PREVIOUSLY ASKED IN:
PSC Miscellaneous Prelims 2018
Answer
Aryabhata
Explanation
India's first artificial satellite was named 'Aryabhata', after the prominent 5th-century Indian astronomer and mathematician. It was completely designed and fabricated in India by ISRO, but launched by the Soviet Union on April 19, 1975, using a Kosmos-3M launch vehicle. The objective of the mission was to conduct experiments in X-ray astronomy, aeronomics, and solar physics.
Key Points
- > Aryabhata is India's first satellite, launched in 1975.
- > It was launched from a Soviet launch site using a Russian rocket.
- > Rohini (RS-1) was the first satellite to be successfully launched by an Indian-made launch vehicle (SLV-3) in 1980.
- > APPLE was India's first experimental communication satellite (1981).
- > Sputnik-1 (USSR, 1957) was the world's first artificial satellite.
Additional Information
Firsts in Indian Space Exploration
| Achievement | Mission/Satellite | Year |
|---|---|---|
| First Indian Satellite | Aryabhata | 1975 |
| First satellite launched natively | Rohini (RS-1) | 1980 |
| First Communication Satellite | APPLE | 1981 |
| First Lunar Mission | Chandrayaan-1 | 2008 |
| First Mars Mission | Mangalyaan (MOM) | 2013 |
Memory Tips
- Mathematician's Start: ISRO started its glorious journey by honoring India's greatest ancient mathematician, Aryabhata.