India's space agency is called the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The organisation works in science, engineering, and technology to help India and humanity benefit from space exploration. One of the main components of the Indian government's Department of Space (DOS) is ISRO. The department mainly uses different ISRO centres or units to carry out the Indian Space Programme.
Prior to its establishment by the Indian government in 1962, ISRO was known as the Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR), an idea conceived by Dr. Vikram Sarabhai. On August 15, 1969, ISRO was established, replacing INCOSPAR with a more expansive mission to utilise space technology. In 1972, DOS was established, and ISRO came under its purview.
The development and use of space technology for diverse national needs is ISRO/DOS's main goal. In order to achieve this goal, ISRO has built significant space systems for resource management and monitoring, communication, television broadcasting, and meteorological services. It has also established space-based navigation services. To get the satellites into the necessary orbits, ISRO has developed the PSLV and GSLV satellite launch vehicles.
In addition to advancing technology, ISRO advances science and science education in the nation. Under the Department of Space's auspices, numerous specialised research centres and independent institutions for atmospheric sciences, astronomy and astrophysics, remote sensing, and space sciences in general operate. In addition to offering useful information to the scientific community, which advances science, ISRO's own lunar and interplanetary missions and other scientific endeavours support and foster science education.
Bengaluru is home to the ISRO headquarters. Its operations are dispersed among numerous units and centres. The U R Rao Satellite Centre (URSC), Bengalure, is where satellites are designed and developed, while the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Thiruvananthapuram, is where launch vehicles are built. Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota is responsible for the integration and launch of satellites and launch vehicles; Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), Valiamala and Bengaluru is responsible for the development of liquid stages, including cryogenic stages; Space Applications Centre (SAC), Ahmedabad is responsible for the processing and dissemination of data received from remote sensing satellites, and the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), Hyderabad, is in charge of sensors for communication and remote sensing satellites and space technology applications.
The chairman of ISRO, who also serves as the secretary of DOS and the chairman of the Space Commission, the highest body that develops policy and supervises the execution of the Indian Space Programme, directs the organization's operations.
