Lok Sabha Question No. 1676 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-26
Subject: Achievements in Space Sector
Ministry: SPACE
Asked by: BHAIRON PRASAD MISHRA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## DEPARTMENT OF SPACE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1676

TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, JULY 26, 2017

## ACHIEVEMENTS IN SPACE SECTOR

1676.   SHRI BHAIRON PRASAD MISHRA:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the achievements made by the Government in the field of space during the last three years;
- (b) the rank of our country in the field of space as a result thereof along with the status/position of our country among the world's super powers; and
- (c) the  details  of  the  areas  wherein  the  country  is  likely  to  be benefited therefrom?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PG & PENSIONS AND IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH):

- (a) During  the  last  three  years  (June  2014  to  June  2017),  Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully accomplished  41  missions,  which  includes  19  launch  vehicle missions, 19 satellite missions and 3 technology demonstrator missions. Some of the notable achievements include-
- (i) Operationalisation of GSLV-MkII with home-grown Cryogenic Upper Stage (CUS) with indigenous capability for launching 2-tonne class satellites.
- (ii) Successful  launch  of  first  developmental  flight  of  GSLVMkIII, which validated new version of Indigenous Cryogenic Engine.  With  this  capability,  it  will  be  possible  to  launch upto 4-tonne class of communication satellites into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbits (GTO).
- (iii) Launch of 14 flights of PSLV, which includes launch of 104 Satellites in a single PSLV (PSLV-C37) mission - Maximum satellites launched in a single launch mission till date.
- (iv) Realisation  of  South  Asia  Satellite  to  enable  South  Asian countries  to  establish  SATCOM  based  services  such  as Television/DTH, VSAT, e-governance, banking, tele-medicine  &  tele-education  etc.,  with  coverage  over South Asia.
- (v) Realisation of 7-satellite NavIC (Navigation -Indian Constellation)  to  provide  Position,  Navigation  and  Timing Services, with five satellites launched during the last three years.
- Augmentation  of  Satellite  Communication  capability  with 7  more  satellites  viz.  GSAT-6,  GSAT-9,  GSAT-15,  GSAT-16,
- (vi) GSAT-17, GSAT-18 & GSAT-19.
- (vii) Successful Technology Demonstration missions viz. Crew  Module  Atmospheric  Re-entry  Experiment  (CARE),

Re-usable Launch Vehicle (RLV-TD) and Scramjet Airbreathing Engine.

- INSAT-3D & 3DR together are providing meteorological data every 15 minutes for enabling weather forecasting. Ocean surface  wind  vector  data  from  SCATSAT-1  are  being  used
- (viii) operationally by global user community.
- (ix) Augmentation of earth observation capability with 4 satellites viz., 3 High Resolution Cartographic and 1 Resource monitoring satellites.
- (x) Placing a unique multi-wavelength observatory 'Astrosat' in orbit, carrying instruments realised through Indian academic institutes to enhance understanding of universe and astronomical phenomena.
- (xi) Mars  Orbiter  Mission  (MOM)  completed  1000  days  in  the orbit.  Earlier,  Mars  Orbiter  Spacecraft  was  successfully placed in Martian orbit on September 24, 2014 making India the first country to do so in its first attempt.
- (xii) Enabling host of applications using synergy of earth observation,  communication  and  navigation  satellites  in governance and development.
- (b) India  has  created  a  niche  in  the  field  of  space  science  & technology viz. launch services, earth observation, communication & navigation and application of space technology for national development.  Today, India stands one among the top six space faring nations in the world.

(c) The areas which are benefitted/ likely to be benefitted with the utilization  of  space  technology  and  its  applications  include  resource monitoring, weather forecasting, telecommunication, broadcasting, rural connectivity, health & education, governance,  disaster  management  support,  location  based services, space commerce including host of societal applications.  The  space  science  and  planetary  missions,  viz. Mars  Orbiter  Mission  and  ASTROSAT  renew  the  interest  of young minds towards space science.

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