Archive · 5 Sep 2026
India’s Long Space Journey From Thumba To Gaganyaan
India started its space programme with a small rocket launched from Thumba in 1963.
Early scientists worked in simple buildings and even moved rocket parts on bicycles.
Vikram Sarabhai helped guide the programme, while A. P. J. Abdul Kalam was among the early researchers.
India’s first satellite, Aryabhata, was sent into space by the Soviet Interkosmos agency in 1975.
In 1980, India successfully launched its own satellite with its own rocket.
Since then, ISRO has developed launch vehicles such as the PSLV and GSLV.
The EOS-05 satellite can watch parts of Earth and provide information useful for managing land, the environment and disasters.
India is also planning the Gaganyaan mission to send astronauts into orbit and bring them safely home.
India’s space programme began with a sounding-rocket launch from Thumba on November 23, 1963.
The Indian National Committee for Space Research was formed in 1962 and renamed ISRO in 1969.
India’s first satellite, Aryabhata, was launched by the Soviet Interkosmos agency in 1975.
India conducted its first successful indigenous orbital launch with the SLV-3 and RS-1 in 1980.
The EOS-05 mission demonstrated India’s growing satellite capabilities and supports land monitoring, environmental tracking and disaster management.
- Who
- Indian space scientists, ISRO, Vikram Sarabhai, A. P. J. Abdul Kalam and other researchers are central to the account.
- What
- India progressed from its first sounding-rocket launch to developing indigenous orbital launch vehicles, Earth-observation satellites and plans for human spaceflight.
- When
- The programme began in 1962-1963; major milestones cited include 1975, 1980, 2008 and the latest EOS-05 launch.
- Where
- Early research took place at Thumba in Thiruvananthapuram, while major launches were conducted from Sriharikota, near Chennai.
- Why
- The programme was developed to study space and the upper atmosphere, launch satellites, support Earth observation and prepare for future human spaceflight.
- First sounding-rocket launch
- November 23, 1963, from Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station
- Early research body
- Indian National Committee for Space Research, established in 1962
- ISRO established
- The organisation received the name Indian Space Research Organisation in 1969
- First satellite
- Aryabhata was launched by the Soviet Interkosmos agency in 1975
- First indigenous orbital launch
- SLV-3 launched satellite RS-1 in 1980
- EOS-05 mission
- A GSLV-launched Earth-observation satellite placed in geosynchronous orbit
- Gaganyaan proposal
- A planned mission involving three astronauts in a 400-kilometre low Earth orbit for three days