History, Art & CultureImportant2025-04-19

Golden Jubilee of Aryabhata Satellite Launch

Q: 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.

B. 2 only — Statement 1 is incorrect; Aryabhata was launched from Kapustin Yar in the Soviet Union using a Kosmos-3M rocket. Statement 2 is correct; it was part of the Soviet Interkosmos program.

In News

What Happened

On April 19, 2025, India celebrated the 50th anniversary of the launch of Aryabhata, its first indigenously built satellite. Originally launched in 1975 from Kapustin Yar in the Soviet Union using a Kosmos-3M launch vehicle. The satellite was built by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and named after the renowned 5th-century mathematician.

Why It Matters

This milestone officially inducted India into the exclusive club of spacefaring nations. It laid the technological foundation for ISRO's future endeavors, demonstrating India's capability in satellite technology and fostering crucial international space diplomacy during the Cold War.

Background

History & Context

The Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR) was established in 1962, eventually evolving into ISRO in 1969. In 1972, India signed an agreement with the USSR to launch an Indian-made satellite under the Interkosmos program. The 360-kg Aryabhata was built in Peenya, Bangalore, to conduct experiments in X-ray astronomy, aeronomics, and solar physics.

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

This relates to the Class 12 History chapter 'Politics in India Since Independence', which covers India's early technological and industrial nation-building. The Aryabhata launch is a prime application of India's post-independence pursuit of scientific self-reliance, aided by strategic foreign policy alignments like the Indo-Soviet treaty.

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.

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