ISRO missions have placed India among the world’s elite space-faring nations — achieving firsts that few countries have managed at a fraction of the cost.
From Aryabhata in 1975 to Chandrayaan-3’s soft landing near the lunar south pole in 2023 and Aditya-L1’s journey to the Sun, India’s space programme is now a recurring topic in UPSC Prelims, SSC CGL, Banking, and all general awareness competitive exams. This page gives you a complete, updated list of ISRO’s most important missions with launch years, objectives, and exam-critical achievements for focused, confident revision.
⚡ Quick Facts
- Chandrayaan-3 (August 2023) made India the first country to land near the lunar south pole and the fourth nation to achieve a soft landing on the Moon.
- Mangalyaan (Mars Orbiter Mission, 2013) made India the first country to reach Mars orbit on its very first attempt — and the first Asian Mars mission.
- ISRO was established on 15 August 1969 by Dr. Vikram Sarabhai — India’s first satellite Aryabhata was launched in 1975.
- Aditya-L1, launched September 2023, is India’s first solar observatory — placed at Lagrange Point L1 (~1.5 million km from Earth).
- PSLV-C37 (2017) set a world record by launching 104 satellites in a single mission.
Students confuse India’s Moon landing count: India is the 4th nation to soft-land on the Moon (USA, USSR, China, India) — NOT the 3rd. Also: Chandrayaan-1 (2008) did NOT land softly — it crashed a probe deliberately (Moon Impact Probe). The actual soft landing happened in Chandrayaan-3 (2023). Another trap: Astrosat (2015) was India’s first space observatory — Aditya-L1 (2023) is the first solar observatory. These are different missions. Also: XPoSat (2024) is only the world’s second X-ray polarimetry satellite — the first was NASA’s IXPE.
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🚀 ISRO Missions — Complete List
| # ↕ | Mission ↕ | Year ↕ | Launch Vehicle | Key Achievement / Objective |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aryabhata | 1975 | Soviet Kosmos-3M | India’s first satellite; named after ancient mathematician; built entirely by ISRO |
| 2 | Bhaskara-I | 1979 | Soviet Intercosmos | First Indian remote sensing satellite; monitored hydrology and forestry |
| 3 | Bhaskara-II | 1981 | Soviet Intercosmos | Continued remote sensing and microwave observation |
| 4 | APPLE | 1981 | Ariane-1 (ESA) | India’s first experimental geostationary communication satellite (Ariane Passenger Payload Experiment) |
| 5 | INSAT-1A | 1982 | Delta 3910 (USA) | India’s first operational communication satellite; INSAT = Indian National Satellite System |
| 6 | IRS-1A | 1988 | Soviet Vostok | India’s first operational remote sensing satellite; IRS = Indian Remote Sensing |
| 7 | PSLV-D1 | 1993 | PSLV | First PSLV flight (failed); built the foundation for PSLV’s future success |
| 8 | IRS-P3 | 1996 | PSLV-D3 | First fully successful PSLV mission |
| 9 | INSAT-2E | 1999 | Ariane-42P | Advanced communication satellite; extended INSAT services |
| 10 | Technology Experiment Satellite (TES) | 2001 | PSLV-C3 | High-resolution camera; began era of high-res imaging from ISRO |
| 11 | Kalpana-1 (MetSat-1) | 2002 | PSLV-C4 | India’s first dedicated meteorological satellite; renamed after Kalpana Chawla post-2003 Columbia disaster |
| 12 | GSAT-2 | 2003 | GSLV-D2 | First operational GSLV flight; tested cryogenic engine |
| 13 | EDUSAT (GSAT-3) | 2004 | GSLV-F01 | World’s first satellite dedicated entirely to educational services; enabled Doordarshan education broadcasts |
| 14 | Cartosat-1 | 2005 | PSLV-C6 | High-resolution stereo imaging; used for map-making and urban planning |
| 15 | Chandrayaan-1 | 2008 | PSLV-C11 | India’s first Moon mission; Moon Impact Probe; discovered water molecules on the Moon (NASA’s M3 instrument confirmed) |
| 16 | RISAT-2 | 2009 | PSLV-C12 | India’s first radar imaging satellite; all-weather surveillance capability |
| 17 | Oceansat-2 | 2009 | PSLV-C14 | Monitored ocean colour, sea surface temperature, and wind vectors |
| 18 | RISAT-1 | 2012 | PSLV-C19 | India’s first indigenous Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite; all-weather imaging |
| 19 | SARAL | 2013 | PSLV-C20 | Joint mission with CNES (France); measured sea surface height and ocean topography |
| 20 | Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan / MOM) | 2013 | PSLV-C25 | First Asian country to reach Mars; first country to reach Mars on maiden attempt; cost ~₹450 crore (less than “Gravity” film) |
| 21 | GSAT-16 | 2014 | Ariane-5 | Ku-band and C-band services; largest ISRO communication satellite at the time |
| 22 | Astrosat | 2015 | PSLV-C30 | India’s first dedicated space observatory; simultaneous UV, visible, and X-ray observation |
| 23 | PSLV-C37 (104 satellites) | 2017 | PSLV-C37 | World record — 104 satellites in a single launch; surpassed Russia’s record of 37; 101 were foreign satellites from 28 countries |
| 24 | IRNSS / NavIC | 2013–2018 | PSLV (series) | India’s own GPS; 7-satellite constellation; civilian and military use; covers India + 1,500 km beyond borders |
| 25 | Chandrayaan-2 | 2019 | GSLV-Mk3 | Orbiter succeeded (still operational 2026); Vikram lander crashed during soft landing attempt; orbiter confirmed water ice |
| 26 | EOS-01 (RISAT-2BR2) | 2020 | PSLV-C49 | Earth observation during COVID; all-weather radar imaging |
| 27 | OneWeb India-1 | 2023 | LVM3-M2 | ISRO commercially launched 36 OneWeb broadband satellites using LVM3 — major commercial milestone |
| 28 | Chandrayaan-3 | 2023 | LVM3-M4 | FIRST country to land near Moon’s south pole (23 Aug 2023 = National Space Day); 4th nation for soft Moon landing; Pragyan rover confirmed sulphur on Moon |
| 29 | Aditya-L1 | 2023 | PSLV-C57 | India’s first solar observatory; at Sun-Earth Lagrange Point L1 (~1.5 million km from Earth); studies solar corona, CMEs, solar wind |
| 30 | XPoSat | 2024 | PSLV-C58 | India’s first X-ray polarimetry mission; only second in the world (after NASA’s IXPE); studies black holes and neutron stars |
| 31 | INSAT-3DS | 2024 | GSLV-F14 | Advanced meteorological satellite; improved weather forecasting; successor to INSAT-3D |
| 32 | Gaganyaan (planned) | G1 uncrewed: 2026; Crewed H1: 2027 | LVM3 | India’s first crewed space mission (H1, 2027); 3 IAF astronauts to LEO; Vyommitra robot flies on G1 uncrewed test (2026) first; India will be 4th country to send humans to space independently |
🌙 Chandrayaan-1 vs Chandrayaan-2 vs Chandrayaan-3
| Parameter | Chandrayaan-1 (2008) | Chandrayaan-2 (2019) | Chandrayaan-3 (2023) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Launch Vehicle | PSLV-C11 | GSLV-Mk3 | LVM3-M4 |
| Components | Orbiter + Moon Impact Probe | Orbiter + Vikram Lander + Pragyan Rover | Lander (Vikram) + Pragyan Rover (used Chandrayaan-2 orbiter) |
| Landing Attempt | No soft landing — MIP crashed deliberately | Vikram lander crashed (software glitch) | Vikram landed successfully near south pole |
| Key Achievement | Discovered water molecules on the Moon | Orbiter still operational (2026); confirmed water ice | First landing near lunar south pole; confirmed sulphur, oxygen, iron on surface |
| World First | India’s first Moon mission | — | First country at Moon’s south pole |
| Landing Date | N/A | 7 Sep 2019 (crashed) | 23 August 2023 = National Space Day |
🛸 ISRO Launch Vehicles — Quick Reference
| Vehicle | Full Name | Key Fact | Notable Mission |
|---|---|---|---|
| PSLV | Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle | ISRO’s workhorse; most reliable; 4-stage solid-liquid alternating | Chandrayaan-1, Mangalyaan, 104-satellite record |
| GSLV | Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle | Carries cryogenic engine; heavier communication satellites | Chandrayaan-2, EDUSAT |
| LVM3 (GSLV Mk-3) | Launch Vehicle Mark-3 | ISRO’s heaviest launch vehicle; human spaceflight ready | Chandrayaan-3, OneWeb, Gaganyaan |
| SSLV | Small Satellite Launch Vehicle | New, fast, cost-effective for small satellites; first success 2023 | EOS-07 (2023) |
⚖️ Compare Two ISRO Missions
📝 Key Notes & Memory Tips
- Mangalyaan (MOM, 2013): India became the FIRST country to reach Mars on its maiden attempt and the FIRST Asian country to reach Mars. Cost ~₹450 crore — often compared to less than the Hollywood film “Gravity” (₹650 crore). Used a “slingshot” trajectory (Hohmann Transfer Orbit).
- Chandrayaan-3 (2023): India became the FIRST country to land near the Moon’s South Pole. India is the FOURTH country to achieve a soft landing on the Moon (after USA, USSR/Russia, China). Vikram lander touched down on 23 August 2023 — now celebrated as National Space Day.
Chandrayaan-1 (2008): Orbiter only; Moon Impact Probe crashed deliberately; discovered water molecules on Moon; PSLV-C11. Chandrayaan-2 (2019): Orbiter + Vikram lander + Pragyan rover; lander crashed; orbiter still operational (2026); GSLV-Mk3. Chandrayaan-3 (2023): Lander + Rover only — used Chandrayaan-2’s orbiter; Vikram landed successfully near south pole; LVM3-M4; Pragyan rover confirmed sulphur on the lunar surface.
- PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle): Workhorse of ISRO; most reliable; 4-stage alternating solid-liquid; used for polar and sun-synchronous orbits
- GSLV (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle): Carries cryogenic engine; heavier communication satellites; struggled early but now reliable
- LVM3 (Launch Vehicle Mark-3, formerly GSLV Mk-3): ISRO’s heaviest rocket; human spaceflight ready; used for Chandrayaan-3, OneWeb commercial launches, Gaganyaan
- SSLV (Small Satellite Launch Vehicle): New, fast, cost-effective for small satellites; first successful flight 2023
- First satellite: Aryabhata (1975)
- First Moon mission: Chandrayaan-1 (2008) — water molecules discovery
- First Mars mission: Mangalyaan (2013) — first Asian + first on maiden attempt
- First Space Observatory: Astrosat (2015) — multi-wavelength (UV, visible, X-ray)
- World record launch: PSLV-C37 (2017) — 104 satellites
- First Moon south pole landing: Chandrayaan-3 (23 Aug 2023)
- First solar mission: Aditya-L1 (2023) — at L1 Lagrange Point
- First X-ray polarimetry: XPoSat (2024) — 2nd in world
- First crewed mission (planned): Gaganyaan (G1 uncrewed 2026; H1 crewed 2027) — India will be 4th country
Goal: Send 3 Indian astronauts to low Earth orbit (LEO) for ~3 days and bring them back safely. Launch vehicle: LVM3. Robot humanoid Vyommitra will be sent on the first uncrewed orbital test flight (G1, planned mid-2026) before the crewed mission. Four astronauts selected (all Indian Air Force officers): Gp Capt Prashanth Balakrishnan Nair, Gp Capt Angad Pratap, Gp Capt Ajit Krishnan, and Wg Cdr Shubhanshu Shukla. India will become only the 4th country to independently send humans to space (after USA, Russia, China). Crewed flight (H1) is now scheduled for 2027. Wing Commander Shukla already flew on the Axiom-4 ISS mission (launched June 25, 2025; returned July 15, 2025) — becoming the second Indian to travel to outer space (after Rakesh Sharma, 1984) and the first Indian to visit the ISS.
ISRO’s 5 Landmark Firsts in Chronological Order:
“Aryabhata Chandrayaan Mangalyaan Astrosat Chandrayaan-3”
A = Aryabhata (first satellite, 1975) | C = Chandrayaan-1 (first Moon, 2008) | M = Mangalyaan (first Mars, 2013) | A = Astrosat (first space observatory, 2015) | C3 = Chandrayaan-3 (first south pole landing, 2023)
4 Nations to Soft-Land on Moon — “USA USSR China India”
U = USA (Apollo 11, 1969) | U = USSR (Luna-9, 1966) | C = China (Chang’e 3, 2013) | I = India (Chandrayaan-3, 2023)
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Chandrayaan-3’s Vikram lander successfully touched down near the Moon’s south pole on 23 August 2023 — making India the FIRST country in the world to achieve a soft landing near the lunar south pole. India also became the fourth nation overall to soft-land on the Moon, after the USA, USSR/Russia, and China. 23 August is now celebrated as National Space Day in India.
Mangalyaan (Mars Orbiter Mission), launched in November 2013, holds two world records — India was the FIRST Asian country to successfully reach Mars, and the FIRST country in the world to successfully reach Mars orbit on its very FIRST attempt. It was also the most cost-effective interplanetary mission ever, with a budget of approximately ₹450 crore (~$74 million).
Aditya-L1 was launched by PSLV-C57 in September 2023 and reached its destination — the Sun-Earth Lagrange Point 1 (L1), approximately 1.5 million km from Earth — in January 2024. From L1, the spacecraft has a continuous, unobstructed view of the Sun. It studies the solar corona, solar wind, solar flares, and Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs).
PSLV-C37, launched on 15 February 2017, set a world record by successfully deploying 104 satellites in a single launch mission — surpassing Russia’s previous record of 37. Of the 104 satellites, 101 were foreign satellites from 28 countries, demonstrating ISRO’s growing commercial launch capability.
NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation), formerly IRNSS, consists of 7 operational satellites providing navigation services over India and approximately 1,500 km beyond its borders. It provides Standard Positioning Service (SPS) for civilian use and Restricted Service (RS) for strategic/military use with higher accuracy.
✅ Key Takeaways
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
India’s most landmark ISRO achievements include: Chandrayaan-1 (2008) discovering water molecules on the Moon; Mangalyaan (2013) making India the first country to reach Mars on its maiden attempt and the first Asian Mars mission; PSLV-C37 (2017) launching a world-record 104 satellites in one mission; Chandrayaan-3 (August 2023) making India the first country to soft-land near the Moon’s south pole and the fourth nation to achieve a soft Moon landing; Aditya-L1 (September 2023) becoming India’s first solar observatory at Sun-Earth L1; and XPoSat (2024) becoming only the world’s second X-ray polarimetry satellite. Gaganyaan — India's first crewed spaceflight (G1 uncrewed test 2026; crewed H1 flight planned 2027) — is in advanced preparation.
Chandrayaan-2 (2019) comprised three components — an orbiter, a lander (Vikram), and a rover (Pragyan). While the orbiter reached lunar orbit successfully and continues to operate, Vikram crashed during descent on 7 September 2019 due to a software glitch in the braking phase. Chandrayaan-3 (2023) was redesigned with lessons from that failure. It consisted of only a lander and a rover — using Chandrayaan-2’s still-functional orbiter. It had a more robust failure-handling system. On 23 August 2023, Vikram landed successfully near the Moon’s south pole — the first time any spacecraft has landed in that region. Pragyan rover operated for approximately 14 days, confirming the presence of sulphur, oxygen, aluminium, calcium, iron, chromium, titanium, and manganese on the lunar surface.
Aditya-L1, launched by PSLV-C57 on 2 September 2023, is India’s first dedicated solar observatory and the country’s first mission to study the Sun from space. It reached its operational position at the Sun-Earth Lagrange Point 1 (L1) — approximately 1.5 million km from Earth — in January 2024. From this position, the spacecraft has a continuous, unobstructed view of the Sun without experiencing eclipses. It carries 7 scientific payloads designed to study the solar corona, solar wind, solar flares, and Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) — which can affect Earth’s satellites, power grids, and communication systems. Expected operational life: 5 years.
ISRO missions are tested across UPSC Prelims (Science & Technology, Current Affairs), SSC CGL, Banking General Awareness, and State PSC exams. Key tested facts include Chandrayaan-3’s south pole landing (23 August 2023 = National Space Day), Mangalyaan’s two world firsts, Aditya-L1 and Lagrange Point L1, PSLV-C37’s 104-satellite record, Chandrayaan-1’s water discovery, Astrosat as India’s first space observatory, NavIC’s 7-satellite constellation, XPoSat as world’s second X-ray polarimetry mission, and Gaganyaan’s planned crew details. ISRO questions also test the difference between PSLV, GSLV, and LVM3 launch vehicles, and when ISRO was established (15 August 1969) by Dr. Vikram Sarabhai.
