National Space Day : ISRO - Vajirao and Reddy IAS Institute

On the 15th August to mark the Establishment of the ISRO, the ISRO Day is celebrated. It is oriented to celebrate the Constitution of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and to show appreciation for its significant efforts in space science. ISRO Day is celebrated to pay tribute to the talent, excellence and commitment contributed by the scientists, engineers and employees of the organisation as also to encourage the youngsters of the country focusing bright future in Science and Space fields. On this day an account of the significant space missions, research and technology activities that have been planned, executed or proposed by ISRO in a given year. In which not only ISRO’s further prospects but also the problems are also considered. This day is a pride and a motivation to work harder not only for the employees of ISRO but for people in the whole country. The main purpose of organizing it is to appreciate and celebrate the performance and involvement of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). From this day, the scientific and technical potential of the organization is successfully presented. The other purpose of ISRO Day is to encourage youngsters to take up science as a career and especially in the space science sector. Besides, events are conducted on this day with an intention to spread awareness about certain projects, or missions, or new ventures of ISRO. Such events help to improve the morale of ISRO employees and scientists have been working tirelessly their effort is recognized on this day.

Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO):

• General Introduction: Indian Space Research Organization is the counties space organisation involved in tech activities, space exploration and engineering for the betterment of the mankind. ISRO is operated as one of the agencies under the DOS of the Government of India. This department mainly executes the Indian space program through the numerous usual and special centres as well as units of the ISRO.
• Establishment: Earlier the Indian Space Research Organization was known as Indian National Space Research Committee whose formation was done in the year 1962 during the prime ministership of Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, according to the plan envisioned by the great Dr. Vikram Sarabhai ISRO was set up on 15 August 1969 as an autonomous body under the Department of Space of the Indian Government. INSRC was further utilized for the purpose of space technology. In addition to this Department of Space was also formulated and in 1972 ISRO was placed under DOS.
• Objective: The primary mission of ISRO / Department of Space is to design and utilize space technology in wide range of national requirements. ISRO produces Satellite Launch Vehicles (SLV), PSLV, GSLV and SSV to put satellites in the intended orbits.
• Functions of ISRO: Besides, the technological progress, ISRO is also involved in science education in the country. Different specialised research establishments and independent institutes for remote sensing, astronomy and astrophysics, atmospheric science and space science are functioning under the supervision of the Department of Space. It also gives useful information to the scientific world which in fact helps to broaden the science
• Headquarters and Structure: The headquarters of the ISRO is in Bengaluru. They are carried out in several centres and units of the organization. Unlike the launch vehicles that are produced at Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) at Thiruvananthapuram, the satellites are designed and developed at UR Rao Satellite Centre (URSC) at Bengaluru. The satellites and launch vehicles are also integrated and launched from the Sriharikota based Dr Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC). Responsibility of acquiring, processing and disseminating remote sensing satellite data is with National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), Hyderabad.

Importance

• National pride and inspiration: ISRO day is the day that marks the excellence of science and technology of India. Every year December 14 is celebrated to mark the success of ISRO which is a pride of the entire nation. People who are interested in science, technology and space research are in a way encouraged by celebrating this day.
• Honouring scientific and technological advancements: on this day the achievements of our Scientists for the mankind are celebrated. It offers a platform to appreciate efforts and commitment of ISRO scientists, engineers and other employees
• Inspiration to the younger generation: The ISRO Day also targets at encouraging the youths to build a career in science and space exploration and development. This day several events and programmes are conducted to motivate the students as well as the youths to come forward and serve the science and the space.
• International recognition: India, through ISRO and the space missions achieved by it, has made a great identity at international forum. ISRO Day also enhances this identity to the further extent and also put forth India’s scientific and technological prowess on the global map.
• Continuity and dedication in space research: ISRO Day is therefore a symbol of continuity and commitment in ISRO’s operations. It reaffirms that ISRO is capable in the sense that it not only attains its objectives, but also develops and transforms with efficiency in its endeavours.

Achievements:

• The first sounding rocket designed and built in India was RH 75 (Rohini-75) launched in 1967. It was launched from TERLS and had a total mass at lift off of not more than 32 kg. The Rohini series was designed and built by the Indian space research organization for atmospheric and meteorological investigations
• ISRO constructed its own first satellite mission in 1975 and that satellite was named Aryabhata. It was developed by Soviet Union.
• The first Indian launch vehicle was Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV) of which SLV-3 was the third generation. It was used to launch the first indigenously built satellite Rohini in the year 1980.
• In the year, 1982, ISRO put into operation its first communication satellite called the INSAT. It was launched as INSAT-1A but this mission was unsuccessful.
• ISRO also put into orbit the first Remote Sensing Satellite in the same year 1988.
• It has three categories of vehicles namely PSLV, GSLV and LVM or GSLV Mark III.
• ISRO geared up for the first lunar expedition the mission named Chandrayaan I was launched in 2008.
• Still, perhaps its most ambitious was the launch of the Mars Obiter Mission (MOM) or Mangalyaan in 2014. By doing this India emerged as the first country to have sent a satellite into Mars orbit in the first attempt.
• ISRO has put into orbit many small satellites most of which are used for testing and experimentation. Such as Aryabhatta and YouthSat etc.
• Scramjet (Supersonic Combustion Ramjet) Engine – Scramjet or Supersonic Combustion Ramjet was tested by ISRO in August 2016. The former acts as fuel while the latter which is the oxidizer is sourced from the atmospheric air most especially the oxygen.
• The ISRO in its space programme made the sixth world record in 2017 for launching as many as 104 satellites in one go to the orbit on a single rocket mission.

ISRO's Upcoming Missions:

• Gaganyaan: with it India is trying to send a crew of three persons into a 400 km orbit that too for three days and ensuring their safe homecoming. The stated plan of action is to be implemented through the best of strategies based on state-of-art technologies which are available with international agencies as well with intra-country competence of Indian industry, intellectuality of academicians and research establishment in the country. Gaganyaan’s mission has some prerequisites, namely the development of several vital technologies. These are human friendly launch vehicle for a safe and comfortable ride into space, life support systems to ensure the crew stays healthy in space like environment, availability of safe means to evacuate the crew from the spacecraft, and develop some of the crew management characteristics like how to train the crew for an outing, how to enhance their return to earth etc.
• NISAR: NISAR is a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) remote sensing satellite mission under implementation from NASA in collaboration with ISRO. NISAR will image the entire planet in 12 days and have spatial and temporal consistency, to better study the Earth’s biosphere, ice sheets, vegetation, biomass, sea level, water table and natural hazards: earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, landslides and more.

Challenges Faced by ISRO:

• Technological Complexities and Innovation: However as ISRO contemplates the complex Missions like Gaganyaan and Inter-planetary missions, but the problem is trying out new Technologies. These projects demand very complex and reliable technological equipment the qualities of which are not easy to achieve.
• Financial Resources: As the projects of ISRO are getting challenging, a similar trend in the utilisation of monetary means is observed. Procuring the funds needed for big missions like the Gaganyaan and Chandrayaan is always a bit complex given the stiff international competition and now the new more aggressive private players.
• Human Resources: ISRO has very competent scientists and engineers but talent is required for new and even more challenging assignments. Another major problem for ISRO is that today’s youths are reluctant to take science and engineering as a career and they can hardly be motivated to participate in ISRO’s missions.
• International Competition: There is growing competition in the world regarding space. These new and innovative companies include Space-X the futuristic space exploration companies forming a strong market in space. For this reason, ISRO has to not only build up new technological and commercial skills, but also protect its place in the international market.

Way Forward:

• Financial support in the budget: Central government is enhancing the budget for ISRO and is allocating more and more fund for it so that it can accomplish its planned missions effectively and efficiently. Out of Rs 39,81,205 crore for the year 2023-2024 in Union Budget 2023-2024, Rs 13,700 crore has been proposed for ISRO. This allocation is required for future strategic programs like Gaganyaan, Chandrayaan 3 and other future large scale programs
• Partnership with private sector: There have been so many policy pointers that the government has made in order to encourage commercial participation in the space industry. Of them one is the move by the Government of India in 2020 to opened up the space industry for private firms and creation of an organization like IN-SPACe (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre). This enables commercial organisations to book for ISRO’s facilities and launch their own space missions. This would also imply reduced pressure on ISRO in terms of cash outlay and more synergy with the business community.
• Promotion of technical innovation: The government has extended policy as well as financial support to the ISRO to boost up the IT and technology. Under this there has been a lot of focus on the expenditure in research and development (R & D) on new technologies. For instance, huge capital investment is being made in the development of hypersonic, quantum communication and micro/nano satellites.
• Human resource development: The government of the nation has come up with several measures that it has instituted to promote Space education in the country. This will in turn encourage the young generation in seeking for a career in space science.