January 29, 2026

The year 2025 was an exciting &challenging year for the Indian Space Programme, where we achieved some major milestones. In 2025, we had around 231 accomplishments including the missions, ground tests, technology demonstration and all space related activities along with 12 Rohini Sounding Rocket flights and with every achievement the Department proved its excellence, heritage and outstanding teamwork.

(A) Missions

We had very significant missions in 2025 and each mission achieved something unique.

• The SPADEX mission successfully demonstrated autonomous docking and undocking, along with power transfer between satellites—a major step toward in-orbit servicing capabilities and docking operations on space stations. This was further complemented by the successful circumnavigation of the SPADEX satellites. This achievement made India the fourth nation to demonstrate docking in space.
• The PSLV Orbital Experimental Module (POEM-04), which was also part of the PSLV-C60 / SPADEX mission, flew with multiple payloads from ISRO, space startups& academia, fostering innovation through in-orbit experimentation. The POEM-4 completed more than 1000 orbits and was a highly successful POEM mission. The mission also demonstrated a robotic arm in-orbit and the germination of seeds in microgravity.
• The GSLV-F15/NVS-02 mission in January 2025 was the 100th mission to lift-off from Sriharikota. The launch vehicle performed excellently by precisely injecting the satellite to its intended orbit.
• The GSLV-F16/NISAR mission scored yet another first by becoming the first joint ISRO-NASA mission. It is significant that the one of the most expensive payloads in the earth observation segment with 12m unfurlable antenna from NASA was integrated on an Indian satellite bus and launched on an Indian launch vehicle.
• NISAR, the first dual frequency SAR satellite, along with NASA’s L-band SAR payload & ISRO’s S-band SAR payload is now fully operational.
• The LVM3-M5 / CMS-03 mission is another unique mission where we achieved the milestone of the heaviest GTO satellite form Indian soil.
• The LVM3-M6 / BlueBird Block-2 set the record of the launch of heaviest ever satellite from Indian soil. This mission also validated the electro-mechanical actuation for the S200 motor along with composite thrust frame for C25 stage and other modifications to improve the payload performance by 176kg. We can confidently say that the S200 EMA is globally the most powerful space qualified electric actuation system compared to the other launchers that use EMA for solid motors.
• Out of 10 missions (5 launch vehicles, 5 spacecraft, which includes a commercial spacecraft), 7 missions were successful.
• Our space assets have contributed immensely by providing continuous services for the safety and security of citizens.

(B) Technology Demonstration tests

• This year, a breakthrough was achieved in testing of the Indigenous Semicryogenic engine and carried out the demonstration of re-ignition of Cryogenic engine thrust chamber in flight. In a related ground test, ignition of the CE-20 engine in boot strap mode was achieved in the ground test paving way for restartable cryogenic stage in future missions for mission flexibility. This is perhaps the first time a Gas Generator cycle engine is tested in bootstrap mode in the world.
• ISRO also demonstrated restart capability of the Vikas engine, towards demonstration of stage recovery in Vertical Take-off Vertical Landing mode and PS4 engine tests with stellite& Carbon-Carbon nozzles.
• The high thrust Electric propulsion system demonstrated 1000 hours of cumulative operations, and we are in the final stages of readiness and induction into TDS-01 satellite.
• The static test for the SS3 motor which is the third stage of SSLV vehicle was successfully carried out on December 30, 2025 for a duration of 108 seconds from SDSC, Sriharikota. The SS3 solid motor stage is the first Carbon-epoxy solid motor case realized by ISRO, which has significantly reduced the mass of the stage, thereby improving the payload performance of SSLV by 90 kg.

(C) Gaganyaan Programme

• In this year, a lot of focus has been given to accelerate the Gaganyaan Programme. A High-Level Review Committee was constituted for close follow-up and comprehensive zero-based audit of documents was carried out. Required changes in the organisation structure of ECLSS were also carried out based on the competency available at the Centres.
• We are in the final phase of the first uncrewed mission.All propulsion tests have been completed for human rating. A lot of software simulations are in progress at the test beds and we need to complete the simulations and environmental tests at the earliest to clear the first uncrewed mission in line with the targeted schedule.Till date, more than 8000 ground tests including the various structural qualification tests have been completed.
• An Integrated Mission Review Committee was constituted, which is going through all critical aspects to fill the design & simulation gaps towards a more robust mission strategy.
• The Axiom-4 mission took the second Indian to space and the first Indian, Group Capt. Shubhanshu Shukla, to ISS, which is a significant milestone in our overall preparedness for the Gaganyaan Programme. became a household name after the mission and ISRO is deriving maximum benefit from his experience in the training, mission protocols and conducting microgravity experiments on the ISS.
• ISRO’s experience proved to be valuable when the Falcon-9 showed a leak in the LOX feedline in its booster stage. The subsequent interventions by the high-level team of ISRO ensured the safety of the 4 astronauts who had a fruitful mission to the ISS.
• The success of the Axiom-4 mission also validated the readiness of our Gaganyatris for a fully human rated mission. In addition, during the mission, the Gaganyatri successfully completed seven microgravity experiments conceptualized by Indian Research institutions with significant outcomes.
• The first Integrated Air Drop test validated the end-to-end deployment of the parachutes in the Crew Module and its recovery from sea. The next test is getting ready by the end of this month. Tests were also carried out at Chandigarh for demonstration of drogue parachutes deployment for Gaganyaan.

(D) Space-Sector Reforms and Handholding NGEs

DOS has been supporting the activities of NGEs in the country as part of the space-sector reforms through IN-SPACe. ISRO’s facilities are being utilized by the space start-ups for their tests and system requirements. 40 activities have been completedand about 34 are either ongoing or are under discussions.

• The first stage solid motor for the launch vehicle developed by a space start-up was realized by Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC),Sriharikota. The static tests for the 1st and 2nd stage motors were carried out at SDSC. The first orbital launch for this vehicle is expected early this year.
• SSLV technology transfer has been signed with HAL and development flight is targeted in 2 years. A PPP was concluded with a consortium for a 12-satellite constellation for earth observation.
• A private industry player has been authorized to build and deploy a communication satellite for the first time.

(E) Applications

• On the Applications side, a lot of milestones were completed. The Department continued to provide disaster management support and also developed various Geospatial solutions for various ministries. On the suggestion of Honourable PM, the Department has also submitted the utilization of all the satellites launched till date by ISRO.
• Integrated Control Room for Emergency Response(ICR-ER) was inaugurated by Hon’ble Union Home Minister on 16th June 2025 for which NRSC provided the NDEM 5.0 which is the key backbone. Lightning Visualization portal has been operationalised using near Real Time data providing hourly & daily lightning strikes. A Forest Resource and Analysis System was developed by NESAC for the Govt. of Manipur. National Level Grid Digital Postal Index Number (DIGIPIN) and unique address identification system Postal Digital Address Code (PDAC) developed.
• We have mapped all the major floods in the country and around 300 flood maps of 21 states have been disseminated. A Salt Pan atlas & Soil Resource Atlas for the country was compiled. Paddy residue burnt area mapping was done over Punjab and Haryana.

(F) Infrastructure Development

This year saw a lot of infrastructure getting either approved or commissioned.

• The Third Launch Pad Project was approved by the Union Cabinet at a cost of about Rs. 4000 Crores. The civil works commenced at the SSLV Launch Complex atKulasekarapattinamincluding the launch pad facility and is targetedfor readiness by August 2026 and an orbital launch from the facility by the end of this year.
• The indigenous 10-ton Propellant Mixer for Solid motors was commissioned which is the highest capacity in the country to enable higher throughput for solid motor casting.We have also commissioned the second process line at the Ammonium Perchlorate plant to double the throughput for Ammonium Perchlorate required for solid propellant processing.
• A state-of-the-art manufacturing facility for titanium alloy tanks was inaugurated at Tumkur along with the new monopropellant thruster test facility.Similarly, the Cryogenic Turbopump Test facility and the new satellite thruster test facility are also inaugurated this year.
• A state-of-the-art Landing Gear drop test facility was inaugurated for the RLV programme, which is the only facility in the country that simulates actual run-way surface.

(G) Space Science

• This year, a separate Space Science & Astronomy vertical was created to provide focus and direction to the Space Science activities in the country.
• Several National meets related to Chandrayaan 4, Chandrayaan 5 and Venus Orbiter mission were conducted and there is a growing user community for space science in the nation.
• Chandrayaan-2, Chandrayaan-3, Aditya-L1, XPoSat and Astrosat missions continue to provide scientific data for new discoveries and studies in the Lunar/Solar environment.

(H) Collaboration with other Departments

• ISRO's expertise is being utilized in other nationally important ventures such as the Samudrayaan Programme for exploring ocean depths up to 6 km. ISRO is realizing the personnel sphere and the full-scale welding is in progress.
• We are also collaborating with DAE for the RHU & RTG requirements for the future Chandrayaan& Mars missions for which a meeting was held with Secretary, DAE and his team. The ISRO-funded Niobiumproduction plant was commissioned at Nuclear Fuel Complex, Hyderabad.Discussions were also held for the development of Nuclear Propulsion for future missions.
• ISRO and CSIR had a Space Meet, where the potential areas of collaboration in the Gaganyaan programme were identified.
• Framework MoU with Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences & Technology on cooperation in Space Medicine signed.MoU with AIIMS is finalized and is planned to be signed in January 2026.
• Space Food items developed in collaboration with DRDO were successfully inducted and flown to ISS in Axiom-4 mission

(I) Major Events

This year three major events were conducted by the Department and also played a leading role in a major international conference.

• GLEX 2025, that was held in India in May 2025, was a huge success and the event marked a major milestone in India’s growing space leadership bringing together 1500 participants from 36 countries. We saw a record 1275 abstracts submitted from 57 countries, of which 44% came from students—a true sign of growing interest in space exploration.
• On the suggestion of Honourable PM, a DOS Chintan Shivir was conducted this year with the theme “Implementation of Space Vision 2047 & looking beyond 2047”and deliberations were carried out across 11 domains on the theme.
• National Meet 2.0 was conducted 10 years after the 1st Meet in 2015, that was held on the directions of Honourable PM. The theme was on Leveraging Space Technology & Applications for Viksit Bharat 2047.
  More than 300 meetings were conducted in just 3 months with 63 user ministries/departments and 36 State Governments/UTs. A Mission Roadmap for 2040 has been created to meet the user requirements captured during the meetings.
• The second National Space Day was celebrated at New Delhi and an interaction with Space Startups was held on the day. 125 events across 7 zones of the country were held and 1.5 lakh students & 15000 teachers from approx. 750 schools & institutes participated.

(J) Capacity Building & Outreach

Our capacity building &outreach activities have also expanded significantly this year.

• The unique program on the “North East Student’s Program for Awareness, Reach and Knowledge on Space” (NE-SPARKS) program has exposed 786 students (378 boys 408 girls) from the 8 states of North East region of India to the world of space and science.Our annual Yuvika programmes are well appreciated and sees lot of participation. This year 580 students visited SDSC as part of Jagriti Yatra.
• ISRO Academia connect programme was recently held covering all states across the nation. 41 new NGOs/Start-ups/institutes have been identified as ISRO registered space tutors. This year a special programme for around 4000 teachers was conducted to empower school teachers.
• The Department has initiated a book writing campaign towards outreach and skill development targeting students at school and college levels, we are targeting atleast 75 booksin 2026.
• A Space Technology Incubation Centre was inaugurated in NIT, Rourkela and a document was released – Research Areas in Space 2025 for academic collaboration.
• To position India as a leader in global space education fostering innovation, collaboration and economic growth, it is planned for establishment of Global Space Institute in India under DoS.

(K) Atmanirbharata in Semiconductor Area

The Government has been giving lot of importance to Atmanirbharata in Semiconductor Area. We are not far behind in this area and we have demonstrated self-reliance in critical electronic components.

• The 32-bit Vikram Processor, the first 32-bit processor qualified for use in space applications, and jointly developed by ISRO with SCL was presented to Honourable PM during the Semicon India 2025 event in September.
• An indigenous 250nm process technology was developed for fabrication of RF Gallium Nitride High Electron Mobility Transistor.
• An indigenous baseband ASIC to support NavIC& other GNSS signals has been realized on 28nm technology for use in civilian and strategic platforms.

(L) International Cooperation

• In the area of International Cooperation, we have signed Agreements of various nature with 10 Space Agencies, conducted about 125 bilateral meetings and 75 multilateral meetings, about 32 foreign dignitaries and delegations have visited ISRO.India has also taken over the BRICS presidency. The already launched NISAR along with the upcoming collaborative missions like G20 satellite, TRISHNA & LUPEX are elevating India as a preferred partner in global flagship missions.

(M) Awards & Recognition

• This year brought 23 nos. of national & international laurels including major awards like IAA Von Karman Award of 2025, AIAA Goddard Astronautics award for Chandrayaan-3 landing, Broglio Award by Italian Aerospace Industry Association, Vigyan Sri Puraskar 2025, Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar 2025, ASI and National Geospatial Award 2025. Department of Space was also awarded Rajbhasha Kirti Award (Second Prize) for the year 2024–25 for the best implementation of Official Language Hindi. This prize is awarded by Department of Official Language for effective implementation of Official Language policy.