ISRO (India)
ISRO
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is India's national space agency, responsible for space science research and planetary exploration.
Bengaluru, India Est. 1969 Government
- Founded
- 1969
- Headquarters
- Bengaluru, India
- Ownership
- Subsidiary of Department of Space
Quick Facts
Country
India
Founded
1969
Type
government
Status
operational
About ISRO
Updated 2026-09-06
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is India's national space agency, responsible for space science research and planetary exploration. Established in 1969 under the vision of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, ISRO has developed into one of the world's most capable and cost-effective space organizations, achieving remarkable milestones including successful Mars and lunar missions.
Headquartered in Bengaluru, Karnataka, ISRO operates under the Department of Space, Government of India. The agency employs approximately 17,000 scientists and engineers across multiple centers. Under Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan (since January 2025), ISRO continues advancing launch capabilities, satellite technology, and planetary exploration while maintaining its tradition of frugal engineering.
History and Milestones
India's space program began with the establishment of the Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR) in 1962 under Dr. Vikram Sarabhai. ISRO was formed in 1969 and launched India's first satellite, Aryabhata, in 1975 using a Soviet rocket. The first successful Indian-built launch vehicle, SLV-3, flew in 1980.
The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), first launched in 1993, became ISRO's workhorse rocket, achieving over 50 successful consecutive missions. In 2008, Chandrayaan-1 discovered water molecules on the Moon, fundamentally changing understanding of lunar resources. The Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan) in 2014 made India the first nation to reach Mars on its maiden attempt.
Chandrayaan-3 in 2023 achieved India's first lunar soft landing, making India the fourth nation to land on the Moon. The Vikram lander and Pragyan rover operated at the lunar south pole, conducting valuable scientific experiments and demonstrating ISRO's capabilities for complex missions.
Products and Services
ISRO operates the PSLV and GSLV launch vehicle families. PSLV provides reliable access to polar and sun-synchronous orbits, serving both Indian satellites and international customers through commercial arm Antrix/NSIL. GSLV Mk III (LVM3), India's heaviest operational rocket, supports geosynchronous and human spaceflight missions.
India's satellite programs include the Indian National Satellite System (INSAT) for telecommunications and meteorology, the Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) satellites for Earth observation, and the Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) regional navigation system. These satellites serve agriculture, disaster management, telecommunications, and national security needs.
ISRO provides commercial launch services through NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), offering competitive pricing for small to medium satellite deployments. The agency has launched satellites for numerous countries, establishing India as a reliable launch services provider.
Technology and Capabilities
ISRO developed the cryogenic upper stage technology independently after technology transfer denials in the 1990s, demonstrating capability for building advanced rocket propulsion. The agency's frugal engineering approach achieves missions at significantly lower costs than Western counterparts while maintaining high reliability.
The Gaganyaan program is developing human spaceflight capabilities, including crew module, launch escape system, and life support systems. ISRO has conducted uncrewed test flights and aims to launch Indian astronauts (Vyomanauts) on indigenous systems.
ISRO maintains extensive ground infrastructure including the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota, tracking stations across India and internationally, and satellite assembly and test facilities. The agency also develops applications using satellite data for agriculture, urban planning, and disaster response.
Business and Financial Overview
ISRO operates with an annual budget of approximately $1.5-2 billion from the Indian government, significantly smaller than NASA or ESA but delivering remarkable achievements through cost efficiency. The agency's missions typically cost a fraction of comparable international programs.
Commercial activities through NSIL generate revenue from satellite launches, satellite construction for foreign customers, and technology transfer. ISRO has launched over 400 foreign satellites from more than 35 countries, establishing a strong commercial track record.
India's space policy reforms in 2020 opened the sector to private investment, with ISRO supporting emerging Indian space startups through technology transfer and testing facilities. This policy shift aims to expand India's share of the global space economy.
Recent Developments
In 2024, ISRO continued preparations for the Gaganyaan human spaceflight program, conducting test vehicle flights and astronaut training. The agency also advanced Chandrayaan-4 lunar sample return mission planning and Venus Orbiter Mission (Shukrayaan) development.
ISRO expanded commercial operations, launching satellites for international customers and supporting India's growing private space sector. The agency also conducted PSLV and GSLV missions for national satellite programs including communications and Earth observation.
Development continued on the Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV), designed to provide heavy-lift capability with reusability features. ISRO also advanced small satellite launch vehicle (SSLV) operations for responsive, lower-cost access to orbit.
Market Position
ISRO ranks among the world's top space agencies in terms of launch frequency, technical capability, and mission success. The agency's cost-effective approach has established India as a preferred destination for satellite launches, particularly for smaller satellites and constellation deployments.
India competes commercially with SpaceX, Rocket Lab, and other providers while maintaining unique capabilities in cost-efficient mission execution. ISRO's emerging private sector partnerships aim to expand India's space industry beyond government programs.
The agency's strategic priorities include human spaceflight, planetary exploration, and expanding commercial launch services. ISRO's demonstrated success with Chandrayaan-3 and the Mars Orbiter Mission establishes credibility for increasingly ambitious future missions.
Products and product lines
| Product | Line | Note |
|---|---|---|
| PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) | Launch vehicle | ISRO's workhorse rocket for polar and sun-synchronous orbits, marketed commercially through NSIL. |
| GSLV Mk II / GSLV Mk III (LVM3) | Launch vehicle | Heavier-lift vehicles used for geosynchronous, navigation and Earth-observation missions, including the NASA-ISRO NISAR launch. |
| Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV, "Project Soorya") | Launch vehicle (in development) | Partially reusable, three-stage vehicle approved by India's Union Cabinet in September 2024 with a ₹8,240 crore budget, targeting 14-30 tonnes to LEO. |
| Gaganyaan crew module and SOLVE test vehicle | Human spaceflight | India's crewed spaceflight program; the Sub-Orbital Launch Vehicle for Experiments (SOLVE) completed its first ground test in July 2026 ahead of the uncrewed G1 test flight. |
| NavIC (NVS-series satellites) | Satellite navigation | Regional positioning constellation; NVS-02 launched in January 2025 as the second of five new-generation satellites. |
| SpaDeX satellites (SDX-01/SDX-02) | Space docking demonstrator | Twin small satellites launched together in December 2024 that completed India's first autonomous satellite docking in January 2025. |
Timeline
- 2024 India's Union Cabinet approves development of the Next Generation Launch Vehicle ("Project Soorya") on 18 September, with a ₹8,240 crore budget for a partially reusable vehicle to support crewed lunar landing ambitions by 2040. [source]
- 2025 Dr. V. Narayanan takes office as ISRO Chairman and Secretary of the Department of Space on 14 January, succeeding S. Somanath. [source]
- 2025 ISRO successfully docks the two SpaDeX satellites (SDX-01 and SDX-02, launched together 30 December 2024) on 16 January, making India the fourth nation to demonstrate autonomous space docking. [source]
- 2025 ISRO launches the NVS-02 navigation satellite aboard GSLV-F15 on 29 January, marking the agency's 100th orbital launch from Satish Dhawan Space Centre since 1979. [source]
- 2025 NISAR, the joint NASA-ISRO Earth-observation radar satellite, launches on GSLV on 30 July — GSLV's first mission to a sun-synchronous polar orbit and the two agencies' first partnership of this scale. [source]
- 2026 ISRO completes the first ground test of the SOLVE test vehicle for Gaganyaan on 3 July, while the program's uncrewed G1 test flight timeline slips to roughly Q3 2027 and the first crewed flight (H1) to 2028 or beyond, amid funding and staffing constraints cited by officials. [source]
Key People
Dr. V. Narayanan (Chairman and Secretary of Department of Space)
Team
Signals
- Launch vehicles
- LVM3 (GSLV Mk III)
- Verification
- Verified 2026-09-06
Categories & Capabilities
Industry Categories
Vehicle Types
Medium Lift Heavy Lift
Propulsion Systems
Solid Fuel Liquid Hydrogen Hypergolic
Latest from Agency Feeds
2 mentions across NASA, ESA, JAXA, ISRO, JPL & SpaceX
Auto-matched by name from primary national-agency RSS feeds. See full live feed →
Links
Location
Loading map...
Click and drag to explore • Double-click to zoom
Share
Suggest an Edit
Is this information outdated or incorrect? Help us improve this profile.
Submit CorrectionExplore More
Discover 1,000+ space companies worldwide
Similar Companies
Other companies in space-agency
CASC
Beijing, China
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC, 中国航天科技集团公司), founded in 1999 as a restructuring of the Ministr...
Korea Aerospace Research Institute
Daejeon, South Korea
The Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI), headquartered in Daejeon, South Korea, is the nation's principal governme...
ISRO Satellite Centre
Bangalore, India
The ISRO Satellite Centre (ISAC), established in 1972 and located in Bangalore, India, is the primary hub for satellite ...
CNES
Paris, France
The Centre National d'Études Spatiales (CNES) is France's national space agency, established in 1961 and headquartered i...
JAXA
Tokyo, Japan
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is Japan's national aerospace and space agency, formed in 2003 through the...
Indonesian Space Agency
Jakarta, Indonesia
BRIN (Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional / National Research and Innovation Agency) is Indonesia's consolidated national r...
Also in India
Other space companies based in India
Related Articles
Industry analysis mentioning ISRO
Launch Service Providers: A Comprehensive Comparison
Read article →
Global Space Industry by Country: Market Analysis 2025
Read article →
Space Agencies Worldwide: A Complete Overview
Read article →
The Space Launch Providers in 2025
Read article →
Satellite Manufacturing: Industry Landscape 2025
Read article →
Space Economy Outlook 2026: Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities
Read article →
Frequently asked about ISRO
Quick answers to the questions readers most often search for.
- When was ISRO founded?
- ISRO was founded in 1969 in India.
- Where is ISRO headquartered?
- ISRO is headquartered in Bengaluru, India.
- What does ISRO do?
- The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is India's national space agency, responsible for space science research and planetary exploration. Established in 1969 under the vision of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, ISRO has developed into one of the world's most capable and cost-effective space organizations, achieving remarka…
- What sector does ISRO operate in?
- ISRO works in space agency, Launch services and Satellite manufacturing.
Sources
The structured fields on this page (founding year, location, sector, status, listing) and the profile text are drawn from the sources below. How profiles are drafted and checked is described in our methodology.
- Official website (www.isro.gov.in)
- Wikidata / Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-09-04
- Merged duplicate entry isro-india · retrieved 2026-09-05
- Wikipedia: Next Generation Launch Vehicle · retrieved 2026-09-06
- Wikipedia: V. Narayanan (engineer) · retrieved 2026-09-06
- ISRO: SPADEX Docking Successful · retrieved 2026-09-06
- SpaceNews: India's first launch of 2025 sends NVS-02 navigation satellite into orbit · retrieved 2026-09-06
- NASA: NASA-ISRO Satellite (NISAR) Lifts Off to Track Earth's Changing Surfaces · retrieved 2026-09-06
- Indian Defence News: India's Gaganyaan human spaceflight faces fresh delays (July 2026) · retrieved 2026-09-06
Data Accuracy Notice: Information about ISRO is compiled from publicly available sources including company websites, press releases, regulatory filings, and industry reports. Data is reviewed periodically but may not reflect the most recent developments.
Matched to Wikidata · data pass September 6, 2026
Editorial owner: Dr. Donovan, Editor-in-Chief Company representatives may submit corrections • This page does not constitute an endorsement or affiliation • Learn about our data methodology