Golden Jubilee of Aryabhata Satellite Launch
In News
What Happened
Why It Matters
Background
History & Context
What Changed
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BEFORE 1975: India relied solely on sounding rockets launched from Thumba for atmospheric research. NOW: ISRO successfully designs and launches complex interplanetary missions and operates its own heavy-lift launch vehicles.
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BEFORE 1975: India had no indigenous satellites and lacked domestic infrastructure for full-scale spacecraft fabrication. NOW: India operates a massive constellation of indigenous satellites built at advanced facilities like the U. R. Rao Satellite Centre.
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BEFORE 1975: India's space program was entirely dependent on foreign nations for orbital launches. NOW: While Aryabhata needed a Soviet rocket, India now provides commercial launch services to other countries using its PSLV and LVM3 rockets.
Prelims Angle
NCERT Connection
Practice Questions
Q1
Correct Statement(s)Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding India's first satellite, Aryabhata? 1. It was launched from Sriharikota using India's first indigenous Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV-3). 2. The project was executed under an agreement with the Soviet Union as part of the Interkosmos program.