Indian
Space Research Organization (ISRO)
Despite its limited resources, India has and
is continuing to develop a broad-based space
program with indigenous launch vehicles,
satellites, control facilities, and data
processing. Since its first satellite was orbited
by the USSR in 1975 and its first domestic space
launch was conducted in 1980, India has become a
true space-faring nation and an example to other
Eurasian countries wishing to move into the space
age. Today's Indian remote sensing,
communications, and meteorological satellites are
comparable to many similar space systems operated
by more affluent countries, and by the end of the
decade India may be one of only a half dozen
countries/organizations with a geostationary
launch capability.
The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO)
was established in 1969 and is currently under
the Department of Space. The Chairman of ISRO
since 1984, Prof. U. R. Rao, stepped down and was
replaced in April, 1994 by Krishnaswamy
Kasturirangan, who also carries the titles
Secretary of the Department of Space and Chairman
of the Space Commission. With headquarters at
Bangalore, ISRO now boasts of a workforce of
approximately 17,000 .
The corporate headquarters of the Indian Space
Research Organization (ISRO) is located in
Bangalore, but, activities related to satellites,
launch vehicles, and applications are carried out
at numerous centers throughout the country. The
development of the sensors and payloads is the
responsibility of ISRO's Satellite Application
Center (SAC) in Ahmedabad. ISRO Satellite Center
(ISAC) in Bangalore is responsible for the
design, development, assembly, and testing of
satellites. Vikram Sarabhai Space Center (VSSC),
at Tiruvananthapuram, is responsible for launch
vehicles. Liquid propulsion modules, including
cryogenic engines, are developed at the Liquid
Propulsion Systems Center located near
Tiruvananthapuram. Satellite launching takes
place from Sriharikota, north of Madras, referred
to as SHAR. Hassan, near Bangalore, is where the
Master Control facilities for satellite station
keeping are located. The reception and processing
facilities for remote sensing data are available
at National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA), in
Hyderabad.
The annual ISRO space budget period runs from
1 April to the following 31 March. From the
1993-1994 budget year, appropriations increased
by about 12% to nearly 8 billion Rupees (compared
with approximately 5 billion Rupees for
1992-1993) with an even sharper increase forecast
for the following year. Slightly more than 40% of
the annual outlays are designated for launch
vehicle development and operations. A separate
government allotment is given to the Antrix
Corporation which is not yet self-sufficient.
Other Organizations
•
Vikram Sarabhai
Space Centre (VSSC). ISRO's single largest
facility, near Trivandrum providing the
technology base for launcher & propulsion
development.
•
Liquid Propulsion
Systems Centre (LPSC). Development branches in
Bangalore and Trivandrum are supported by major
test facilities at Mahendragiri for wide spectrum
of liquid motors, from reaction control system
thrusters to the 720kN Vikas and cryogenic
engines.
•
ISRO Satellite
Centre (ISAC). ISRO's lead centre for the design,
fabrication & testing of science, technology
and applications satellites.
•
ISRO Inertial
Systems Unit (IISU). Provides inertial systems
& components for satellites and launchers.
•
SHAR Centre. The
ISRO's orbital launch site and largest solid
motor production and test facility.
•
ISRO Telemetry,
Tracking & Command Network (ISTRAC).
Headquartered in Bangalore, ISTRAC operates a
network of ground station to provide TTC support
for launcher & satellite operations.
•
Space Applications
Centre (SAC). Located at Ahmedabad, SAC is ISRO's
applications R&D centre, including
communications, remote sensing and geodesy.
•
Development &
Educational Communications Unit (DECU) at
Ahmedabad.
•
INSAT Master Control
Facility (MCF) at Hassan, 180km from Bangalore.
Sources and
Resources
- Other source : www.bharatrakshak.com
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