Archive · 15 Aug 2026
From Mangalyaan to Chandrayaan-3: India's Rise as a Space Power
India became independent from British rule on August 15, 1947.
Since then, India has grown a lot in science and technology.
India has a space agency called ISRO.
In 2008, ISRO sent its first mission to the Moon, called Chandrayaan-1.
That mission found signs of water on the Moon.
In 2013, India sent a spacecraft called Mangalyaan to Mars.
India was the fourth country to reach Mars.
In 2023, India's Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft soft-landed on the Moon.
It was the first country to land near the Moon's southern high-latitude region.
Today, India is one of the world's leading space powers.
India launched Chandrayaan-1, its first mission to the Moon, on 22 October 2008, and it detected water-related signatures on the lunar surface.
On 5 November 2013, ISRO launched the Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan), making India the fourth space agency to place a spacecraft in Mars orbit.
ISRO launched Astrosat on 28 September 2015 to study celestial objects in multiple wavelengths, including black holes and neutron stars.
Chandrayaan-2, launched on 22 July 2019, failed to achieve a soft landing, but its orbiter continued operating and producing scientific data.
On 23 August 2023, Chandrayaan-3 soft-landed on the Moon, making India the first country to land in the Moon's southern high-latitude region and the fourth to achieve a soft landing.
- Who
- The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), India's national space agency.
- What
- India's rise as a space power through lunar, Martian, solar, astronomical, and deep-space missions, including Chandrayaan-1, Mangalyaan, Astrosat, Chandrayaan-2, and Chandrayaan-3.
- When
- From 2006 to 2026, with key missions launched in 2008, 2013, 2015, 2019, and 2023.
- Where
- India, the Moon, Mars, and space.
- Why
- To demonstrate India's scientific and technological capabilities since gaining independence in 1947.
- Space agency
- Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
- First Moon mission
- Chandrayaan-1, launched 22 October 2008
- First Mars mission
- Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan), launched 5 November 2013
- Astronomy observatory
- Astrosat, launched 28 September 2015
- Historic lunar landing
- Chandrayaan-3, 23 August 2023; first soft landing in the Moon's southern high-latitude region
- Economy rank
- Sixth-largest economy by nominal GDP, around $4.15 trillion
- Purchasing Power Parity rank
- Third globally, behind the United States and China
- Global Innovation Index rank
- 38th; 3rd globally in scientific publications