Space Technology refers to the specialized tools and methods used for activities beyond Earth’s atmosphere, such as space exploration and travel. This includes spacecraft, satellites, space stations, and launch vehicles, as well as communication systems, propulsion methods, and support infrastructure. Space tech helps with weather forecasts and remote sensing, while space exploration drives progress in astronomy and Earth science.

Additionally, innovations driven by space-related endeavors often find applications in other industries.

• Milestones in India’s Space Programme
• What is an Orbit?
• Lagrange points
• Satellite
• List of Earth Observation Satellites
• Satellite Launching Vehicles
• Recent launches
• NAVIC
• NISAR
• GAGANYAN
• Project NETRA
• BHUVAN 3.0
• MASS ORBITER MISSION
• Mission Shakti
• Seven mega missions by ISRO

Milestones in Global Space Technologies

Space technology has become a dominant topic in current affairs within the Science and Technology realm. Since the launch of the Sputnik satellite in 1957, space exploration has seen significant advancements. Numerous satellite applications have been developed, ranging from everyday devices to remote sensing, weather forecasting, satellite TV, and navigation systems. These missions have provided humanity with breathtaking imagery of Earth, such as the iconic Blue Marble photograph, which has become a globally recognized symbol of our planet.

Space Programmes in India

Sure, here’s a rephrased version of the milestones in India’s space program:

• In 1962, Indian scientists established the Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR) and began constructing the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS).
• They launched the first rocket from TERLS on November 21, 1963.
• In 1967, they built the Satellite Telecommunication Earth Station in Ahmedabad.
• The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) was formed under the Department of Atomic Energy on August 15, 1969.
• They established the Space Commission and Department of Space on June 1, 1972.
• India’s first ISRO satellite, Aryabhatta, took flight on April 19, 1975.
• They launched Bhaskara-I, an experimental satellite for earth observations, on June 7, 1979.
• On March 17, 1988, they launched the first operational Indian Remote Sensing Satellite, IRS-1A.
• On May 26, 1999, the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C2) launched the Indian Remote Sensing Satellite, IRS-P4 (OCEANSAT), from Sriharikota.
• On September 12, 2002, PSLV-C4 successfully launched the satellite KALPANA-1 from Sriharikota.
• PSLV-C7 launched four satellites, including India’s Space Capsule Recovery Experiment (SRE-1) and CARTOSAT-2, on January 10, 2007.
• Chandrayaan-1 was launched from Sriharikota on October 22, 2008, using PSLV-C11.
• India launched the earth observation satellite EOS-01 on November 7, 2020, along with nine international satellites from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.
• On January 4, 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the National Metrology Conclave 2021.

ISRO’S Mega Mission

Being aware of the mega missions undertaken by ISRO is crucial for staying up-to-date with current affairs in space technology. These missions encompass a variety of objectives, ranging from lunar exploration to studying cosmic radiation and venturing beyond the solar system.

Among the prominent missions are Chandrayaan-2, which involved a lunar exploration mission in 2019, and Aditya-L1, aimed at studying the Sun in 2021. Additionally, XPoSat was launched to investigate cosmic radiation in 2020.

Several future missions are also in the pipeline, including Mangalyaan-2, set for Mars Orbiter Mission-2 in 2022, and Lunar Polar Exploration, known as Chandrayaan-3, scheduled for 2024. Exoworlds, which will explore beyond our solar system, and the Shukrayaan Mission around Venus, are also on the horizon.

Read also: India Space Policy 2023