Satellites of India: A satellite is any celestial body or man-made object that revolves around a planet or star. For example, the Earth revolves around the Sun, and the Moon orbits the Earth—both of which are natural satellites. However, the term ‘satellite’ commonly refers to an artificial object sent into space for specific missions, such as remote sensing, weather monitoring, or scientific research.
Since 1975, India has been steadily advancing its space capabilities by launching numerous satellites. The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), the country’s state-run space agency, is responsible for the development, deployment, and management of these satellites. Check out the Satellites of India list below.
List of Satellites of India (1975-2022)
India’s space journey began in 1975 with the launch of its first satellite, Aryabhatta, and continues to this day with over 120 satellites launched, including EOS-04 in 2022, marking 47 years of successful satellite missions. Check out the List of Indian Satellites (1975-2022) below:-
| Launch Year | Satellites of India | Importance |
| 1975 | Aryabhatta | India’s first satellite. |
| 1979 | Bhaskara Sega-I | India’s first experimental remote sensing satellite equipped with TV and microwave cameras. |
| 1980 | Rohini RS-1 | India’s first indigenous satellite launch, used for in-flight performance monitoring of SLV-3. |
| 1981 | Rohini RS-D1 | Launched by SLV-3, used for conducting remote sensing technology studies. |
| 1981 | Apple | India’s first experimental communication satellite. |
| 1981 | Bhaskara-II | Second experimental remote sensing satellite. |
| 1982 | INSAT-1A | First operational multipurpose communication and meteorology satellite. |
| 1983 | Rohini RS-D2 | Identical to RS-D1. |
| 1983 | INSAT-1B | Identical to INSAT-1A. |
| 1987 | SROSS-1 | Carried payload for launch vehicle performance monitoring and gamma-ray astronomy. Failed to orbit. |
| 1988 | IRS-1A | India’s first operational remote sensing satellite. |
| 1988 | SROSS-2 | Carried remote sensing and gamma-ray astronomy payload. |
| 1988 | INSAT-1C | Similar to INSAT-1A. |
| 1990 | INSAT-1D | Identical to INSAT-1A. |
| 1991 | IRS-1B | Improved version of IRS-1A. |
| 1992 | INSAT-2DT | Originally launched as Arabsat 1C. |
| 1992 | SROSS-C | Carried gamma-ray astronomy and aeronomy payloads. |
| 1992 | INSAT-2A | First satellite in the second-generation INSAT-2 series. |
| 1993 | INSAT-2B | Second satellite in the INSAT-2 series. |
| 1994 | SROSS-C2 | Identical to SROSS-C. |
| 1994 | IRS-P2 | Launched by the second developmental flight of PSLV. |
| 1995 | INSAT-2C | Provided mobile satellite services, business communications, and TV outreach beyond India’s borders. |
| 1995 | IRS-1C | Launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome. |
| 1996 | IRS-P3 | Carried remote sensing and X-ray astronomy payloads. |
| 1997 | INSAT-2D | Same as INSAT-2C. |
| 1997 | IRS-1D | Same as IRS-1C. |
| 1999 | INSAT-2E | Multipurpose communication and meteorological satellite. |
| 1999 | OceanSat-1 | Carried OCM and MSMR instruments. |
| 2000 | INSAT-3B | Multipurpose communication satellite. |
| 2001 | GSAT-1 | Experimental satellite for GSLV-D1. Mission failed. |
| 2001 | TES | Prototype for future Indian spy satellites. |
| 2002 | INSAT-3C | Augmented communication and broadcasting capacity. |
| 2002 | Kalpana-1 | First meteorological satellite built by ISRO. |
| 2003 | INSAT-3A | Multipurpose communication satellite, similar to INSAT-2E and Kalpana-1. |
| 2003 | GSAT-2 | Experimental satellite for GSLV’s second developmental test flight. |
| 2003 | INSAT-3E | Enhanced the existing INSAT system. |
| 2003 | ResourceSat-1 | Replaced IRS-1C and IRS-1D. |
| 2004 | GSAT-3 | India’s first exclusive educational satellite. |
| 2005 | CartoSat-1 | Earth observation satellite. |
| 2005 | HamSat | Micro-satellite built with Indian and Dutch collaboration. |
| 2005 | INSAT-4A | Advanced satellite for direct-to-home TV broadcasting. |
Satellites of India: Important Facts
Aryabhata (1975)
- India’s First Satellite: Named after the ancient Indian mathematician and astronomer Aryabhata, it was India’s first satellite. Launched by the Soviet Union, it marked India’s entry into space exploration.
2. INSAT Series
- Communication and Meteorological Satellites: The Indian National Satellite System (INSAT) is a series of multipurpose geostationary satellites used for telecommunications, broadcasting, meteorology, and search and rescue operations.
- INSAT-1B (1983): Became the backbone of India’s television and telecommunication services.
Also, read about the List of Mughal Emperor in India.
3. IRS Series
- Remote Sensing Satellites: The Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) satellite series provides data for agriculture, forestry, land-use mapping, and water resources.
- IRS-1A (1988): First operational remote sensing satellite, laid the foundation for satellite imagery services in India.
4. GSAT Series
- Communication Satellites of India: These geostationary satellites provide satellite-based communication services, especially in remote areas.
- GSAT-6A (2018): Enhanced communication capabilities, particularly in mobile communication.
5. Chandrayaan-1 (2008)
- India’s First Lunar Mission: This moon mission discovered the presence of water on the moon, marking a milestone in planetary exploration.
- International Collaboration: The mission carried payloads from NASA, ESA, and other agencies.
6. Mangalyaan (Mars Orbiter Mission – MOM) (2013)
- India’s First Interplanetary Mission: Made India the first Asian country to reach Martian orbit and the fourth space agency in the world to do so.
- Cost-Efficiency: Noted for its highly economical cost compared to similar missions by other nations.
7. CartoSat Series
- Earth Observation Satellites of India: These satellites provide high-resolution satellite imagery for urban planning, rural development, and defense.
- CartoSat-2E (2017): Offers advanced earth observation capabilities and provides images for disaster management, resource planning, and surveillance.
8. NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation)
- Regional Navigation Satellite System: India’s indigenous GPS-like system that provides accurate positioning information services over India and the surrounding region.
- Launched in 2016: Designed to provide users with accurate position information 24×7.
9. GSAT-29 (2018)
- High-Throughput Satellites of India: Aimed at bridging the digital divide in remote and rural areas by providing high-speed internet connectivity.
10. RISAT Series
- Radar Imaging Satellites: Launched to boost India’s surveillance capabilities, RISAT-1 and RISAT-2 carry synthetic aperture radars for all-weather surveillance.
- RISAT-2BR1 (2019): Provides enhanced imaging, useful in surveillance and agriculture.
11. Gaganyaan (Upcoming Human Spaceflight Mission)
- India’s First Crewed Mission: Expected to send Indian astronauts (Gagannauts) into space by 2024, making India one of the few countries to have human spaceflight capabilities.
12. Oceansat Series
- Monitoring Ocean Resources: Oceansat satellites are used for oceanographic studies, monitoring marine resources, and atmospheric studies related to oceans.
13. PSLV-C37 (2017)
- Record-Breaking Launch: Launched 104 satellites in a single mission, setting a world record for the most satellites launched in one go.
14. GSAT-11 (2018)
- Heaviest Indian Satellite: At the time of launch, it was the heaviest satellite built by ISRO and was used to provide high-throughput internet services.
15. EMISAT (2019)
- Electronic Intelligence Satellite: Designed to gather intelligence from various electromagnetic signals, primarily for defense purposes.
