What does ISRO stands for?

The full for of ISRO is Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).

List of Indian Satellites from 1975 to 2022

Table of Contents

List of Indian Satellites

As many of you are aware, numerous Defense Exams are currently underway. If you’re gearing up for these tests, you understand the significance of General Awareness as a frequently posed subject. Enhancing your General Knowledge section not only allows you to secure more points but also affords you more time for tackling other sections. To aid you in this endeavor, we’ve compiled a roster of significant satellites launched by India. This compilation aims to provide you with an understanding of the remarkable work accomplished by ISRO. Prior to delving into the satellite list, let’s take a moment to get acquainted with a concise overview of satellites and the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).

What is a Satellite?

A satellite is an object that orbits around another object in space. There are two types of satellites: natural satellites and artificial satellites.

Natural satellites are objects that formed from the same material as the object they orbit around. For example, the moon is a natural satellite of Earth.
Artificial satellites are objects that are launched into space by humans. Artificial satellites can be used for a variety of purposes, such as telecommunications, meteorology, remote sensing, and scientific research.

There are many Government Organisations in the world that launch artificial satellites. One such organization is ISRO.

What is ISRO?

Indian Space Research Organization, also known as ISRO is a space agency of Government of India which has its Headquarters in Bengaluru. It was established by renowned scientist Vikram Sarabhai in 1962. This agency is mainly involved in Research and Development activities related to Space Application including launching Artificial Satellites.

As you can see there are various types of satellites like Communication, Scientific, Experimental, Navigation, etc. Now without further ado, let us begin with the list of all the Satellites launched by India.

List of Indian Satellites [1975-2022]

Launch year	Satellite	Importance
1975	Aryabhatta	India’s first satellite. It was launched from Russian satellite which was developed at ISRO. The main purpose of the Satellite was to gain experience in building and operating satellites in Space.
1979	Bhaskara Sega-I	India’s first experimental remote sensing satellite that provided land surface data. It carried TV and microwave cameras.
1979	Rohini Technology Payload	The First Indian launch vehicle Failed to achieve orbit.
1980	Rohini RS-1	It was launched by India’s first Launch Vehicle SLV3. India’s first indigenous satellite launch was used for measuring the in-flight performance of the second experimental launch of SLV-3.
1981	Rohini RS-D1	Launched by the first developmental launch of SLV-3. It help to conduct remote sensing technology studies using a sensor payload.
	Apple	First experimental communication satellite. Ariane Payload Passenger Experiment. It has C- Band navigator that helped in navigation.
	Bhaskara-II	Second experimental remote sensing satellite. This was improvised versions of Bhaskar to improve the process of conducting observation related to Geology, Hydrology, etc.
1982	INSAT-1A	INSAT Series was the next level of Bhaskar. First operational multipurpose communication and meteorology satellite. INSAT series were launched for diverse purposes like metrological satellite with advanced weather monitoring payload, DTH, etc.
1983	Rohini RS-D2	Identical to RS-D1.
1983	INSAT-1B	Identical to INSAT-1A. It was launched to augment the existing capacity of previous INSATs.
1987	SROSS-1	Stretched Rohini Satellites Series (SROSS) It carried a payload for launch vehicle performance monitoring and for gamma-ray astronomy. Failed to achieve orbit.
1988	IRS-1A	India’s first operational remote sensing satellite. It carried linear imaging self scanning system that gave imagery for various applications.
	SROSS-2	Carried remote sensing payload of the German space agency and gamma-ray astronomy payload.
	INSAT-1C	Same as INSAT-1A.
1990	INSAT-1D	Identical to INSAT-1A.
1991	IRS-1B	Improved version of IRS-1A.
1992	INSAT-2DT	Launched as Arabsat 1C.
	SROSS-C	It carried gamma-ray astronomy and aeronomy payload.
	INSAT-2A	The first satellite in the second-generation Indian-built INSAT-2 series.
1993	INSAT-2B	The second satellite in the INSAT-2 series.
1993	IRS-1E	Earth observation satellite. Failed to achieve orbit.
1994	SROSS-C2	Identical to SROSS-C.
1994	IRS-P2	Launched by the second developmental flight of PSLV.
1995	INSAT-2C	It has capabilities such as mobile satellite service, business communication and television outreach beyond Indian boundaries.
1995	IRS-1C	Launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome.
1996	IRS-P3	It carried a remote sensing payload and an X-ray astronomy payload. It operated for eight years and four months and completed the mission.
1997	INSAT-2D	Same as INSAT-2C.
1997	IRS-1D	Same as IRS-1C.
1999	INSAT-2E	Multipurpose communication and meteorological satellite.
1999	OceanSat-1	It is also known as IRS P4. It carried an OCM (Ocean Color Monitor) and MSMR (Multi Frequency Scanning Microwave Radiometer) for oceanographic studies.
2000	INSAT-3B	Multipurpose communication satellite.
2001	GSAT-1	Experimental satellite for the first developmental flight of GSLV-D1. Failed to complete its mission as it got launched in a wrong orbit.
2001	TES	Technology Experiment Satellites. It was launched to test technologies like orbit control system, high torque reaction wheel, etc. It is considered a prototype for future Indian spy satellites. It was launched with the help of PSLV. It had a pan chromatic camera with better resolution.
2002	INSAT-3C	Augmented the INSAT capacity for communication and broadcasting
2002	Kalpana-1	First meteorological satellite built by ISRO. It was named after Kalpana Chawla. It had a very high resolution scanning radiometer and provided weather and atmosphere data.
2003	INSAT-3A	Multipurpose communication satellite, similar to INSAT-2E and Kalpana-1.
	GSAT-2	Experimental satellite for the second developmental test flight of GSLV. With advancements like multi band communication dedicated for military use, etc.
	INSAT-3E	Communication satellite to augment the existing INSAT System.
	ResourceSat-1	Intended to supplement and replace IRS-1C and IRS-1D.
2004	EduSAT	India’s first exclusive educational satellite.
2005	CartoSat-1	Earth observation satellite. First Indian Satellite to provide Stereographic in-Orbit image with 2.5m resolution.
	HamSat	Micro-satellite built in collaboration with Indian and Dutch researchers. For providing satellite based amateur radio services to national as well as international community.
	INSAT-4A	Advanced satellite for direct-to-home television broadcasting services.
2006	INSAT-4C	Geosynchronous communications satellite. Failed to achieve orbit.
2007	CartoSat-2	Advanced remote sensing satellite Carried pan chromatic camera capable of providing scene specific spot images.
	SRE-1	An experimental satellite that was launched as a co-passenger with CARTOSAT-2.
	INSAT-4B	Identical to INSAT-4A.
	INSAT-4CR	Identical to INSAT-4C.
2008	CartoSat-2A	Identical to CARTOSAT-2.
	IMS-1	Low-cost microsatellite imaging mission. Launched as co-passenger with CARTOSAT-2A.
	Chandrayaan-1	India’s first unmanned lunar probe.
2009	RISAT-2	Radar imaging satellite. Launched as a co-passenger with ANUSAT.
	AnuSat-1	Research micro-satellite. It has since been retired.
	OceanSat-2	Continues mission of OceanSat-1.
2010	GSAT-4	Communications satellite with technology demonstrator features. Failed to achieve orbit.
	CartoSat-2B	Identical to CartoSat-2A.
	StudSat	India’s first pico-satellite (weighing less than 1 kg).
	GSAT-5P	C-band communication satellite. Failed to achieve the mission.
2011	ResourceSat-2	Identical to ResourceSat-1.
	YouthSat	Indo-Russian stellar and atmospheric mini-satellite.
	GSAT-8 or INSAT-4G	Communications Satellite
	GSAT-12	Augmented the capacity of the INSAT system for various communication services.
	Megha-Tropiques	Jointly developed by ISRO and the French CNES.
	Jugnu	Nano-satellite developed by IIT Kanpur.
	SRMSat	Nano-satellite developed by SRM Institute of Science and Technology.
2012	RISAT-1	India’s first indigenous all-weather Radar Imaging Satellite.
2012	GSAT-10	India’s advanced communication satellite.
2013	SARAL	Joint Indo-French satellite mission for oceanographic studies.
	IRNSS-1A	The first of seven satellites in the IRNSS navigational system.
	INSAT-3D	It is a meteorological Satellite with advanced weather monitoring payloads.
	GSAT-7	It is the advanced multi-band communication satellite dedicated to military use.
	Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) or Mangalyaan-1	India’s first Mars orbiter.
2014	GSAT-14	Intended to replace GSAT-3, and to augment the in-orbit capacity of Extended C and Ku-band transponders.
	IRNSS-1B	It is the second of seven satellites in the IRNSS system.
	IRNSS-1C	It is the third satellite in the IRNSS.
	GSAT-16	It has the highest number of transponders in a single satellite at that time (48 transponders).
2015	IRNSS-1D	It is the fourth satellite in the IRNSS.
	GSAT-6	Communication satellite that marks the success of indigenously developed upper stage cryogenic engine.
	Astrosat	India’s first dedicated multi-wavelength space observatory.
	GSAT-15	Communications satellite.
2016	IRNSS-1E	It is the fifth satellite in the IRNSS.
	IRNSS-1F	It is the sixth satellite in the IRNSS.
	IRNSS-1G	It is the seventh satellite in the IRNSS.
	Cartosat-2C	Identical to CARTOSAT-2,2A and 2B.
	SathyabamaSat	A micro-satellite designed and built by Sathyabama University, Chennai.
	Swayam-1	A 1-U pico-satellite designed and built by the students of College of Engineering, Pune.
	INSAT-3DR	An advanced meteorological satellite
	Pratham	A mini-satellite built by students and researchers at IIT, Mumbai.
	PISat	A micro-satellite designed and built by the students of PES Institute of Technology, Bengaluru.
	ScatSat-1	Miniature satellite to provide weather forecasting, cyclone prediction, and tracking services to India.
	GSAT-18	The heaviest satellite owned by India at the time of its launch.
	ResourceSat-2A	Identical to Resourcesat-1 and Resourcesat-2.
2017	CartoSat-2D	ISRO holds the world record for launching the highest number of satellites by a single launch vehicle.
	INS-1A	One of 2 nano-satellites designed and manufactured by ISRO, as part of the constellation of 104 satellites launched in a single go.
	INS-1B	One of 2 nano-satellites designed and manufactured by ISRO, as part of the constellation of 104 satellites launched in a single go.
	South Asia Satellite	It is offered by India as a diplomatic initiative to its neighbouring countries (SAARC region) for communication, remote sensing, resource mapping and disaster management applications.
	GSAT-19	It is the heaviest rocket (and the heaviest satellite) to be launched by ISRO from Indian soil.
	NIUSat	It is built by the students of Noorul Islam University, Kanyakumari.
	CartoSat-2E	7th satellite in the Cartosat series to be built by ISRO.
	GSAT-17	India’s 18th communication (and to date, its heaviest) satellite
	IRNSS-1H	First satellite to be co-designed and built-in collaboration with private sector assistance. Failed to achieve orbit.
2018	CartoSat-2F	6th satellite in the Cartosat series to be built by ISRO.
	MicroSat-TD	It is a technology demonstrator and the forerunner for future satellites in this series.
	INS-1C	Third satellite in the Indian Nanosatellite series. It will carry MMX-TD Payload from SAC.
	GSAT-6A	A high power S-band communication satellite. It will also provide a platform for developing technologies.
	IRNSS-II	Eighth satellite of IRNSS.
	GSAT-29	High-throughput Communication Satellite
	HySIS	Hyperspectral imaging services for agriculture, forestry, resource mapping, geographical assessment and military applications.
	ExseedSat-1	India’s first privately funded and built satellite.
	GSAT-11	Heaviest Indian spacecraft in orbit to date.
	GSAT-7A	Services for IAF and Indian Army.
2019	Microsat-R	Suspected to have been destroyed in the 2019 Indian anti-satellite missile test.
	PS4 Stage attached with KalamSAT-V2	Used PSLV’s 4th stage as an orbital platform.
	GSAT-31	Replacement of the ageing INSAT-4CR.
	EMISAT	Electromagnetic intelligence to track any enemy radars for IAF.
	PS4 Stage attached with ExseedSat-2, AMSAT, ARIS and AIS payloads	Utilization of the fourth stage directly as a satellite for experiments.
	RISAT-2B	Successor to old RISAT-2.
	Orbiter of Chandrayaan-2	India’s second lunar exploration mission.
	Cartosat-3	One of the optical satellites with the highest resolutions in the world.
	RISAT-2BR1	Improved resolution of 0.35 metres.
2020	GSAT-30	Replacement of INSAT-4A.
	EOS-01	Space-based synthetic aperture imaging radar.
	CMS-01	Extended C-band coverage for mainland India, Lakshadweep and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
2021	Sindhu Netra	Earth observation satellite used by Indian Navy for surveillance over the Indian Ocean.
	SDSat	This Nanosatellite was developed by Space Kidz India to study radiations. It carried 25,000 names and a copy of Bhagavad Gita into space.
	JITSat	Developed by JIT as part of UNITYSat constellation.
	GHRCESat	Developed by GHRCE as part of UNITYSat constellation.
	Sri Shakthi Sat	Developed by SIET as part of UNITYSat constellation.
	EOS-03	India’s first real-time Earth observation satellite and first satellite of the GISAT constellation.
Upcoming Satellites
2022	RISAT-1A	Radar imaging satellite to facilitate high-quality images and additional security to Indian borders.
	OCEANSAT-3	Earth observation satellite for oceanographic and atmospheric studies.
	GSAT-20	Communication satellite to add data transmission capacity required by Smart Cities Mission of India.
	GISAT-2	Multispectral and hyperspectral Earth-imaging satellite.
	Aditya-L1	Solar coronal observation spacecraft.
	GSAT-32	Communications satellite.
	TDS-01	A technology demonstrator for TWTA and atomic clock.
	SPADEX x 2	Demonstration of rendezvous space docking and berthing of spacecraft.
	GSAT-7R	Military communications satellite.
	DRSS-1	Communications satellite comprising two satellites in the initial stage– CMS-04 and IDRSS-2 in GEO.
	DRSS-2
	X-ray Polarimeter Satellite	Space observatory to study polarization of cosmic X-rays.
	INSAT 3DS	Military communications satellite.
2022-23	GSAT-7C	Military communications satellite.
2022-23	AstroSat-2	It is a space telescope and successor of AstroSat-1.
2023	NISAR	A joint mission between ISRO and NASA is a dual-frequency synthetic aperture on an Earth observation satellite.
2024	Lunar Polar Exploration Mission	Joint lunar exploration mission between ISRO and JAXA.
2024-25	Mangalyaan-2	India’s second Mars exploration mission.
2025	DISHA	Twin aeronomy satellite mission.
2024-26	Shukrayaan-1	Venus exploration satellite.