ISRO will soon launch a 6,500-kg US-built communication satellite from Indian soil. Chairman V. Narayanan confirmed the mission will take place within two months, marking a symbolic reversal of history, six decades after India’s space journey began with a small American rocket.
Milestone After NISAR’s Record-Breaking Mission
The announcement follows ISRO’s July 30 success with the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission, the most expensive satellite ever built. The GSLV-F16 placed it into orbit with high precision, earning praise from NASA engineers.
Honoured for Leadership in Space Science
Narayanan, who also heads the Department of Space, received an Honorary Doctor of Science degree from Maharashtra Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan at SRM Institute of Science and Technology’s convocation in Kattankulathur.
From 1963’s Humble Start to a Global Player
India’s space programme began in 1963, when the US donated a small rocket. In 1975, satellite data from the US helped ISRO connect 2,400 villages through a mass communication experiment. Today, India stands shoulder to shoulder with advanced spacefaring nations.
Growing Global Launch Portfolio
In the last five decades, ISRO has launched 433 satellites for 34 countries using its own vehicles. The upcoming US payload will be the heaviest American satellite ever launched from India, underscoring ISRO’s rise as a trusted global partner.
