The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has emerged as a global leader in space technology and research since its establishment on 15 August 1969 under the visionary guidance of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai. ISRO has consistently demonstrated remarkable achievements in cost-effective space missions, cutting-edge satellite technology, and human spaceflight ambitions. Its mission portfolio reflects India’s commitment to scientific exploration, societal development, and international collaboration.
ISRO has completed 133 spacecraft missions, 104 launch missions, and facilitated the launch of 434 foreign satellites. Its missions span diverse areas including Earth observation, lunar and planetary exploration, astronomy, solar studies, navigation, and human spaceflight.
This article provides a comprehensive ISRO missions list, highlighting major accomplishments, ongoing projects, and future plans. This gives aspirants and space enthusiasts a clear understanding of India’s space journey.
ISRO Missions Overview
ISRO missions have consistently demonstrated India’s prowess in space technology while maintaining cost efficiency and strategic impact. The organization’s primary objectives include advancing scientific knowledge, supporting national development, and contributing to global space research.
Check the key highlights of ISRO’s achievements in the table below:
| Category | Number |
|---|---|
| Total Spacecraft Missions (including Nano & Micro satellites) | 133 |
| Launch Missions | 104 |
| Foreign Satellites Launched | 434 |
| Human Spaceflight Missions (Gaganyaan Programme) | 1 |
| Re-entry and POEMS Missions | 9 |
| Satellites Realized by Private Players or Students | 18 |
These achievements reflect ISRO’s versatile approach, spanning satellites for communication, navigation, Earth observation, space exploration, and cutting-edge scientific research.
Major ISRO Missions List
ISRO has undertaken a wide range of missions that have showcased India’s technological capabilities and scientific expertise. The following is a detailed look at the major ISRO missions:
1. Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4)
Ax-4 marked a historic milestone for India in human spaceflight. Launched on 25 June 2025, it enabled astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla to spend 18 days aboard the International Space Station. This ISRO mission focused on critical scientific experiments including the study of muscle atrophy in microgravity, microbial behavior, cognitive effects of prolonged screen exposure, and crop growth under zero-gravity conditions.
Ax-4 provided invaluable hands-on experience that supports ISRO’s independent Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme, strengthening India’s position in the global space community.
2. NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar)
The NISAR mission is a landmark Earth observation project jointly developed by ISRO and NASA. Launched on 30 July 2025, it uses dual-frequency radar technology to study subtle changes on the Earth’s surface, including landslides, earthquakes, glacier movements, forest cover, and agricultural patterns.
Its high-resolution data is crucial for climate monitoring, disaster prediction, and environmental planning. This makes it a mission of global significance. NISAR exemplifies India’s ability to collaborate internationally while achieving cutting-edge scientific outcomes.
3. Chandrayaan-1
Launched on 22 October 2008, Chandrayaan-1 was India’s first ISRO mission to the Moon and represented a major leap in lunar exploration. One of its most celebrated achievements was the discovery of water molecules near the Moon’s poles, confirming a long-held scientific hypothesis.
The mission also established ISRO’s capabilities in deep-space navigation, lunar orbit insertion, and mission planning, laying the foundation for subsequent lunar missions. Chandrayaan-1 advanced scientific knowledge and inspired generations of Indian students and space enthusiasts.
4. Chandrayaan-2
Chandrayaan-2, launched on 22 July 2019, aimed to explore the Moon’s south polar region with advanced instruments. The mission included an orbiter, Vikram lander, and Pragyan rover. The lander crashed during descent due to a software issue, but the orbiter remains functional, providing high-resolution mapping of lunar water ice and surface mineral composition.
This mission demonstrated India’s technological maturity and resilience, showing that even partial success can yield significant scientific data and experience for future lunar exploration.
5. Chandrayaan-3
Chandrayaan-3, launched on 14 July 2023, successfully achieved a soft landing on 23 August 2023 near the Moon’s south pole. Unlike its predecessor, it did not carry a new orbiter, focusing solely on demonstrating safe landing and rover operation technologies.
The mission reinforced India’s ability to perform complex lunar maneuvers with precision and reliability. Additionally, the propulsion module was later repositioned to Earth orbit, where it continued operations until August 2024, reflecting ISRO’s innovative use of spacecraft for extended missions.
6. Aditya-L1
Launched on 2 September 2023, Aditya-L1 is India’s first dedicated solar observatory. Positioned at the Sun-Earth L1 point, 1.5 million kilometers from Earth, the spacecraft studies the Sun’s corona, chromosphere, and solar wind behavior.
Its observations are critical for understanding solar storms, space weather, and their impact on Earth’s communication and power systems. Aditya-L1 positions India as a leader in solar science research, enabling predictive models that can safeguard technology and infrastructure on Earth.
7. Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan)
Launched on 5 November 2013, the Mars Orbiter Mission, popularly known as Mangalyaan, marked India’s first interplanetary mission. In a historic achievement, it successfully entered Mars orbit on 24 September 2014 on its first attempt, making India the first Asian nation to reach Mars orbit in its maiden mission.
The mission, costing approximately ₹450 crore, is celebrated for its cost-efficiency and technological innovation. Mangalyaan studied the Martian atmosphere, surface features, and dust storms, generating valuable data that contributes to our understanding of the Red Planet and demonstrates India’s growing interplanetary capability.
8. AstroSat
AstroSat, launched on 28 September 2015, is India’s first multi-wavelength space observatory designed to study the universe in visible, ultraviolet, and X-ray bands. It has enabled astronomers to observe black holes, neutron stars, galaxies, and cosmic radiation across a broad range of energies.
AstroSat positions India among the few nations capable of advanced space-based astronomy and strengthens the country’s role in international space science collaborations.
9. XPoSat
XPoSat, launched on 1 January 2024 aboard PSLV-C58, is India’s first mission dedicated to X-ray polarimetry of cosmic sources. The satellite observes extreme astrophysical phenomena, including pulsars, black hole binaries, supernova remnants, and active galactic nuclei.
Its data improves our understanding of high-energy cosmic environments and the mechanisms of radiation in the universe. XPoSat represents India’s advancement in specialized space research, combining astrophysics and cutting-edge instrumentation.
10. Gaganyaan
The Gaganyaan programme is India’s ambitious human spaceflight initiative designed to send astronauts into low Earth orbit. Developed jointly by ISRO and HAL, the spacecraft can carry three astronauts.
Uncrewed test missions Gaganyaan-1, 2, and 3 are planned to validate spacecraft systems, while Gaganyaan-4 in 2026 aims to make India the fourth nation in the world to independently send humans to space. This program demonstrates India’s technological maturity and its long-term vision for human space exploration.
11. Chandrayaan-4
Chandrayaan-4 is a planned lunar sample return mission scheduled for 2027. It will include multiple modules, transfer, lander, ascender, and re-entry systems—to collect and return lunar samples to Earth. This ISRO mission aims to provide detailed insights into the Moon’s geology, mineral composition, and evolution, enabling India to further its scientific exploration of the lunar surface and support future lunar missions.
12. Venus Orbiter Mission
Planned for 29 March 2028, the Venus Orbiter Mission aims to study the atmosphere, climate, and surface conditions of Venus. The mission will observe cloud dynamics, greenhouse effects, and interactions between the surface and atmosphere. This ambitious project expands India’s interplanetary exploration beyond Mars and the Moon, demonstrating ISRO’s growing capabilities in planetary science and long-term research in comparative planetology.
13. Lunar Polar Exploration Mission (Chandrayaan-5)
Also known as Chandrayaan-5, this joint ISRO-JAXA mission is planned for 2028-2029. The focus is on the Moon’s south polar region, which remains largely unexplored. Equipped with a lander and rover designed for extreme polar conditions, the mission will study water ice and lunar resources, paving the way for sustainable future human presence on the Moon.
14. Bharatiya Antariksh Station
The Bharatiya Antariksh Station is India’s proposed space station project, planned between 2028 and 2035. Weighing approximately 20 tonnes and orbiting Earth at around 400 kilometres, it will host astronauts for 15 to 20 days to conduct scientific experiments in microgravity. This project represents India’s long-term vision for human spaceflight and international research collaboration, cementing its status as a global space-faring nation.
Future ISRO Projects
ISRO continues to plan and develop ambitious missions that will strengthen India’s space capabilities and scientific influence globally. Some of the notable future projects include:
- Chandrayaan-4: India’s first lunar sample return mission, scheduled for 2027, which will return Moon samples to Earth for detailed study.
- Venus Orbiter Mission: Expected in 2028, it will study Venus’s atmosphere, greenhouse effects, and surface-atmosphere interactions.
- Lunar Polar Exploration Mission (Chandrayaan-5): A joint mission with JAXA planned for 2028-29 to explore the Moon’s south pole and study water ice and resources.
- Bharatiya Antariksh Station: India’s proposed space station, planned between 2028 and 2035, aimed at hosting astronauts for long-duration scientific experiments in low Earth orbit.
Achievements of ISRO Missions
ISRO has achieved remarkable milestones. This makes India a respected global space power. The following are the achievements of ISRO Missions:
- Cost-effective Space Exploration: Missions like Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan) were completed at a fraction of the global average, showcasing India’s technological efficiency.
- Pioneering Lunar and Interplanetary Missions: ISRO has made significant contributions to planetary science from Chandrayaan-1 discovering water on the Moon to Mangalyaan studying Mars.
- Human Spaceflight: India is moving closer to independent human space missions through the Gaganyaan program and participation in Axiom Mission 4.
- Earth Observation and Disaster Management: ISRO Missions like NISAR provide critical data for climate studies, agriculture monitoring, and disaster prediction.
- Global Collaboration: ISRO has launched over 434 foreign satellites, strengthening India’s reputation as a reliable partner in space launches.
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ISRO Missions FAQs
Q1: What are the major ISRO missions completed so far?
A1: Major completed ISRO missions include Chandrayaan-1, Chandrayaan-2, Chandrayaan-3, Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan), AstroSat, XPoSat, and Aditya-L1.
Q2: How many foreign satellites has ISRO launched?
A2: ISRO has successfully launched 434 foreign satellites for other countries, showcasing India’s reliability in commercial space launches.
Q3: When was ISRO established and who founded it?
A3: ISRO was established on 15 August 1969 under the leadership of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, the father of India’s space program.
Q4: What is India’s first human spaceflight mission?
A4: India’s first human spaceflight mission is Gaganyaan, planned to carry three astronauts into low Earth orbit with uncrewed test missions before 2026.
Q5: Which ISRO mission discovered water on the Moon?
A5: Chandrayaan-1, launched in 2008, discovered water molecules near the Moon’s poles, marking a landmark achievement in lunar science.
