India’s first test of an anti-satellite weapon which was indigenously developed by both ISRO & DRDO became successful. Also, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi addressed the nation about the success of the missile and the Mission Shakti in March, this year. ISRO has been pioneering India’s space missions for years. Year after year it has successfully achieved many arduous goals and the nation’s space success can undoubtedly be attributed to the space organization.

So, have a look at the record-breaking achievements accomplished by ISRO which made our country proud:

1. First Indigenous Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV-3)

This launch vehicle was launched by Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) on 18 July 1980 and President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was the project director of SLV-3. Before India, only five space organizations in the world were able to do this. The launch of SLV-3 was a historic milestone for the Indian space program. Due to the successful launch of SLV-3, the path to create more techno-capable launch vehicle for ‘ISRO’ was paved.

2. Chandrayan – I:

India’s first mission for the moon, Chandrayaan-I was launched on October 22, 2008. Chandrayaan-I was successfully launched by PSLV-C11 from Sriharikota Space Center. The spacecraft was rotated around the Moon at a height of 100 kilometers from Moon’s surface for taking Moon’s chemical, mineral and photographic geological mapping. The spacecraft carried 11 scientific instruments manufactured in India, USA, UK, Germany, Sweden and Bulgaria.

3. Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM)

Mangalyaan was one of the most glorious moments in India’s space history. ISRO made history by launching Mangalyaan in the first attempt. India is the first country to reach Mars in the first effort. And then the cost of Mars Orbiter Mission is only 450 crores, which is still the lowest cost Mars mission in the world.

On 5th November 2013, the Mangalyaan traveled 6660 lakh kilometers and successfully entered the Mars orbit on September 24, 2014. Mangalyaan aims to observe the surface of Mars, morphology, mineral and environmental inspection. In addition to this, its aim is to provide information about life Mars.

4. Indian Satellite Navigation System

India has successfully launched its GPS Satellite NAVIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation) in April, 2016 to set up its own GPS system. It also works in the range of 1500 square kilometers in the vicinity of India. With its help, weather, aviation and more precise information will be available in different areas. India is the fifth country in the world to set up its own navigation system.

5. Reusable Launch Vehicle

It is a very challenging project for ISRO because ISRO has to create a satellite launch vehicle that can be used again. ISRO has designed the reusable Launch Vehicle – Technology Demonstration (RLV-TD) by combining both aircraft and launch vehicle techniques to make the launch vehicle coming back into space, and ISRO has designed the RLV-TD. In the first successful test of May, 2016, ISRO will make Reusable Launch Vehicle in a few years, thereby reducing the cost of reaching the space.

6. Launching 20 Satellites, 2016

In June 2016 ISRO launched 20 satellites with the same rocket and created a new record. In this mission, 20 different satellites weighing 1288 kgs were launched by PSLV launch vehicle.

7. GSLV Mk-III X / CARE

In December 2014, ISRO tested one of its most heavy rockets GSLV MK III. It weighs 630 tons and is capable of carrying 4 tons of weight. It also took capsules of unmanned crew made in India, which is designed to carry three astronauts. This was an important test to launch heavy satellites in space.

8. Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C37)

ISRO made a world record by launching 104 satellites through PSLV-C37 in Earth orbit.

9. ISRO launched India’s own space observatory.

AstroSat is the India’s first dedicated space observatory launched in 2015. It is believed that it is 10 times smaller than Hubble Telescope.