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Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) was formed in August 1969. In 1972 the Government of India constituted the Space Commission and established the Department of Space (DOS). ISRO was also brought under DOS in September 1972. The Space Commssion formulates policies to promote the development and application of space science and technology for the socio-economic benefit. DOS implements these policies through ISRO, National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA), Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), National Mesosphere Stratosphere-Troposphere Radar Facility (NMRF), North Eastern-Space Applications Centre (NE-SAC) and other agencies. The Antrix Corporation, established in 1992 as a government owned company, markets the space products and services. The establishment of space systems and their applications are coordinated by the national level committees, namely, the INSAT Coordination Committee (ICC), Planning Committee of National Natural Resources Management System (PC-NNRMS) and Advisory Committee on Space Sciences (ADCOS).
The Secretariat of DOS and the Headquarters of ISRO are located at Antariksh Bhavan in Bangalore. Programme offices at ISRO Headquarters coordinate the overall programmes like satellite communication, earth observation, launch vehicle, space science, space-industry development, disaster management support, international cooperation, publications and public relations, budget and economic analysis and, human resources development. The major establishments of DOS and their major area of activities are as follows: Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) VSSC at Thiruvananthapuram is the lead centre for the development of satellite launch vehicles and sounding rockets. The centre has developed expertise in aeronautics covering aerodynamics, flight mechanics, thermal analysis and structural engineering mechanical engineering covering manu-facturing technology, production and computer aided design avionics covering control and guidance, TTC systems and on board computers, propellants, polymers, chemicals, materials and metallurgy propulsion and space ordnance launch vehicle mechanisms and launch vehicle design composite materials and systems reliability. The programme planning and evaluation, computer systems, library and documen- tation, human resources development, safety and technology transfer and industry coordination groups support the research and development activities of the centre. An Ammonium Perchlorate Experimental Plant (APEP) has been set up by VSSC at Aluva. The Space Physics Laboratory at VSSC carries out research in atmospheric and related space sciences.
ISRO Satellite Centre (ISAC) ISAC at Bangalore is the lead centre for satellite development. The research and development activities at ISAC are grouped under mechanical systems area covering structures, thermal systems and spacecraft mechanisms digital and communications area covering digital system, communication systems and integration and power area covering system integration, spacecraft checkout and power systems. Reliability and components area, computer and information group, programme planning and evaluation group support the activities of the centre. Laboratory for Electro-Optic Systems (LEOS) at Bangalore working under the overall umbrella of ISAC carries out research and development in the field of electro-optic sensors required for satellites. Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR SDSC SHAR provides the launch infrastructure as well as solid propellant processing and their testing. The activities are grouped under vehicle assembly and static test operations, range operations, liquid storage and service facilities and solid propellant space booster plant. Management services including programme planning and human resources development and quality and reliability groups support the centre. Sriharikota Common Facilities provide administrative and auxiliary support. A state-of-art second launch pad has been built at SDSC SHAR. Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) LPSC is the lead centre in the area of liquid and cryogenic propulsion for launch vehicles and satellites. The activities are spread across three units located at Thiruvananthapuram, Mahendragiri and Bangalore. LPSC, Thiruvananthapuram, is engaged in earth storable and cryogenic engine and stage systems, spacecraft propulsion thrusters, control power plants and theoretical and experimental studies in the propulsion area. Test Facility at LPSC, Mahendragiri in Tamil Nadu caters to assembly and integration of earth storable and cryogenic engines and stages and their testing including high altitude test facility. An Integrated Liquid Hydorgen Plant for producing cryogenic propellants liquid Hydrogen, liquid Oxygen is also located at Mahendragiri. LPSC, Bangalore is engaged in the development of spacecraft propulsion systems. Development of transducers is also carried out in this unit.
Space Applications Centre (SAC) SAC at Ahmedabad is engaged in the development of payloads for communication, meteorological and remote sensing satellites. SAC also conducts space applications research and development. The activities are grouped under microwave systems, satellite communication applications, sensor developments, image and information processing and remote sensing applications. Programme planning group, systems reliability group and library and documentation group support the centre. SAC also operates Delhi Earth Station (DES) for satellite communication. Development and Educational Communication Unit (DECU) DECU at Ahmedabad is involved in the conception, definition, planning, implemen-tation and socio-economic evaluation of developmental space applications. DECU interacts closely with users to conduct experiments on space system configurations to meet specific requirements. The major activities of DECU at present include : Training and Development Communication Channel (TDCC), GRAMSAT programme including pilot projects for the States, tele-medicine, EDUSAT pilot projects and new satellite communication applications. ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) ISTRAC provides mission support to low-earth orbit satellites as well as launch vehicle missions. ISTRAC has its headquarters and a multi-mission Spacecraft Control Centre at Bangalore. It has a network of ground stations at Bangalore, Lucknow, Sriharikota, Port Blair and Thiruvananthapuram in India besides stations at Mauritius, Bearslake (Russia), Brunei and Biak (Indonesia). ISTRAC activities are organised into network operations, network augmentation, mission operation and spacecraft health monitoring, communications and computers and development projects. Programme planning and reliability groups support the ISTRAC activities. ISTRAC also operates the Local User Terminal/Mission Control Centre (LUT/MCC) under the international programme for satellite-aided search and rescue. A Deep Space Tracking Network station at Bangalore for India's mission to moon, Chandrayaan-1, is being established by ISTRAC. Master Control Facility (MCF) MCF at Hassan in Karnataka monitors and controls all the Geo-stationary satellites of ISRO — INSAT, GSAT and Kalpana series of satellites. MCF is responsible for initial orbit raising of satellites, in-orbit payload testing, and on-orbit operations all through the life of the satellites. These operations involve 24 hours-a-day, seven days-a-week tracking, telemetry & commanding operations, including special operations like eclipse management, station-keeping maneuvers and recovery actions in case of contingencies. MCF interacts with the user agencies for effective utilisation of the satellite payloads and to minimise the service disturbances during special operations. MCF has an integrated facility consisting of Seven Satellite Control Earth Stations. An additional station is being established at Bhopal. ISRO Inertial Systems Unit (IISU) IISU at Thiruvananthapuram carries out research and development in inertial sensors and systems and allied satellite elements. IISU is organised into research and development areas in the fields of launch vehicle inertial systems, spacecraft inertial systems, inertial sensors evaluation and simulation group, inertial system production, inertial systems electronic production, reliability and quality assurance and advanced inertial systems group. National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA) NRSA at Hyderabad is an autonomous institution supported by DOS. The agency is responsible for acquisition, processing and distribution of data from remote sensing satellites. NRSA has set up the data reception station at Shadnagar, near Hyderabad, for acquiring data from Indian remote sensing satellites as well as other remote sensing satellites. The agency is also engaged in executing remote sensing application projects in collaboration with the users. NRSA is in charge of the Indian Institute of Remote Sensing at Dehra Dun, which conducts training courses in remote sensing for user agency personnel at different levels. Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) PRL at Ahmedabad is a premier centre for research in space and allied sciences. It is an autonomous institution supported, mainly, by DOS. It is also entrusted with the management of the Udaipur Solar Observatory (USO). The programmes carried out at PRL are mainly in astronomy and astrophysics, planetary and space sciences, earth sciences, theoretical physics, laser physics and quantum optics. National Mesosphere-Stratosphere-Troposphere Radar Facility (NMRF) NMRF is a national facility set up at Gadanki near Tirupati. It is an autonomous society supported by DOS. The facility is available for national and international scientists to conduct atmospheric research. In addition to MST radar, facilities such as Rayleigh/Mie Lidar, lower atmospheric wind profiler, disdrometer, optical rain gauge and an automatic weather station have also been set up. Regional Remote Sensing Service Centres (RRSSC) Five RRSSCs have been established by the DOS at Bangalore, Jodhpur, Kharagpur, Dehradun and Nagpur. RRSSCs support the various remote sensing tasks specific to their regions as well as at the national level. RRSSCs participate actively in areas like disaster management, software development, agro-climatic planning, national drinking water mission, national resources census, large scale mapping, etc, besides taking up projects for various Ministries and Departments. North Eastern-Space Applications Centre (NE-SAC) NE-SAC, located at Shillong, was set up as an autonomous society jointly with the North Eastern Council in December 2000 to promote space technology and to ensure its benefits to the population in the north eastern region. North Eastern Space Applications Centre is supporting the North Eastern Region by providing information on natural resources utilisation and monitoring, developmental planning, and interactive training using space technology inputs of remote sensing and satellite communication. The centre networks with the state governments in the region and North Eastern Council, to provide technology based solutions for development. Antrix Corporation Limited The Antrix Corporation Limited, Bangalore is the apex marketing agency under DOS with access to resources of DOS as well as Indian space industries. Antrix markets subsystems and components for satellites, undertakes contracts for satellites to user specifications, provides launch services and tracking faci-lities and organises training of manpower and software development.
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