SPACE PROGRAMME OF INDIA

- The Indian space programme was launched in 1962, when the Indian National Committee for Space Research was formed. To this were added the Indian Space Research Organisation in 1969 and space Commission and department of space in 1972.

- The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is responsible for the planning, execution and management of space research activities and space application programmes.

- The ISRO has headquarters at Bengaluru.

- India's first satellite communication Earth station was set-up at Arvi near Pune. The first Indian satellite Aryabhatta was launched on 19th April, 1975 from Baikonur (erstwhile USSR).

- The first Indian Remote Sensing Satellite was launched on 17th March, 1988.

- The first Indian Communication satellite, APPLE was launched on 19th June, 1981 from Kourou in French Guyana (South America). It was the first Indian satellite that was placed in geostationary orbit.