S N Poojitha
India’s space journey began more than fifty years ago when the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) was formed on 15th August 1969. It was started under the leadership of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, who is remembered as the Father of India’s space programme. In those early days, ISRO did not have big buildings, advanced machines, or a large budget. The first rockets were so small that they were carried on bicycles and bullock carts to the launch site in Thumba, a small fishing village in Kerala. But what ISRO did have was big dreams, dedicated scientists and a will to showcase India’s scientific prowess to the World. Dr. Sarabhai believed that space technology could help solve India’s real problems, like education, weather, farming, and communication. He believed that India must be part of the space age, not just to show power, but to help its people.
In 1975, India launched its first satellite named Aryabhata with the help of the Soviet Union. This was a proud moment for the country. In 1980, India successfully placed its own satellite into orbit using a rocket called SLV-3, developed under the guidance of Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam who later went on to become the President of the country. This was a turning point for ISRO and for India’s scientific progress. Slowly, India developed its own series of rockets like the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), used to place lighter satellites into orbit, and the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV), designed to carry heavier ones. These rockets helped India become self-reliant in space technology.
ISRO then began focusing on launching satellites for communication, weather forecasting, and remote sensing. The INSAT and IRS satellite series brought television, phone services, and weather reports to remote areas. India also developed its own navigation system called NavIC, similar to GPS. These satellites have helped farmers get weather alerts, fishermen avoid storms, and students in villages watch educational programmes on TV.
India’s reputation in the global space community grew stronger with two bold missions—Chandrayaan and Mangalyaan. In 2008, ISRO launched Chandrayaan-1, India’s first mission to the Moon, which discovered the presence of water molecules on the Moon’s surface. This was a major scientific discovery. Then in 2013, India became the first Asian country to reach Mars with the Mars Orbiter Mission, also known as Mangalyaan. It was successful on its first attempt and cost far less than similar missions by other countries. This mission showed the world that India could do great things with limited resources. In 2019, ISRO launched Chandrayaan-2 with an orbiter, lander, and rover. While the lander failed to land softly, the orbiter is still working well. In 2023, India made history again with Chandrayaan-3 by successfully landing on the south pole of the Moon, the first country in the world to do so.
Now, ISRO is preparing for its most ambitious project yet—sending humans to space. This mission is called Gaganyaan, which means “Sky Vehicle” in Sanskrit. Under this mission, India will send astronauts into space in an Indian-built spacecraft, using an Indian rocket, from Indian soil. The astronauts will stay in orbit around the Earth for a few days before returning safely. This will be the first time India sends humans to space through its own programme. The launch is planned for 2025, but several tests and preparations are already taking place.
ISRO has developed a powerful rocket called GSLV Mk III, also known as LVM3, to carry the astronauts. A special capsule is being designed to keep them safe in space and bring them back to Earth. Before the manned flight, ISRO will conduct two test flights with a robot called Vyommitra, which will perform some tasks like a human astronaut. ISRO is also building systems to rescue the astronauts in case of an emergency during launch. To prepare the astronauts, training centres have been set up in India with help from countries like Russia and France. The training includes underwater exercises, survival techniques, simulations, and how to live in zero gravity.
In February 2024, the Prime Minister of India announced the names of four Indian Air Force pilots selected for astronaut training. Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is a decorated Indian Air Force fighter pilot and test pilot, born on October 10, 1985, in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. He graduated from the National Defence Academy and was commissioned into the IAF’s fighter stream in June 2006. With over 2,000 hours of flying experience on aircraft such as Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier, and An-32, Shukla rose through the ranks to become Group Captain in March 2024. On February 27, 2024, Prime Minister Modi publicly announced Shukla as one of the four astronauts for the Gaganyaan mission. He was later selected as the pilot for Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4)—a collaboration between ISRO, NASA, Axiom Space, and SpaceX—to travel to the International Space Station (ISS) in July-2025
ISRO’s success is not just about launching rockets. It is about how India uses space technology for development. Today, ISRO launches satellites for many countries, making India an important player in the global space industry. The space centre at Sriharikota is busy with both Indian and foreign missions. India is also planning more space explorations like a mission to Venus called Shukrayaan and a solar mission called Aditya-L1, which was launched in 2023 and is already sending useful information about the Sun. The government has also announced a plan to build India’s own space station by 2035, a big dream that is slowly becoming reality.
From carrying rockets on bicycles to sending missions to the Moon and Mars, India’s space story is truly inspiring. ISRO has always believed in doing more with less, and it has earned the respect of the world. The Gaganyaan mission will be a proud moment for the entire country. When Group Captain Shukla and his team go to space, they will carry the hopes and dreams of over a billion Indians. This mission will show the world that India is ready not just to explore space, but also to lead the way in space science and human exploration. The journey from a small village in Kerala to outer space has been long, but ISRO has proven that with patience, vision, and teamwork, even the sky is not the limit.
