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Major Events


1962: Indian National Committee for Space Research (IN CO SPAR), formed by the Department of Atomic Energy, and work on establishing Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS) near Trivendrum began.


1963: First sounding rocket launched from TERLS on November 21, 1963. 1965: Space Science & Technology Centre (SSTC) established in Thumba. 1967: Satellite Telecommunication Earth Station set up at Ahmedabad.

1972: Space Commission and Department of Space set up.


1975: First Indian Satellite, Aryabhatt launched (April 19, 1975).


1976: Satellite Industrial Television Experiment (SITE) conducted.


1979: Bhaskara-1, an experimental satellite, launched. First experimental launch of SLV-3 with Rohini satellite on board failed.


1980: Second experimental launch of SLV-3; Rohini satellite successfully placed in orbit.


1981: Bhaskara II launched on November 20.


1982: INSAT-1A launched (April), deactivated in September.


1983: Second launch of SLV-3; RD-D2 placed in orbit. INSAT-1B launched.


1984: Indo-Soviet manned space mission (April). Rakesh Sharma became the first Indian to reach space.


1987: ASLV with SROS.S-1 satellite on board launched. 1988: First Indian Remote Sensing Satellite, IRS-1A launched. 1990: INSAT-ID launched successfully.

1991: Launch of second operational Remote Sensing Satellite, IRS-IB (August). orbit. First indigenously built satellite, INSAT-2A, launched successfully.

1993: INSAT-2B launched in July successfully. First developmental launch of PSLV with IRS-1E on board fails.


1994: Fourth developmental launch of ASLV successful (May). Second developmental launch of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) with IRS-P2 successful (October).


1995: INSAT-2C launched in June.


1996: Third developmental launch PSLV with IRS-P3 successful in (March).

1997: INSAT-2D launched inJune and became inoperational in October. Arabsat-1C, since renamed INSAT-2DT, acquired in November. First operational launch of PSLV with IRS-1D successful (September).


1998: INSAT system capacity augmented with readiness of INSAT-2DT aquired from Arabsat (January).


1999: 1NSAT-2D the last satellite in the multi-purpose (INSAT-2D series), launched by Ariane from Kourou French Guyana (April 3, 1999). IRS-P4 (OCEANSAT), launched by Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C2).


2000: INSAT-3B was launched on March 22, 2000.


2001: Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle-Dl (GSLV-D1), the first developmental launch of GSLV V with GSAT-1 on board, partially successful.


2002: INSAT-3 CGSLV-D2 launched successfully by Ariannespace (January); launch of KALPANA-1 (September). 2003: GSLV D2, the second developmental launch of GSLV with GSAT-2, successful (May).

2004: First operational flight of GSLV (F02) unsuccessfully launches EDUSAT (September).


2005: Launch of CARTOSAT and HAM SAT by PSLV-C6 from the second launch pad (Universal Launch Pad) (May 1). ISAT-4A launched successfully on July 10, 2006. GSL V-F02 carried INSAT-4C.


2006: Second operational flight of GSLV (F02) unsuccessful July 2006.


2007: Successful launch of CARTOSAT-2, SRE-1, LAPAN-Tl JBSAT and PEIIl JENSAT-1 on PSLV V C7 on January 10, 2007.


2008: • PSLV-C11 successfully launches CHANDRAYAAN-1 from Sriharikota (October 22,2008).


• PSLV-C9 successfully launches CARTOSAT-2A, IMS-1 and 8 foreign nano satellites from Sriharikota (April 28,2008).


• PSLV-C10 successfully launches TECSAR satellite under a commercial contract with Antrix Corporation (January 21, 2008).


2009: • PSLV-C14 successfully launches Seven Satellites OCEANSAT2, FourCUBESAT Satellites and Two RUBIN-9 from Sriharikota (Sept. 23, 2009).


• PSLV-C12 successfully launches RISAT-2 and ANUSAT from Sriharikota (April 20, 2009).


2010: • GSLV-F06 launched from Shriharikota (Dec 25, 2010). GSAT-5P could not be placed into orbit as the GSLV-F06 mission was not successful.


• Successful launch of advanced communication satellite HYLAS (Highly Adaptable Satellite), built by ISRO on a commercial basis in partnership with EADS-Astrium of Europe, by Ariane-5 V198 from Kourou French Guiana (November 27, 2010).


• PSLV-C15 successfully launches Five Satellites - CARTOSAT-2B, ALSAT-2A, two nanosatellites-NLS-6.1 & 6.2 and a pico-satellite- STUDSAT from Sriharikota (July 12,2010).


• GSLV-D3 launched from Sriharikota (Apr 15,2010). GSAT-4 satellite could not be placed in orbit as flight testing of the Indigenous Cryogenic Stage in GSLV-D3 Mission was not successful.


Sriharikota (October 12, 2011).


• PSLV-C17 successfully launches GSAT-12 from Sriharikota (July 15, 2011).


• Successful launch of G SAT-8 by Ariane-5 VA-202 from Kourou French Guiana, (May 21, 2011).


• PSLV-C16 successfully launches Three Satellites - RE SOURCE SAT-2, YOUTH SAT, X-SAT from Sriharikota (April 20, 2011).


2012: • Successful launch of GSAT-10 by Ariane-5 VA-209 from Kourou French Guiana (September 29, 2012).


• ISRO’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, PSLV-C21 successfully launchesSPOT 6 and PROITERES from Sriharikota (September 09, 2012).


• PSLV-C19 successfully launches RISAT-1 from Sriharikota (April 26, 2012).


2013: • PSLV - C25 successfully launches Mars Orbiter Mission Spacecraftfrom Sriharikota (Nov 05, 2013).

• Successful launch of GSAT-7 by Ariane-5 VA-21.5 from Kourou French Guiana (August 30, 2013).


• Successful launch of INSAT-3D by Ariane-5 VA-214 from Kourou French Guiana (July 26, 2013).


• PSLV - C22 successfully launches IRNSS-1A from Sriharikota (Jul 01, 2013).


• PSLV - C20 successfully launches SARAL and six commercial payloadsfrom Sriharikota (Feb 25, 2013).


References:


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Dheenkey, M.R. Air Transport in India: Growth and Problems. Mumbai: Vora & Co, 1963. Govt, of India. The Economic Survey, 2006-07. New Delhi.

Govt, of India. Statistical Abstract, 2006.


India 2008. Publication Division, Government of India, New Delhi.


India 2010. Publication Division, Government of India, New Delhi.


Jha,M.S. “Shipping-Charting a Steady Course.” In The Hindu Survey of India Industry. Chennai: Kasturi & Sons, Ltd. (2004): 154-155.


Kara, P.K., S.N., Tripathi, . D.K Singh, and Singh. ”A Compartaive Study of Major Ports of India and their Traffic Characteristics.”In NGJI, VoL28 (1 & 2) (1982): 69-68.


Khullar, D.R. India: A Comprehensive Geography. New Delhi: Kalyani Publishers, 1999.


Narain, Y. Road-Well Time Policy Support and Communication in India. Washington, D.C., 2004. Prasad, A. Indian Railways. Mumbai: Asia Publishing House, 1971.

Roa, M.A. “Railways-Reorganisation a Dire Need.” In The Hindus Survey of Indian Industry, Chennai, Kasturi & Sons Ltd. (2004).


Raza, M. and Y. Agarwal. Transport Geography of India,: Commodity Flow and the Regional Structure of Indian Economy. New Delhi: Concept Publishing Co., 1986.


Singh, D.N. “Transportation Geography in India, Survey of Research.” NGJI, Vol.23, (1 & 2) (1977): 95-114. Tiwari, R.C. Geography of India.. Allahabad: Prayag Pustak Bhandar, 2006.