INDIAN SPACE RESEARCH ORGANISATION The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is the primary space agency of India. ISRO is amongst the largest government space agencies in the world. The prime objective of ISRO is to develop space technology and its application to various national tasks. The Indian space programme was driven by the vision of Dr Vikram Sarabhai, considered the father of Indian Space Programme

ORIGIN Established in 1969, ISRO superseded the erstwhile Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR). Headquartered in Bangalore, ISRO is under the administrative control of the Department of Space, Government of India. The objective of ISRO is to develop space technology and its application to various national tasks. Accordingly, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully operationalised two major satellite systems namely Indian National Satellites (INSAT) for communication services and Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) satellites for management of natural resources; also, Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) for launching IRS type of satellites and Geostationary Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) for launching INSAT type of satellites.
SATELLITES LAUNCHED Since its establishment , ISRO has achieved numerous milestones. It built India's first satellite, Aryabhata, which was launched by the Soviet Union in 1975. In 1980, Rohini became the first satellite to be placed in orbit by an Indian- made launch vehicle, SLV-3. ISRO subsequently developed two other rockets: the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) for launching satellites into polar orbits and the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) for placing satellites into geostationary orbits. These rockets have launched numerous communications satellites and earth observation satellite. In 2008, Chandrayaan-1, India sent its first mission to the Moon. Over the years, ISRO has conducted a variety of operations for both Indian and foreign clients. ISRO's satellite launch capability is mostly provided by indigenous launch vehicles and launch sites. In 2008, ISRO successfully launched its first lunar probe, Chandrayaan-1, while future plans include indigenous development of GSLV, manned space missions , further lunar exploration, mars exploration and interplanetary probes. ISRO has several field installations as assets, and cooperates with the international community as a part of several bilateral and multilateral agreements. In 2013, ISRO launched its Mars Orbiter Mission, which is currently on-route to Mars.
LAUNCH VEHICLE FLEET

Comparison of Indian carrier rockets. Left to right: SLV, ASLV, PSLV, GSLV, GSLV III. During the 1960s and 1970s, India initiated its own launch vehicle programme owing to geopolitical and economic considerations. In the 1960s – 1970s, the country successfully developed a sounding rockets programme, and by the 1980s, research had yielded the Satellite Launch Vehicle-3 and the more advanced Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV), complete with operational supporting infrastructure. ISRO further applied its energies to the advancement of launch vehicle technology resulting in the creation of PSLV and GSLV technologies.

SATELLITE LAUNCH VEHICLE Main article: Satellite Launch Vehicle Status: Decommissioned The Satellite Launch Vehicle, usually known by its abbreviation SLV or SLV-3 was a 4-stage solid-fuel light launcher. It was intended to reach a height of 500 km and carry a payload of 40 kg. Its first launch took place in 1979 with 2 more in each subsequent year, and the final launch in 1983. Only two of its four test flights were successfull

AUGUMENTED SATELLITE LAUNCH VEHICLE Main article: ASLV
Status: Decommissioned The Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle, usually known by its abbreviation ASLV was a 5-stage solid propellant rocket with the capability of placing a 150 kg satellite into LEO. This project was started by the ISRO during the early 1980s to develop technologies needed for a payload to be placed into a geostationary orbit . Its design was based on Satellite Launch Vehicle. The first launch test was held in 1987, and after that 3 others followed in 1988, 1992 and 1994, out of which only 2 were successful, before it was decommissioned.
POLAR SATELLITE LAUNCH VEHICLE Main article: PSLV
Status: Active The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, usually known by its abbreviation PSLV, is an expendable launch system developed to allow India to launch its Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) satellites into Sun sychronous orbits, a service that was, until the advent of the PSLV, commercially viable only from Russia. PSLV can also launch small satellites into geostationary transfer orbit (GTO). The reliability and versatility of the PSLV is proven by the fact that it has launched 65 satellites / spacecraft ( 30 Indian and 35 Foreign Satellites) into a variety of orbits so far .In April 2008, it successfully launched 10 satellites at once, breaking a world record held by Russia. On 5 November 2013 the PSLV flew its 24th consecutive successful launch mission . Its only failure in 25 flights was its maiden voyage in September 1993, providing the rocket with a 96 percent success rate.
GEOSYNCHRONOUS SATELLITE LAUNCH VEHICLE Main article: GSLV
Status: Active The Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle, usually known by its abbreviation GSLV, is an expendable launch system developed to enable India to launch its INSAT-type satellites into geostationary orbit and to make India less dependent on foreign rockets. At present, it is ISRO's heaviest satellite launch vehicle and is capable of putting a total payload of up to 5 tons to Low Earth Orbit. The vehicle is built by India with the cryogenic engine purchased from Russia while the ISRO develops its own engine programme. In a setback for ISRO, the attempt to launch the GSLV, GSLV-F06 carrying GSAT-5P, failed on 25 December 2010. The initial evaluation implies that loss of control for the strap-on boosters caused the rocket to veer from its intended flight path, forcing a programmed detonation. Sixty-four seconds into the first stage of flight, the rocket began to break up due to the acute angle of attack. The body housing the 3rd stage, the cryogenic stage, incurred structural damage, forcing the range safety team to initiate a programmed detonation of the rocket. On 5 January 2014, GSLV D5 successfully launched GSAT-14 into intended orbit. This also marked first successful flight using indigenous cryogenic engine, making India sixth country in the world to have this technology.
GEOSYNCHRONOUS SATELLITE LAUNCH VEHICLE -MARKIII Main article: GSLV III
Status: Active The Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark-III is a launch vehicle currently under development by the Indian Space Research Organisation. It is intended to launch heavy satellites into geostationary orbit, and will allow India to become less dependent on foreign rockets for heavy lifting. The rocket, though the technological successor to the GSLV, however is not derived from its predecessor.
MILESTONES
In 1962,Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR) formed. In 1969, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) formed under Department of Atomic Energy (August 15, 1969).In 1975, ISRO became a Government Organisation and First Indian Satellite - Aryabhata, launched.In 1979, Bhaskara-I launched - an experimental satellite for earth observations, launched and First Experimental launch of SLV-3 with Rohini Technology Payload.In 1980, Second Experimental launch of SLV-3, launch of Rohini satellite successful.In 1981, APPLE, an experimental geo-stationary communication satellite launched and Bhaskara-II launched.In 1982, INSAT-1A launched. In 1988, First operational Indian Remote Sensing Satellite, IRS-1A launched.In 1992, INSAT-2A launched.In 1995, INSAT-2C launched and Indian Remote Sensing Satellite, IRS-1C launched.In 1997, IRS-1D successfully launched. INSAT-2D launched. Satellite failed. ARABSAT-1C acquired and renamed INSAT-2DT in 1998.In 2000, 3rd Generation of INSAT seris, INSAT-3B launched.In 2001, The first developmental launch of GSLV-D1. GSAT-1 launched and PSLV-C3,successfully launched three satellites - Technology Experiment Satellite (TES) of ISRO, BIRD of Germany and PROBA of Belgium.In 2003, INSAT-3A launched , Second developmental launch of GSLV-D2 with GSAT-2 , INSAT-3E launched and PSLV-C5, successfully launched RESOURCESAT-1 (IRS-P6).In 2005, PSLV-C6 successfully launched CARTOSAT-1 and HAMSAT.In 2007, PSLV-C7 successfully launched four satellites. CARTOSAT-2, Space Capsule Recovery Experiment (SRE-1), and Indonesia’s LAPAN-TUBSAT and Argentina’s PEHUENSAT-1 and PSLV-C8, successfully launched Italian astronomical satellite, AGILE.In 2008, PSLV-C11 successfully launched CHANDRAYAAN-1. In 2011, PSLV-C16 successfully launched Three Satellites - RESOURCESAT-2,YOUTHSAT, X-SAT, GSAT-8 launched, PSLV-C17 successfully launched GSAT-12.In 2012, PSLV-C21 successfully launched satellites SPOT 6 and PROITERES, GSAT-10 launched.In 2013, PSLV - C20 successfully launched SARAL and six commercial payloads, PSLV - C22 successfully launched IRNSS-1A and INSAT-3D launched. FORTHCOMING PROJECTS
ASTROSAT

ASTROSAT is a first dedicated Indian Astronomy satellite mission, which will enable multi-wavelength observations of the celestial bodies and cosmic sources in X-ray and UV spectral bands simultaneously. The scientific payloads cover the Visible (3500–6000 Ņ), UV (1300–3000 Ņ), soft and hard X-ray regimes (0.5–8 keV; 3–80 keV). The uniqueness of ASTROSAT lies in its wide spectral coverage extending over visible, UV, soft and hard X-ray regions.
GSAT-6 / INSAT-4E The primary goal of GSAT-6/INSAT-4E, which is a Multimedia broadcast satellite, is to cater to the consumer requirements of providing entertainment and information services to vehicles through Digital Multimedia consoles and to the Multimedia mobile Phones. The satellite carries a 5 spot beam BSS and 5 spot beam MSS. It will be positioned at 83° East longitude with a mission life of 12 years.

GSAT-7/INSAT-4F It is a multi-band satellite carrying payloads in UHF, S-band, C-band and Ku band. The satellite weighs 2330 kg with a payload power of 2000W and mission life of 9 years.

GSAT-15 GSAT-15 is an Indian communication satellite similar to GSAT-10 to augment the capacity of transponders to provided more bandwidth for Direct-to-Home television and VSAT services. The satellite will be the 10th one in the series of GSAT satellitesGSAT-16
GSAT-16
GSAT-16will be the 11th Indian communication satellite similar to GSAT-15 meant to increase the number of transponders that in turn enhance the satellite based telecommunication, television, VSAT services in India.

Thus, Indian Space programme born in the church beginning, space activities in the country, concentrated on achieving self reliance and developing capability to build and launch communication satellites for television broadcast, telecommunications and meteorological applications; remote sensing satellites for management of natural resources.