Speaker 1: Welcome to Bedtime Astronomy. Explore the wonders of the cosmos
Speaker 1: with our soothing Bedtime Astronomy podcast. Each episode offers a
Speaker 1: gentle journey through the stars, planets, and beyond, perfect for
Speaker 1: unwinding after a long day. Let's travel through the mysteries
Speaker 1: of the universe as you drift off into a peaceful
Speaker 1: slumber under the night sky. ISRO pioneering India's path to
Speaker 1: the stars. The Indian Space Research Organization ISRO stands as
Speaker 1: a beacon of innovation and progress in space exploration. Established
Speaker 1: in nineteen sixty nine, ISRO has grown from modest beginnings
Speaker 1: to become one of the leading space agencies in the world.
Speaker 1: Its journey is marked by groundbreaking achievements, including the successful
Speaker 1: deployment of satellites, pioneering interplanetary missions, and the development of
Speaker 1: indigenous launch vehicles. This narrative delves into the history, milestones,
Speaker 1: and future aspirations of ISRO, highlighting its contributions to science, technology,
Speaker 1: and humanity. The roots of ISRO can be traced back
Speaker 1: to the Indian National Committee for Space Research in Cosper,
Speaker 1: which was founded in nineteen sixty two by doctor Vikrumsarabei
Speaker 1: often referred to as the father of the Indian space program.
Speaker 1: Doctor Sarabei recognized the potential of space technology in addressing
Speaker 1: the socioeconomic challenges faced by India. Under his visionary leadership,
Speaker 1: in Cosper launched the first sounding rocket from thumb As
Speaker 1: Equatorial Rocket Launching Station TURLS in Kerala in nineteen sixty three.
Speaker 1: This event marked India's entry into the realm of space research.
Speaker 1: In nineteen sixty nine, ISSRO was formally established, with doctor
Speaker 1: Sarabai as its first chairman. The organization's primary objective was
Speaker 1: to harness space technology for national development and to advance
Speaker 1: India's capabilities in satellite communication, remote sensing and scientific exploration.
Speaker 1: The early years of ISSRO were characterized by collaboration with
Speaker 1: international partners, including NASA and the Soviet Union, which provided
Speaker 1: crucial technical support and resources. One of issro's early successes
Speaker 1: was the launch Ariyabatah, India's first satellite in nineteen seventy five,
Speaker 1: named after the ancient Indian mathematician and astronomer, Ariyabatah, was
Speaker 1: launched aboard a Soviet Cosmos three M rocket. The satellite's
Speaker 1: primary mission was to conduct scientific experiments in X ray astronomy,
Speaker 1: solar physics and aeronomy. Although the mission faced technical challenges,
Speaker 1: it laid the foundation for future satellite development and demonstrated
Speaker 1: India's growing expertise in space technology. The next major milestone
Speaker 1: for ISSRO came in nineteen eighty with the successful launch
Speaker 1: of Rohini RS one, the first satellite to be placed
Speaker 1: into orbit by an Indian made launch vehicle, the Satellite
Speaker 1: Launch Vehicle three SLV three. The launch marked the significant
Speaker 1: achievement in India's quest for self reliance and space technology.
Speaker 1: Under the leadership of doctor dot j Abdul Kalum, who
Speaker 1: later became the President of India, the SLV three program
Speaker 1: demonstrated the viability of indigenous launch vehicle development and set
Speaker 1: the stage for more ambitious projects. Building on the success
Speaker 1: of the SLV three, ISRO developed the Augmented Satellite Launch
Speaker 1: Vehicle ASLV and the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle PSLV. The
Speaker 1: PSLV in particular, became a workhorse for ISRO, renowned for
Speaker 1: its reliability and versatility. Since its first successful flight in
Speaker 1: nineteen ninety four, the PSLV has launched numerous satellites into
Speaker 1: various orbits, including the highly Elliptical Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit GTO,
Speaker 1: and the Low Earth Orbit LOO. The pslvi's ability to
Speaker 1: launch multiple satellites in a single mission has made it
Speaker 1: a preferred choice for international customers, earning ISSRO a reputation
Speaker 1: as a reliable and cost effective launch service provider. One
Speaker 1: of the most celebrated achievements of ISSRO is the Mars
Speaker 1: Orbiter mission Mangalion, which was launched in twenty thirteen. Mangalion
Speaker 1: was India's first interplanetary mission, and its successful insertion into
Speaker 1: Martian orbit on September twenty four, twenty fourteen, made India
Speaker 1: the first country to achieve this feat on its maiden attempt.
Speaker 1: The mission showcased ISRO's technological prowess and cost efficiency as
Speaker 1: it was accomplished on a budget of just seventy four
Speaker 1: million dollars, making it one of the most economical Mars
Speaker 1: missions to date. Mangalian has provided valuable data on Martian
Speaker 1: surface features, morphology, atmosphere, and mineralogy, contributing to global scientific
Speaker 1: knowledge about the Red planet. In addition to interplanetary exploration,
Speaker 1: ISSRO has made significant strides in satellite navigation with the
Speaker 1: development of the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System IRNSS, also
Speaker 1: known as Navice Navigation with Indian Constellation. NAVIC provides accurate
Speaker 1: position information services to users in India and the surrounding region,
Speaker 1: covering an area extending up to one thousand, five hundred
Speaker 1: kilometers beyond the Indian mainland. The system comprises a constellation
Speaker 1: of seven satellites and ground stations, offering services similar to
Speaker 1: the Global Positioning System GPS, but tailored to regional needs.
Speaker 1: ISRO's advancements and satellite technology extend to remote sensing and
Speaker 1: earth observation as well. The organization has developed a series
Speaker 1: of remote sensing satellites under the Indian Remote Sensing IRS program,
Speaker 1: which began with the launch of IRS one A in
Speaker 1: nineteen eighty eight. These satellites provide critical data for agriculture, forestry,
Speaker 1: land use mapping, urban planning, disaster management and environmental monitoring.
Speaker 1: The Cardasat series, a subset of IRS satellites, offers high
Speaker 1: resolution imagery for detailed cartographic applications. The Chandraan missions represent
Speaker 1: another significant chapter in ISRO's journey. Chandrayan one, launched in
Speaker 1: two thousand and eight, was India's first lunar mission. The
Speaker 1: mission's primary objective was to map the Moon's surface and
Speaker 1: search for water ice in the lunar soil. Chandrayan one's
Speaker 1: Moon Impact probe confirmed the presence of water molecules on
Speaker 1: the Moon, a discovery that has profound implications for future
Speaker 1: lunar exploration and potential colonization. Chandraan II, launched by the
Speaker 1: Indian Space Research Organization ISRO on July twenty second, twenty nineteen,
Speaker 1: aim to explore the lunar South Pole. The mission comprised
Speaker 1: an orbiter, a land under named Vicrome, in a rover
Speaker 1: named Prugion. While the Vicrome lander failed to execute a
Speaker 1: soft landing in September twenty nineteen, the orbiter has been
Speaker 1: successfully conducting scientific experiments and sending valuable data back to Earth.
Speaker 1: The orbiter carries eight scientific instruments designed to map the
Speaker 1: lunar surface, study the exosphere, and analyze mineral composition and
Speaker 1: water ized presence. Despite the lander mishap, the mission has
Speaker 1: significantly contributed to lunar science by providing detailed imagery and data,
Speaker 1: enhancing our understanding of the Moon's surface and exosphere. Chandraan
Speaker 1: II has laid the groundwork for future lunar missions and
Speaker 1: demonstrated ISRO's growing capabilities in space exploration. The continued success
Speaker 1: of the US the orbiter highlights India's commitment to advancing
Speaker 1: scientific knowledge and its role in global space exploration efforts.
Speaker 1: Chandran three, launched by ISRO in July twenty twenty three,
Speaker 1: is India's latest mission to the Moon following the partial
Speaker 1: success of Chandrain iiO. This mission includes a lander named
Speaker 1: Vikrom and a rover named Progion, but does not have
Speaker 1: an orbiter as it relies on the Chandrain two orbiter
Speaker 1: for communication. Chandraan three achieved a significant milestone by successfully
Speaker 1: performing a soft landing on the Moon's south pole, a
Speaker 1: challenging and largely unexplored region. After landing, Vikrm and progan
Speaker 1: began their scientific tasks, focusing on surface and subsurface analysis.
Speaker 1: The lander is equipped with the chased payloffe, which has
Speaker 1: been recording temperature variations at different depths on the lunar surface,
Speaker 1: providing critical data about the Moon's thermal properties. The rover
Speaker 1: Prugion is exploring the lunar terrain, conducting Institute experiments and
Speaker 1: analyzing the lunar soil. The data from these experiments are
Speaker 1: being relayed back to Earth via the Chandrain two orbiter,
Speaker 1: contributing valuable information to our understanding of the Moon's composition
Speaker 1: and geological history. Also Vieditya L one mission, India's first
Speaker 1: solar observatory, aims to study the Sun from the lagrange
Speaker 1: point one L one, located about one point five million
Speaker 1: kilometers from Earth. Launched on September two, twenty twenty three,
Speaker 1: by the PSLVC fifty seven rocket, the mission successfully reached
Speaker 1: its halo orbit around the L one point on January sixth,
Speaker 1: twenty twenty four. This halo orbit allows for continuous observation
Speaker 1: of the Sun without interruptions caused by Earth's shadow and
Speaker 1: ensures an unobstructed view for the spacecraft's instruments. In its
Speaker 1: operational phase, Aditya L one has already completed significant milestones.
Speaker 1: It underwent three station keeping maneuvers, the latest on July second,
Speaker 1: twenty twenty four, to maintain its precise orbit despite various
Speaker 1: perturbing forces. These maneuvers were crucial to keep the spacecraft
Speaker 1: in its intended trajectory, ensuring the success of the mission
Speaker 1: in the realm of human spaceflight. Isro is preparing for
Speaker 1: the Gaganian Mission, which aims to send Indian astronauts known
Speaker 1: as Vilemanauts into space. Announced in twenty eighteen, Deganian represents
Speaker 1: India's entry into human space exploration with the goal of
Speaker 1: demonstrating crewed spaceflight capabilities and conducting scientific experiments in microgravity.
Speaker 1: The mission involves extensive collaboration with international partners, including Russia
Speaker 1: and France, in the development of critical technologies such as
Speaker 1: crew modules, life support systems, and launch escape systems. ISRO's
Speaker 1: achievements are not limited to scientific and technological advancements. They
Speaker 1: also encompass social and economic benefits for India. The organization's
Speaker 1: commitment to leveraging space technology for national development is evident
Speaker 1: in initiatives such as the Satellite Instructional Television Experiment Site
Speaker 1: and the CATA Communication Project. These projects utilized satellite communication
Speaker 1: to deliver educational programs and information to rural and remote areas,
Speaker 1: bridging the digital divide and promoting socioeconomic development. Moreover, ISRO's
Speaker 1: contributions to disaster management and environmental monitoring have had a
Speaker 1: significant impact on India's resilience to natural disasters. The organization's
Speaker 1: remote sensing satellites provide real time data for monitoring floods, cyclones, droughts,
Speaker 1: and landslides, enabling timely response and mitigation efforts. The Indian
Speaker 1: National Center for Ocean Information Services INCOYS, supported by issro's
Speaker 1: satellite data, offers early warning services for tsunamis and storm surges,
Speaker 1: safeguarding coastal communities. Issro's success has also spurred the growth
Speaker 1: of India's space industry, fostering innovation and entrepreneurship. The government's
Speaker 1: recent reforms aimed at encouraging private sector participation in space
Speaker 1: activities have led to the emergence of several startups and
Speaker 1: companies focused on satellite manufacturing, launch services, and space applications.
Speaker 1: The establishment of the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization
Speaker 1: Center i INSPASU and the New Space India Limited NSIL
Speaker 1: reflects the government's commitment to creating a vibrant and competitive
Speaker 1: space ecosystem. Looking to the future, ISRO as ambitious plans
Speaker 1: to further expand its horizons and achieve new milestones in spacexcs.
Speaker 1: ISRO is also working on the Reusable Launch Vehicle RLV program,
Speaker 1: aimed at reducing the cost of access to space by
Speaker 1: developing a vehicle that can be recovered and reused for
Speaker 1: multiple missions. ISRO's commitment to international collaboration and partnerships remains
Speaker 1: a cornerstone of its strategy. The organization has signed numerous
Speaker 1: agreements with space agencies and organizations worldwide, fostering cooperation in
Speaker 1: areas such as satellite launches, scientific research, and technology development.
Speaker 1: Notable collaborations include joint missions with NASA, such as the
Speaker 1: NASA ISSRO Synthetic Aperture Radar MISSR mission, which aims to
Speaker 1: study Earth's changing ecosystems, ice masses, and natural hazards. In
Speaker 1: the realm of planetary exploration, ISRO is planning the Chakrain mission,
Speaker 1: which aims to study Venus, our neighboring planet. Scheduled for
Speaker 1: launch in twenty thirty one, Chakraine will carry instruments to
Speaker 1: investigate the Venusian atmosphere, surface, and subsurface, providing insights into
Speaker 1: the planet's geology, climate, and potential for past or present life.
Speaker 1: This mission underscores ISRO's ambition to explore the diverse and
Speaker 1: complex environments of our solar system. The organization's vision extends
Speaker 1: beyond the confines of our solar system, with concepts and
Speaker 1: studies for interstellar exploration. One such concept is the Interstellar Probe,
Speaker 1: which aims to travel beyond the aliosphere, the bubble of
Speaker 1: solar wind that surrounds our Solar System, and into interstellar space.
Speaker 1: This mission would carry instruments to study the interstellar medium,
Speaker 1: cosmic race and the boundary regions of the aliosphere, providing
Speaker 1: valuable data on the environment beyond our Solar System. As
Speaker 1: ISRO continues to push the boundaries of space exploration, it
Speaker 1: remains committed to its core mission of leveraging space technology
Speaker 1: for national development. The organizations focus on addressing socioeconomic challenges
Speaker 1: through satellite applications, disaster management and environmental monitoring, demonstrates its
Speaker 1: dedication to improving the lives of people in India and beyond.
Speaker 1: ISRO's achievements are a testament to the vision and perseverance
Speaker 1: of its leaders, scientists and engineers. From launching India's first
Speaker 1: satellite to pioneering interplanetary missions, the organization has consistently demonstrated
Speaker 1: its capability to overcome challenges and achieve remarkable feats. As
Speaker 1: it looks to the future, ISRO's ambitious plans, including human
Speaker 1: spaceflight advanced satellite navigation and interstellar exploration, promised to further
Speaker 1: solidify its position as a global leader in space technology.
Speaker 1: The journey of ISRO is a source of pride and
Speaker 1: inspiration for India, showcasing the nation's ability to achieve greatness
Speaker 1: through innovation, collaboration and determination. As the organization continues to
Speaker 1: explore the final frontier, it remains a symbol of India's
Speaker 1: aspirations and potential, lighting the way for future generations of scientists,
Speaker 1: engineers and explorers. M