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Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) – Mangalyaan (2013)

Launched on November 5, 2013, Mangalyaan made India the first
country to reach Mars in its maiden attempt. It studied Mars’
surface, atmosphere, and minerals, exceeding expectations by
operating for over 7 years instead of the planned 6 months. The
mission was also incredibly cost-effective, completed for only
$74 million, showcasing India’s efficiency in space exploration.

XPoSat (X-ray Polarimeter Satellite)

Set to launch in 2024, XPoSat will study cosmic X-ray sources
such as black holes and neutron stars. Developed in collaboration
with the Raman Research Institute, it will provide insights into
the behavior of extreme celestial objects, marking India’s first
dedicated X-ray polarimetry mission.

Astrosat

Launched on September 28, 2015, is India’s first dedicated
multi-wavelength space observatory designed to study celestial
objects like stars, galaxies, and black holes across ultraviolet,
visible, and X-ray wavelengths. It positioned India among the
few nations with advanced space observatories, contributing
significantly to global astrophysics by offering insights into
high-energy phenomena such as black holes and neutron stars.

NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar)
A joint project with NASA, NISAR is designed to monitor Earth’s
changes, including land deformation, ice-sheet dynamics, and
ecosystem disturbances. Scheduled for 2024, it will be the first
satellite to use dual-frequency radar (L-band and S-band),
making it a highly advanced Earth observation mission.

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