India’s satellite voyage began in 1975 with the momentous lift-off of Aryabhata, which was successfully launched into space by the thrusters of the Soviet rocket carrier Interkosmos from the Kapustin Yar cosmodrome. Fifty years later, 51 of the 131 spacecraft constructed by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) are currently in orbit.
On April 19, 1975, the nation’s first domestically constructed satellite, Aryabhata, which bears the name of the legendary astronomer, was launched from Russian territory. It’s interesting to note that the initial signals were transmitted back to the Indian ground station in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, which is roughly 5,000 kilometers from the Soviet military rocket launch complex, within 30 minutes after the launch.
Even though Vikram Sarabhai’s Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station in Thiruvananthapuram had several successful experiments since 1963, including the Rohini Sounding Rocket Experiment, Isro’s plan to design and construct its own satellite launch vehicle (SLV) was still in the planning stages. India would therefore need to collaborate with spacefaring countries that already have satellite launchers.
Collaboration with USSR:
India signed a deal with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) Academy of Sciences on May 10, 1972. The USSR had established the Interkosmos program at the time in order to do cooperative research with other nations. Additionally, it was decided that an Indian-made satellite would be launched from the Soviet cosmodrome in two to three years.
Following India’s covert first nuclear test at Pokhran in May 1974, the United States placed sanctions on the nation, preventing the transfer of any technology or expertise that would be used in the construction of Aryabhata. In light of the global order at the time, Pramod Kale, the previous director of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, even proposed renaming the Indo-Soviet Satellite Programme to the Indian Scientific Satellite Programme in an attempt to deflect attention from other countries to the country’s space aspirations.
Even though Isro was founded close to Thiruvananthapuram because of its proximity to the equator to conduct experiments during its early years, the sea’s proximity and the frequent splashes of salt water made it impossible to set up the essential equipment or clean room facilities for space activities in Kerala’s capital.
🛰️India’s space journey began today, 49 years ago! Aryabhata, our first satellite, launched into orbit—kickstarting decades of innovation, and exploration. From Aryabhata to Chandrayaan—what a journey! 🚀 pic.twitter.com/qiY6bJAzkv
— Pawan (@PawanKChandana) April 19, 2025
Building of Aryabhata:
The 200-person team of engineers and scientists led by U R Rao, who is recognized for creating India’s satellite technology, constructed Aryabhata at Peenya. With 26 sides and a weight of 358 kg, the spacecraft had a distinctive quasi-spherical shape. Three scientific experiments were incorporated in Aryabhata. One for researching the upper atmosphere, one for observing solar neutrons and gamma rays, and one for X-ray astronomy.
Locals in Peenya were drawn to the structure’s quasi-spherical shape. “Every working day, my colleagues and I would walk past the shed ‘A’ (where Isro teams worked) to reach our industry located in shed ‘C.'” S Radhakrishnan, 72, who worked at a factory in Peenya in the 1970s, said. The ISRO engineers would occasionally be spotted flying various objects and conducting tests or experiments on others, but we were unaware of their activities.
In addition, he shared another experience he had of Aryabhata: seeing then-prime minister Indira Gandhi, who had visited Bangalore several times, examining the project at key points before it was released. “I took a break from my duties to see Indira Gandhi when I heard the prime minister was coming,” Radhakrishnan recalled. According to the sources, the ISRO teams have prepared the prototypes for nearly 30 months. They made sure the models have high reliability and quality.
Aryabhata Impact:
Although satellite-based communication has been around for fifty years and is still frequently utilized today, its origins in India can be traced back to Aryabhata and Isro. Using Aryabhata. The first voice transmission of a recorded speech was sent from Sriharikota to Bangalore. Another experiment using electrocardiogram (ECG) data was similarly sent due to its great quality. Demonstrating the potential and limitless possibilities that satellite communication may have in the future. Isro received assistance from the India Meteorological Department in Pune in establishing a platform for collecting weather data (temperature, wind direction, and wind speed) from regular data collection locations.
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