India’s space program is preparing for another giant leap, with ISRO set to launch a massive 6,500-kilogram US-built communication satellite in the coming months. ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan announced the plan while reflecting on the agency’s six-decade journey from modest beginnings to its place among the world’s leading space powers.
Speaking at a convocation in Chennai, Narayanan recalled that ISRO’s story began in 1963 with the launch of a small rocket donated by the United States. “From that kind of humble beginnings, the 30th of July was a historical day for the Indian space programme,” he said, referencing the recent success of the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission launched aboard a GSLV-F16 rocket.
The NISAR satellite—described as the costliest ever built—combines a US-provided L-Band SAR payload with ISRO’s S-Band payload. Weighing 2,392 kilograms, it will deliver detailed data on Earth’s land, ice, ecosystems, and oceans with a 12-day revisit cycle.
The upcoming commercial mission to launch a 6,500 kg American satellite marks a symbolic full circle for India—transforming from a recipient of space technology into a trusted provider of advanced launch services. “In another couple of months, a country which received a tiny rocket from the United States is going to launch a 6,500 kg communication satellite built by America using our own launcher from Indian soil,” Narayanan said.
ISRO’s reach now extends beyond commercial work. It operates 10 satellites dedicated to strategic purposes, safeguarding India’s 7,000 km coastline. The agency has made its mark in nine different domains of the global space industry, from the Chandrayaan-1 mission that discovered water on the Moon to building its own navigation system, NavIC.
Looking ahead, ISRO’s 2025 schedule is packed—featuring the first uncrewed Gaganyaan mission, the launch of the NVS-02 navigation satellite, and several Earth observation missions. Each new launch reinforces India’s standing as a nation that not only meets its own space needs but also competes on the world stage as a leader in aerospace innovation.
