Last updated: October 2026 Β· 3 min read
From a small rocket launched near a fishing village in Kerala to landings on the Moon, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has an inspiring story. Here are 12 incredible facts.
12 incredible facts about ISRO
1. It was founded on Independence Day
ISRO was formed on 15 August 1969, growing out of INCOSPAR, a committee set up in 1962 under Dr Vikram Sarabhai, the father of India’s space programme.
2. Its first rocket was launched from Thumba
India’s first sounding rocket lifted off from Thumba, near Thiruvananthapuram, on 21 November 1963. A famous photo shows a rocket part being carried on a bicycle.
3. A satellite once rode a bullock cart
In 1981, the APPLE communication satellite was moved on a bullock cart during testing, another iconic image of ISRO’s frugal beginnings.
4. India’s first satellite was Aryabhata
Aryabhata, named after the ancient mathematician, was launched on 19 April 1975 aboard a Soviet rocket.
5. India built its own launcher in 1980
SLV-3, developed under a team led by Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, placed the Rohini satellite in orbit in 1980, making India one of the few nations able to launch its own satellites.
6. It launched 104 satellites at once
On 15 February 2017, the PSLV-C37 mission launched 104 satellites in a single flight, a world record at the time.
7. It reached Mars on its first attempt
Mangalyaan entered Mars orbit on 24 September 2014. India was the first country to do so on its first attempt, at a famously low cost.
8. It landed near the Moon’s south pole
Chandrayaan-3’s Vikram lander touched down near the lunar south pole on 23 August 2023, a world first, now celebrated as National Space Day.
9. It has a solar observatory in space
Aditya-L1 reached its orbit around the SunβEarth L1 point in January 2024 to study the Sun.
10. India mastered space docking
In January 2025, ISRO’s SpaDeX mission docked two satellites in orbit, making India the fourth country to achieve space docking.
11. It runs India’s own navigation system
NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation) provides satellite positioning over India and nearby regions.
12. Indians in space
Rakesh Sharma became the first Indian in space in 1984. In 2025, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla became the first Indian to visit the International Space Station, as ISRO prepares for its Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission.
Frequently asked questions
Where is ISRO’s headquarters?
In Bengaluru, Karnataka.
Where does ISRO launch rockets from?
Mainly from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
What is Gaganyaan?
India’s human spaceflight programme, which aims to send Indian astronauts into orbit on an Indian rocket.
Keep exploring
Facts are based on widely accepted scientific, historical and official sources at the time of writing. Spotted something that needs updating? Let us know.
