This article will abreast you with various Space Research Centers in India, their locations and some salient points related to these research centres.
Many Space Research Centers and Units are located in various cities. These Space Centers work to achieve space missions. The names of these Space Research Centers and their location are important for candidates preparing for competitive exams. Therefore, we have brought together a list of Space Research Centers and units in India to make your exam preparation a smooth ride.
List of Space Research Centers & Units in India- Download PDF Here
| You can find more article related to Science and Technology through the UPSC Science and Technology page!!
The following links will help strengthen the candidates in their UPSC preparation:
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Brief History of Indian Space Program and Research Centers
Space research activities were initiated in India during the early 1960’s when the first prototype for applications using satellites were in experimental stages in the United States. It was through the live telecast of the Tokyo Olympics by the American Satellite ‘Syncom-3’, that made Dr. Vikram Sarabhai – the founding father of the Indian space programme – the benefits of space technologies for India. The ‘Syncom-3’ satellite demonstrated the power of communication satellites.
The first step was to form the INCOSPAR (Indian National Committee for Space Research) under Dr. Sarabhai and Dr. Ramanathan in 1962. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) was later formed on August 15, 1969, its primary objective was to develop space technology and its application to various national needs. Being one of six largest space agencies in the world, it brought under the Department of Space (DOS) on June 1, 1972.
Ever since its formation the Indian space programme has had three distinct elements:
1. Satellites for communication and remote sensing
2. Space Transportation System
3. Application programmes
The major operational systems that have been established are the Indian National Satellite (INSAT) for telecommunication, television broadcasting and meteorological services and Indian Remote Sensing Satellite (IRS) for monitoring and management of natural resources and Disaster Management Support.
Indian Space Research Centers & Units
General Awareness for competitive exams like Bank exams that include IBPS, RBI, SBI, etc. Insurance exams, Government exams and the toughest of all the UPSC exams require candidates to keep updated on different subjects and one such subject is the Space Research Centres and units in India.
For detailed information on the UPSC exam, syllabus, exam pattern and optional subjects kindly check the linked article.
To help aspirants gain an edge over competitors below is the compiled list of Space Research Centres in India.
| Indian Space Research Centers & Units | |
| Location | Space Centres |
| New Delhi | DOS branch secretariat |
| ISRO branch office | |
| Delhi earth station | |
| Dehradun | Indian Institute of Remote Sensing |
| Centre for Space Science and Technology Education in Asia-Pacific (CSSTEAP) | |
| Byalalu | Indian Deep Space Network (IDSN) |
| Indian Space Science Data Centre (ISSDC) | |
| Lucknow | ISTRAC Ground Station |
| Kolkata | Eastern RRCC |
| Aluva | Ammonium Perchlorate Experimental Plant |
| Bhopal | Master Control Facility-B (MCF) |
| Chandigarh | Semi-Conductor Laboratory (SCL) |
| Shillong | North Eastern Space Application Centre |
| Hyderabad | NRSA or NRSC – National Remote Sensing Agency /Centre |
| Tirupati | NMRF-National Atmospheric Research Laboratory |
| Sriharikota | Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), SHAR |
| Port Blair | Down Range Station |
| Mahendra Giri | ISRO Propulsion Complex |
| Thiruvananthapuram | Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre |
| Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre | |
| ISRO Inertial Systems Unit | |
| Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) | |
| Hassan | Master Control Facility |
| Banglore | Space Commission |
| Department of Space and ISRO Headquarters | |
| Civil Engineering Programme Office | |
| U R Rao Satellite Centre (URSC) | |
| Laboratory for Electro-Optical Systems (LEOS) | |
| Southern RRSC | |
| Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC) | |
| INSAT Program Office | |
| NNRMS Secretariat- National Natural Resources Management System | |
| Antrix Corporation | |
| ISTRAC-ISRO Telemetry Tracking and Command Network | |
| New Space India Limited (NSIL) | |
| Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre | |
| Mumbai | ISRO Liaison office |
| Nagpur | Central RRSC-Regional Remote Sensing Centre |
| Mount Abu | Infrared Observatory |
| Ahmedabad | Space Application Centre (SAC) |
| Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) | |
| Development & Educational Communication Unit (DECU) | |
| Jodhpur | Western RRSC – Regional Remote Sensing Centre |
| Udaipur | Solar Observatory |
Though the number of questions on Space Research Centres and Units in India asked in the examinations is relatively less but the competition is fierce and you cannot afford to lose a single mark.
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| Government schemes | UPSC Syllabus | IBPS Syllabus |
We hope, this post is very important for upcoming NABARD, RBI, IBPS, SBI, SSC and Insurance exams, and other competitive exams.
Indian Space Research centres – Salient Points
- The first Indian to travel in space was Squadron Leader Rakesh Sharma (Soyuz T-11 Vehicle).
- The first Indian Origin (American) woman in Space was Kalpana Chawla.
- World’s first artificial satellite Sputnik 1 was launched by the USSR October 4, 1957.
- ISRO made Aryabhatta – the Indian satellite was launched on April 19th, 1975, by the USSR.
- The first person to walk in space was Alexei Leonov.
- Neil Armstrong is the first person to walk on the Moon.
- The first animal sent to space was Laika, the Soviet space dog. It was sent through Sputnik-2 vehicle by the USSR.
- Yuri A. Gagarin was the first person to go to space through Vostok 1 vehicle.
- The first woman to reach Space through Vostok-6 vehicle was Valentina Tereshkova. She went on June 16, 1963.
Hence, It is prudent that aspirants preparing for any competitive exams should be well versed in the Center for Space Research and Developments in the Country. This topic holds relevance for the General awareness section of all types of competitive exams and for the Science & Technology section in the UPSC exams.
Indian Space research centres are an important static GK topic. For information on various Static GK check the article linked here.
Major Milestones of the Indian Space Programme
Some of the major milestones of the Indian Space Programme are as follows:
- The Satellite Telecommunication Earth Station was set up at Ahmedabad on January 1, 1967.
- India’s first indigenous sounding rocket, RH-75, was launched on November 20, 1967.
- Aryabhata – First Indian Satellite was launched on April 19, 1975. It was launched from the former Soviet Union. It provided India with the basis of learning satellite technology and designing.
- India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, in its forty-third flight (PSLV-C41) in XL configuration launched IRNSS-1I Satellite. The ‘XL’ configuration of PSLV is used for the twentieth time. The IRNSS-1I is the eighth satellite to join the NavIC navigation satellite constellation and was launched on April 12, 2018.
- PSLV-C42 Successfully Launches two foreign satellites from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), SHAR, Sriharikota on September 16, 2018. This mission was designed to launch two earth observation satellites, NovaSAR and S1-4 (together weighing nearly 889 kg).
- PSLV-C43 lifted off on November 29, 2018 from the First Launch Pad (FLP) of Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR, Sriharikota and successfully launched India’s Hyper spectral Imaging Satellite (HysIS) and 30 international co-passenger satellites.
- November 5, 2013 – PSLV – C25 successfully launches Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan) Spacecraft from Sriharikota.
