Lele, 2013).

Even though the space mission can be a big milestone in India’s space exploration affairs, it could have waited until India reaches the status of a fully-developed economy like China, which is their main regional rival in such plans. In my opinion, I strongly believe that India would have achieved much national pride if it focused more on things that mattered for its citizens rather than going for costly programs such as the Mars mission that would only succeed in slowing down the country’s economic progress.

Burke, J. (2013, November 5). ISRO to launch India’s first spacecraft to Mars . The Guardian , p. 17. Web.

Gupta, K. (2008). Poverty in India . United Kingdom: Atlantic Books. Web.

Kingdon, G. (2007). The progress of school education in India. Oxford Review of Economic Policy, 23 (2), 168-195. Web.

Lele, A. (2013). Mission Mars: India’s Quest for the Red Planet . New York: Springer. Web.

Siddiqi, A. (2003). The Soviet space race with Apollo . Florida: University Press of Florida. Web.

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IvyPanda. (2022, May 3). India's Space Exploration Affairs. https://ivypanda.com/essays/indias-space-programs/

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1. IvyPanda . "India's Space Exploration Affairs." May 3, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/indias-space-programs/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "India's Space Exploration Affairs." May 3, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/indias-space-programs/.

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India's strategy in space is changing. Here's why

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Stay up to date:, geopolitics.

Half a century after humans first walked on the Moon, space is still as much about scientific discovery as it is about strategic competition.

As was the case during the Cold War, outer space is an arena of terrestrial geopolitics. We can see this in the increased impetus for competition in various achievements in outer space, such as Moon landings, Mars exploration and, more directly, in the creation of space forces in various countries – France being the latest to announce it intends to establish a space command to improve defence capabilities.

Yet, despite outer space being once again a field of power competition, there are also some differences from the Cold War years. First, and most significantly, there are many more countries and actors involved: in Asia itself, China, Japan and India are major spacefaring nations, and smaller players such as South Korea, Australia and Singapore are developing their own space programmes.

Added to the increase in countries is the entry of the private sector into space. A key difference in the new geopolitics of space is that both terrestrial competition – and its reflection in outer space – is now along multiple axes, rather than just the single U.S.-Soviet one.

Today, there is increasing power competition in Asia, particularly between China and its neighbours - India, Japan and Australia. Some of this is also reflected in outer space. As a corollary, we are also beginning to see greater cooperation between some countries in outer space, including India and Japan, both of which are concerned about the rise of China.

India also cooperates in space with the US, Russia and France. Much of the competition India has on land, on the other hand, is with China. Therefore, India has negligible cooperation with China in space, and equally, little competition with the other space actors.

A competitive chain reaction that (sometimes) reaches space

What occurs in space can be the result of a geopolitical chain reaction. For instance, consider the US-China-India relationship: China often takes action because of its strategic competition with the United States.

This has an impact on India, forcing India to respond. But India’s response to China has an effect on Pakistan, which then responds to India. This cascade can be seen on land, and at times, in space. For example, China’s first successful anti-satellite (ASAT) test in January 2007 was to demonstrate a catch-up effort with the United States. But once China tested its ASAT in 2007, India had little choice but to develop its own ASAT because of the need of deterrence.

But in the space arena, the competitive cascade does not travel all the way to Pakistan because Pakistan’s space programme is underdeveloped. While Pakistan has expended considerable national wealth in keeping pace with India in its nuclear and missile capabilities, it has not done so with regard to outer space.

On the other hand, there might be a security incentive for Pakistan to demonstrate that it also has an ASAT capability.

Pakistan could also develop other counterspace capabilities, including cyber and electronic means to target India’s space assets. While this remains speculative so far, the history of India-Pakistan competition suggests that this remains a possibility.

Evolution of strategy

India had long maintained a rather doctrinaire approach toward space security, emphasising the peaceful uses of outer space and opposing the weaponization and militarization of space. Thus, India had opposed the US Strategic Defense Initiative programme and other efforts to build ballistic missile defences, let alone deploying ASAT systems. The reasons for such an approach was fairly clear: India did not house these capabilities.

But by the early 2000s, India’s position had begun to change as Pakistan began acquiring long-range missiles. India felt the need to build ballistic missile defences, leading New Delhi to take a sympathetic view of the George W. Bush administration’s decision to withdraw from the Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) treaty in late 2001. By the end of the decade, as India’s own capabilities increased, it was clear that India was becoming more discriminating in its attitude towards space security.

China’s ASAT test in 2007 helped advance India’s process of revaluating its space strategy. India realised that its growing investments in outer space - until then largely civilian in nature - were now under threat from China’s new security capabilities. India also started thinking more about how to manage outer space for security purposes. As a result, India established a space cell under its Integrated Defence Headquarters shortly after China’s ASAT test.

In April 2019, India established the Defence Space Agency (DSA) as an interim measure to command the military’s space capabilities. All of this meant that India had to have a much more nuanced position than a blanket approach that opposed any militarization or weaponization of outer space.

However, the consequences of unbridled militarization and the weaponization of outer space has negative implications for India. Therefore, while India is pursuing a strategy that satisfies its own security interests, it still wants some international control on the militarization and weaponization of outer space.

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What’s Next for India in Space Exploration

In addition to the scientific results of Chandrayaan-3, India is preparing a joint lunar exploration with Japan.

By Hari Kumar and Mujib Mashal

• Aug. 23, 2023

India has a busy decade of space exploration ahead.

S. Somanath, the director of Indian Space Research Organization, has described the current moment as an inflection point, as the country opens its space programs to private investors after half a century of state monopoly that made advances but at “a shoestring budget mode of working.”

A large share of India’s space efforts in the coming years will focus on the moon.

In addition to the scientific results of Chandrayaan-3, India is preparing a joint lunar exploration with Japan, in which India will provide the lander and Japan the launch vehicle and the rover. The robotic mission, known as LUPEX, is also intended for exploring the South Pole of the moon.

Although an Indian astronaut flew to orbit in 1984, the country has never sent humans to space on its own. It is therefore preparing its first astronaut mission to space, called Gaganyaan. But the project, which aims to send three Indian astronauts to space on the country’s own spacecraft, has faced delays, and ISRO has not announced a date for it.

ISRO will first have to conduct a test flight of the Gaganyaan spacecraft with no astronauts aboard. Officials have said they are at the stage of perfecting the crew escape system, and they said this month that they had tested the drogue parachutes, which help stabilize the capsule that the astronauts will ride as they return to Earth.

Additionally, India is preparing for the Aditya-L1 mission, which plans to study the sun, in early September. ISRO officials have said that it will carry seven payloads to study the photosphere chromosphere and the outermost layers of the sun using electromagnetic and particle detectors.

Another mission is the collaborative NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar, or NISAR, which will monitor changes in our planet’s land and ice surfaces from orbit. It is slated to launch from India next year.

The country will also launch a second Mars orbiter mission. The first Mars mission, Mangalyaan, successfully entered the planet’s orbit in 2014 and remained in communication with ISRO until the mission concluded in 2022 when the spacecraft lost power . It made India the first country to achieve Martian orbit on its first attempt, and demonstrated that the country could show scientific prowess even when resources are constrained: The mission’s budget of about $75 million was less than the $100 million budget of the Hollywood space film “Gravity.”

Hari Kumar is a reporter in the New Delhi bureau. He joined The Times in 1997. More about Hari Kumar

Mujib Mashal is The Times’s bureau chief for South Asia. Born in Kabul, he wrote for magazines including The Atlantic, Harper’s and Time before joining The Times. More about Mujib Mashal

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Essay on ISRO

500 words essay on isro.

ISRO, the Indian Space Research Organization, is India’s national space agency that is located in the city of Bengaluru. Furthermore, the Department of Space Government of India controls the ISRO space agency. Let us learn more about this space agency with this essay on ISRO.

                                                                                                                                 Essay On Isro

About the ISRO Space Agency

The formation of ISRO took place in the year 1969. Furthermore, the vision behind the establishment of ISRO was to develop and harness space technology in national development. Moreover, this development and harnessing of space technology were to take place while pursuing space science research and planetary exploration.

ISRO is the successor of the Indian National Committee for Space Research whose establishment took place in the year 1962. ISRO now enjoys the reputation of being among the elite space agencies in the world.

As of now, ISRO is the primary Indian agency to perform activities related to the development of new technologies, space exploration, and space-based applications. Moreover, ISRO is among the only six government agencies that operate large fleets of artificial satellites, deploys cryogenic engines, undertakes extraterrestrial missions, and has full launch capabilities.

Throughout many years, ISRO incorporates space service for the benefit of the common man as well as the nation. Moreover, the maintenance of one of the largest fleets of communication satellites and remote sensing satellites takes place by ISRO. They serve the roles of fast and reliable communication as well as Earth observation.

Achievements of ISRO

The first Indian satellite that was built by ISRO was Aryabhata, whose launching took place on April 19 th , 1975. Furthermore, 1980 was another important year for ISRO because the launching of the Rohini satellite took place. Moreover, the successful placing of Rohini in the orbit took place by SLV-3.

In the year 2014 January, ISRO made use of an indigenously built cryogenic engine for GSLV-D5. Also, this was the launch of the GSAT-14 satellite . Most noteworthy, this made India one of the only six countries to develop a cryogenic technology.

Apart from technological capabilities, a lot of contribution has taken place by ISRO in the field of science. Furthermore, ISRO is in charge of its own Lunar and interplanetary missions. Moreover, ISRO controls various specific projects for the promotion of science education, and also to provide data to the scientific community.

The development of two rockets has taken place by ISRO, which are the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), and the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV). Moreover, ISRO sent Chandrayaan-1, a lunar orbiter, on October 22nd 2008, which made the spectacular discovery of lunar water in ice form.

The Mars Orbiter Mission was sent by ISRO on November 5th 2013, which made its entry into the orbit of Mars on September 24th 2014, thereby making India successful with its attempt to Mars.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Conclusion of the Essay on ISRO

There is no doubt that ISRO is really the pride of India. Furthermore, it has boosted the reputation of India in the world as a nation of scientific thought and development. Hopefully, ISRO will continue on its noble mission of space and technological exploration in the future.

FAQs For Essay on ISRO

Question 1: Mention some of the activities of ISRO?

Answer 1: Some of the activities of ISRO are the operation of large fleets of artificial satellites, deployment of cryogenic engines, undertaking extraterrestrial missions, and full launching capabilities.

Question 2: Mention any two satellites launched by ISRO?

Answer 2: Two satellites launched by ISRO are Aryabhata and Rohini. Furthermore, Aryabhata was the first Indian satellite that was built by ISRO. Moreover, Rohini was the first satellite whose placing took place in the orbit by SLV-3.

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But there will be another exciting astronomical event to keep an eye out for.

For the first time in 71 years, Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks, a.k.a the "Mother of Dragons" or " Devil comet ," is coming relatively close to the sun. Don't worry, it's not going to collide with Earth.

This unusually large comet is estimated to be as big as Mount Everest, and it gets its nickname "Devil comet" from the horn-shaped outbursts located in its coma — the localized cloud of gas, dust, and ice particles that wraps the comet's solid nucleus in a nebulous envelope.

During the total solar eclipse , when the moon completely eclipses the sun, the skies will darken enough that you may barely be able to see the Devil comet with your naked eye. Or you can whip out a pair of binoculars or a telescope.

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Just remember, it's never safe to look directly at the sun during a solar eclipse without eclipse glasses or through a solar lens filter. The one exception to this rule is during the brief window of totality, which will last a few minutes, and when the skies will darken enough for a chance to spot the Devil comet if the skies are clear enough.

When and where to see the Devil comet

To find Pons-Brooks, first look toward the eclipsed sun for the planet Jupiter , it will appear as a small bright point of light to the upper left.

After you've spotted Jupiter, look slightly up and to the right. The comet will be between Jupiter and the sun, but closer to Jupiter.

In close-up photos, the comet appears as a green streak in the sky due to the high levels of dicarbon it contains that emit green light.

But, if you spot it during totality on Monday, the comet will likely show up as a tiny gray smudge, said Robert Massey, deputy executive director at the Royal Astronomical Society on its website.

It will be hard to spot so just make sure to enjoy the brief moments of totality , as well. Time will pass quickly, and there are plenty of other spectacular phenomena to watch for during the event, besides the Devil comet.

How bright will the Devil comet be?

During the eclipse, the Devil comet will still be two weeks away from reaching its closest distance to the sun, which is when it would be at its brightest.

On April 8, it will have an estimated apparent magnitude of about 4.9, which means it will be just at the edge of what the human eye can see, said Geronimo Villanueva, associate director for strategic science of NASA's Solar System Exploration Division.

But comet visibility is difficult to forecast. Comets' brightness depends on how sunlight interacts with their coma. Because a comet's distance from the sun, and its coma, is constantly changing during orbit, so does its brightness.

Plenty of comets predicted to be dazzling have fizzled out by the time they reached Earth, while others have put on a surprisingly good show . As for the Devil comet, we'll just have to wait and see.

One benefit of Pons Brooks is that it's cryovolcanic, meaning it tends to erupt fairly frequently. When that happens, the resulting cloud of ice and dust around it expands, making it appear brighter. So an eruption during the total solar eclipse would be a spectacular treat if it happened.

However, if you don't see the comet on April 8, try again in the days leading up to April 21, when it will be nearest to the sun and brightest .

As the days pass, its path across our skies will move closer to Jupiter, eventually passing it and ending up on the planet's left side by April 17.

Watch: See the first supermoon of 2023 light up the sky

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Essay on Viksit Bharat: A Path to India’s Development

• Updated on  
• Apr 5, 2024

Essay on Viksit Bharat: The Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, has an ambition for India; that is to make India a ‘Developed Country’. The Leader has stated that every action of an Indian civilian should be done to make India a developed country; that is, Viksit Bharat.

The formal launch of the Viksit Bharat Mission was a major milestone in India’s development. It is an opportunity for India to show its true potential and become a developed country by 2047, which will complete the 100 years of India’s independence. With the rapid development in major sectors of the economy , experts have predicted that this mission will be accomplished within its time limit. 

This Blog Includes:

Viksit bharat history, viksit bharat key objectives, developments so far.

Quick Read: Essay on Digital India

On 11 December 2023, the Indian Prime Minister launched the Viksit Bharat @2047 scheme via a video conferencing platform. In this video conference, he declared the formal launch of this scheme along with its four pillars: Yuva (Youth), Garib (Poor), Mahila (Women) and Kisan (Framers).

Viksit Bharat represents a blueprint for India’s development. It aims to achieve the ‘India Great’ target by the year 2047; which was termed as ‘Amrit Kaal’. On 3rd March 2024, the Prime Minister chaired the Council of Ministers, where he talked about a plan for the next five years to work on the ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’ vision.

He stated that if the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) forms a government after the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in 2024, the government will aim to make India a global power in terms of economic growth, social development, technological innovations and soft diplomacy. 

‘ Today, the goal of the country is Viksit Bharat, Shrestha Bharat!’ – PM Narendra Modi

The Viksit Bharat has been the prime focus of the NDA. The Prime Minister has expressed his ministry’s action plan to make India a developed nation by 2047. The immediate objectives of the Viksit Bharat scheme are economic growth and sustainable development goals, better standard of living, ease of doing business, infrastructure, social welfare, etc.

To achieve the Viksit Bharat objectives, the Indian Prime Minister aims to enable every Indian citizen to participate in the country’s development at their own level. PM Modi’s vision is strong and sustainable, where every individual will be offered decent living standards and an opportunity to serve their mother country. 

The government is encouraging investors to invest in India for advanced economic growth in the subsequent years. The sub-schemes launched under this mission show the government’s dedication to creating a favourable environment for economic growth and business development.

The government is constantly encouraging the youth to actively participate in the government’s schemes and engage in entrepreneurial activities. With schemes like Startup India, Made in India, and Digital India, more and more people are encouraged to participate in the government’s plans for India’s development.

The government is launching schemes on its digital platforms that encourage people to understand the importance of indigenous products and rely on their skills.’

Developing world-class infrastructure to promote sustainable development and an enhanced standard of living for everyone is another objective of the Viksit Bharat scheme. The government is launching large-scale projects to develop the country’s infrastructure, which includes the construction of world-class roads and highways, trains and railway stations, ports, etc. Some of the popular projects launched by the government are the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana , Smart Cities Mission, Bharatmala, Sagarmala, etc. 

Quick Read: 200+ English Essay Topics

Unveiling the 10 pillars of Viksit Bharat Abhiyan with #economy at the core- paving the way for a #prosperous and #Developed India. India’s model of #development should lead the way for the world to follow. To know more, visit: https://t.co/sqRvRGJePp pic.twitter.com/qhYT2UqeLf — Viksit Bharat Abhiyan (@ViksitBharat) March 5, 2023

India is currently ranked #5 in economic development in the world, where the nominal GDP is approximately USD 4 Trillion. However, the Indian government is planning to secure the 3rd spot in economic development by surpassing Japan and Germany. 

On 3rd March 2024, the Prime Minister discussed the entire roadmap of this scheme with the Cabinet Ministers. Viksit Bharat is a result of over 2 years of intensive preparation. It involves a holistic approach where all the ministries are involved to achieve its prime objective: Make India Great.

The government strategised its planning by consulting its ministers, state governments, academic institutions, private organizations, and ordinary people to come up with innovative and sustained ideas for India’s growth.

Ans. The Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, has an ambition for India; that is to make India a ‘Developed Country’. The Leader has stated that every action of an Indian civilian should be done to make India a developed country; that is, Viksit Bharat. The formal launch of the Viksit Bharat Mission was a major milestone in India’s development. It is an opportunity for India to show its true potential and become a developed country by 2047, which will complete the 100 years of India’s independence. With the rapid development in major sectors of the economy, experts have predicted that this mission will be accomplished within its time limit. 

Ans. Individuals can visit the MyGov portal to participate in the Viksit Bharat scheme at https://www.mygov.in/.

Ans. On 11 December 2023, the Indian Prime Minister launched the Viksit Bharat @2047 scheme via a video conferencing platform. The four pillars of the Viksit Bharat scheme are Yuva (Youth), Garib (Poor), Mahila (Women) and Kisan (Framers). The immediate objectives of the Viksit Bharat scheme are economic growth and sustainable development goals, better standard of living, ease of doing business, infrastructure, social welfare, etc.

Popular Essay Topics for Students

For more information on such interesting topics, visit our essay writing page and follow Leverage Edu.  

Shiva Tyagi

With an experience of over a year, I've developed a passion for writing blogs on wide range of topics. I am mostly inspired from topics related to social and environmental fields, where you come up with a positive outcome.

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First launch for SpaceX Bandwagon program: How to see rocket liftoff in Sebastian, Vero Beach

Who's up for dinner and a rocket launch? A  SpaceX  Falcon 9 rocket will potentially lift off this weekend, kicking off a new SpaceX program called Bandwagon.

The rocket will carry a small batch of satellites and, weather permitting, will be visible in the sky above the Treasure Coast. Below is the calendar for upcoming rocket launches and how to watch the SpaceX launch from Indian River County, St. Lucie County and Martin County.

Is there a rocket launch in Florida today? Rocket launch calendar for Florida

Here's what we know about the rocket launch missions, mentioned in  FLORIDA TODAY's rocket launch calendar  for the month, which is updated frequently. (Check that link often for rocket launch times and dates because they are routinely subject to change for a variety of reasons.) FLORIDA TODAY, a USA TODAY Network-Florida newspaper, provides interactive launch coverage at  floridatoday.com/space  with frequent updates on launches at least 90 minutes in advance, sometimes longer, depending on the mission. For questions or comments, email  Space Reporter Rick Neale  at [email protected] or tweet him  @rickneale1  on X, the social platform formerly known as Twitter.

Is SpaceX launching from Florida? Sunday, April 7: SpaceX Bandwagon-1

SpaceX has yet to announce this mission, but a National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency navigational warning shows this launch window will open Sunday evening.

Here are some details about the upcoming SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch:

• Mission:  A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch a "rideshare" payload of small satellites from Kennedy Space Center.
• Launch window:  7:12 p.m. to 7:50 p.m. EDT Sunday, April 9
• Location:  Launch Pad 39A
• Live coverage:  Starts 90 minutes before liftoff at  floridatoday.com/space .

Where can I watch SpaceX rocket launches online?

If you want to watch live rocket launch coverage,  FLORIDA TODAY's Space Team  will provide updates at  floridatoday.com/space , starting about 90 minutes before launch time. You can download the free app for iPhone or Android or type floridatoday.com/space into your browser.

Where can I see a Florida rocket launch in Indian River County, St. Lucie County and Martin County?

The best views to watch a rocket launch from neighboring Brevard County, aka the Space Coast, is here along the beach. Visibility in Indian River County,  St. Lucie County  and Martin County, part of the Treasure Coast, will depend on weather conditions, and people should make sure not to block traffic or rights of way on bridges and to follow posted rules at beaches. Look due north. Here are some recommended spots, from closest to Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and Kennedy Space Center to farthest:

• Pretty much anywhere in Brevard, you'll get a view of the rocket launch. That includes  Melbourne Beach , which borders Indian River County, or from Grant-Valkaria along the Indian River Lagoon.

•  Sebastian Inlet Park , 9700 S. State Road A1A, Melbourne Beach (there is a cost to enter)

•  Wabasso Beach Park , 1808 Wabasso Beach Road, Wabasso

•  Ambersands Beach Park , 12566 N. SR A1A, Vero Beach (free parking)

•  South Beach Park , 1700 Ocean Drive, Vero Beach (free parking)

•  Alma Lee Loy Bridge  in Vero Beach

•  Merrill Barber Bridge  in Vero Beach

•  Fort Pierce Inlet , 905 Shorewinds Drive

•  Blind Creek Beachside  North and South, South Ocean Drive or SR A1A on Hutchinson Island in Fort Pierce

•  Blue Heron Beach , 2101 Blue Heron Blvd., Fort Pierce

•  Frederick Douglass Memorial Park , 3600 S. Ocean Drive, Fort Pierce

•  Dollman Park Beachside , 9200 South Ocean Drive, Jensen Beach

•  Herman's Bay Beach , 7880 South Ocean Drive, Jensen Beach

•  John Brooks Park Beachside , 3300 S Ocean Drive, Fort Pierce

•  Middle Cove Beach , 4600 South Ocean Drive, Fort Pierce

•  Normandy Beach  in Jensen Beach

•  Pepper Park Beachside , 3302 N. SR A1A, Fort Pierce,

•  Walton Rocks Beach , which has a dog park, 6700 South Ocean Drive, Jensen Beach

•  Waveland Beach , 10350 S. Ocean Drive, Jensen Beach

•  House of Refuge and beach , 301 S.E. MacArthur Blvd., Stuart

•  State Road A1A causeway in Stuart

What is SpaceX Bandwagon? SpaceX Bandwagon-1

SpaceX is launching a new rideshare mission called “Bandwagon,” which will send small batches of satellites into mid-inclination orbit, making it the first mission of its kind for the company.

According to TechCrunch, “Orbital inclination refers to what part of the Earth is visible to a satellite as it rotates around the planet.” 

“A satellite in an equatorial orbit is at 0 degrees inclination; a satellite in a sun-synchronous orbit is slightly higher than 90 degrees; and a mid-inclination orbit is around 45 degrees.”

There are four Bandwagon missions currently on SpaceX’s schedule , slated for this weekend, November 2024 and February and May 2025.

Rick Neale  is a Space Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY (for more of his stories,  click here .) Contact Neale at 321-242-3638 or  [email protected] . Twitter/X:  @RickNeale1