CONTENTS

Introduction

Organisation

The primary objective of the Department of Space (DOS), is to promote the development and application of space science and technology for the socio-economic benefit of the nation. The Space Commission and DOS were set up in 1972 to formulate and implement space policies in the country. The space programme is executed through the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA), the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), the National Mesosphere-Stratosphere-Troposphere Radar Facility (NMRF), the North Eastern Space Applications Centre (NE-SAC) and other agencies. The Antrix Corporation, a wholly owned Government company, which was established in 1992, is engaged in commercial marketing of space products and services. The establishment of space systems and
their utilisation are coordinated by national level committees, namely, the INSAT Coordination Committee (ICC), Planning Committee of National Natural ResourcesManagement System (PC-NNRMS) and Advisory Committee on Space Sciences (ADCOS).

The Secretariat of DOS and the Headquarters of ISRO are located at Antariksh Bhavan in Bangalore. Programme offices at ISRO Headquarters coordinate the overall programmes like satellite communication, earth observation, launch vehicle, space science, space industry coordination, disaster management support, international cooperation, publications and public relations, budget and economic analysis and, human resources development.

The major establishments of DOS and their major area of activities are as follows: Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC)

VSSC at Thiruvananthapuram is the lead centre for rocket technology. The centre has built up expertise in aeronautics covering aerodynamics, flight mechanics, thermal analysis and structural engineering; mechanical engineering covering manufacturing technology, production and computer aided design; avionics covering control and guidance, TTC systems and on board computers; propellants, polymers, chemicals, materials and metallurgy; propulsion, propellants and space ordnance; launch vehicle mechanisms, launch vehicle design; composite materials and; systems reliability. The programme planning and evaluation, computer systems, library various technology development activities.
The programme planning and evaluation group and systems reliability group support the centre. The technical physics division of ISAC conducts space science research.

The Laboratory for Electro-Optic Sensors (LEOS), working under the overall umbrella of ISAC, carries out research and development in the field of electro-optic sensors and systems required for satellites.

SHAR Centre (SHAR)
SHAR Centre, located at Sriharikota island about 100 km north of Chennai, is the main launch centre of ISRO. The activities at this centre are grouped under vehicle assembly and static test operations, range operations, liquid storage and service facilities and, solid propellant space booster plant. Management services including programme planning and human resources development and quality and reliability groups support the centre. Sriharikota Common Facilities provide administrative and auxiliary support for the centre. The main facilities include those for production of solid propellant rocket boosters, ground and environmental qualification of rocket motors and their sub-systems, integration, check out and launch of satellite launch vehicles, liquid propellants and cryo propellants storage and servicing facilities, tracking and telecommand stations, real time data processing and range and flight safety.

Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC)
LPSC is the lead centre in the area of liquid propulsion for ISRO’s launch vehicle and satellite programmes. The centre is engaged in research and development of earth storable and cryogenic and documentation, human resources development, safety and, technology transfer and industry coordination groups support the research and development activities of the centre. An Ammonium Perchlorate Experimental Plant (APEP) has been set up by VSSC at Aluva.

The Space Physics Laboratory at VSSC carries out research in atmospheric and related space sciences.

ISRO Satellite Centre (ISAC)
ISAC at Bangalore is the lead centre for satellite technology. The research and development activities carried in this centre are grouped under electronics systems covering digital systems, power, communications and, spacecraft assembly and testing; mechanical systems covering structures, thermal systems and spacecraft mechanisms and; control and mission. The centre has fabrication and test facilities required for various technology development activities.
The programme planning and evaluation group and systems reliability group support the centre. The technical physics division of ISAC conducts space science research.

The Laboratory for Electro-Optic Sensors (LEOS), working under the overall umbrella of ISAC, carries out research and development in the field of electro-optic sensors and systems required for satellites.

SHAR Centre (SHAR)
SHAR Centre, located at Sriharikota island about 100 km north of Chennai, is the main launch centre of ISRO. The activities at this centre are grouped under vehicle assembly and static test operations, range operations, liquid storage and service facilities and, solid propellant space booster plant. Management services including programme planning and human resources development and quality and reliability groups support the centre. Sriharikota Common Facilities provide administrative and auxiliary support for the centre. The main facilities include those for production of solid propellant rocket boosters, ground and environmental qualification of rocket motors and their sub-systems, integration, check out and launch of satellite launch vehicles, liquid propellants and cryo propellants storage and servicing facilities, tracking and telecommand stations, real time data processing and range and flight safety.

Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC)
LPSC is the lead centre in the area of liquid propulsion for ISRO’s launch vehicle and satellite programmes. The centre is engaged in research and development of earth storable and cryogenic propulsion systems for launch vehicle and spacecraft. Activities related to design and development of components and systems for the liquid propulsion engines, stages, vehicle control systems and bi-propellant spacecraft propulsion thrusters and components are carried out at Thiruvananthapuram. All the facilities for assembly, integration, testing and propellant production are located at Mahendragiri, in Tamil Nadu. Development of different types of transducers, monopropellant thrusters and components, system engineering, integration of satellite propulsion systems and precision fabrication are carried out at Bangalore.

Space Applications Centre (SAC)
SAC at Ahmedabad, conducts space applications research and development. The activities at the centre are grouped under microwave systems, satellite communication applications, sensor developments, signal image and information processing and remote sensing applications. The centre has facilities for mechanical and electronic systems fabrication. Programme planning group, systems reliability group, library and documentation support the centre. SAC also operates Delhi Earth Station (DES) for satellite communication.

Development and Educational Communication Unit (DECU)
DECU at Ahmedabad, is involved in the conception, definition, planning, implementation and socio-economic evaluation of developmental space applications. DECU works closely with users to experiment with innovative space system configurations to meet specific requirements. The primary functions of DECU include organising space development application experiments and demonstrations, providing

communication support for application projects, production of video programmes for education and development, training of TV programme production personnel and social science research in developmental application areas on the society-technology interface.

ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC)
ISTRAC provides mission support to low-earth orbit satellites as well as for launch vehicle missions. ISTRAC has a network of ground stations at Bangalore, Lucknow, Sriharikota, Port Blair and Thiruvananthapuram in India beside stations outside the country. ISTRAC has its headquarters and a multi-mission Spacecraft Control Centre at Bangalore. ISTRAC activities are organised into network operations, network augmentation, mission operation and spacecraft health monitoring, communications and, computers and development projects. Programme planning and reliability groups support the ISTRAC activities. ISTRAC also operates the Local User Terminal/Mission Control Centre (LUT/MCC) under the international programme for satellite-aided search and rescue.

Master Control Facility (MCF)
MCF located at Hassan in Karnataka is responsible for initial orbit raising, payload testing and in-orbit operation of all geostationary satellites. MCF has integrated facilities comprising satellite control earth stations with associated electronics. The Satellite Control Centre (SCC) is the nerve centre for satellite control operations.

ISRO Inertial Systems Unit
IISU at Thiruvananthapuram, carries out research and development related to inertial sensors and systems required by satellites and launch vehicles. IISU is organised into research and development divisions in the fields of launch vehicle inertial systems, satellite inertial systems, inertial system test facilities, inertial systems production and quality and reliability.

National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA)
NRSA at Hyderabad is an autonomous institution supported by DOS. The agency is responsible for acquisition, 
processing and distribution of data from remote sensing satellites. NRSA has set up the Data Reception Station at Shadnagar, near Hyderabad, for acquiring data from Indian remote sensing satellites, US Landsat and NOAA, French SPOT and microwave data from the European remote sensing satellite, ERS. NRSA is also engaged in executing various remote sensing application projects in collaboration with the users. NRSA is in charge of the Indian Institute of Remote Sensing at Dehra Dun.

Physical Research Laboratory (PRL)
PRL at Ahmedabad, is a premier national centre for research in space and allied sciences. It is an autonomous institution supported, mainly, by DOS. It is also entrusted with the management of the Udaipur Solar Observatory (USO).
The research programmes of PRL are carried out, mainly, in four areas — astronomy and astrophysics, planetary and space sciences, earth sciences, theoretical physics and, laser physics and quantum optics.

National Mesosphere-Stratosphere-Troposphere Radar Facility (NMRF)
NMRF is a national facility set up at Gadanki near Tirupati. NMRF is an autonomous society. The facility is available for national and international scientists to conduct atmospheric research. In addition to MST radar facilities such as Rayleigh/Mie Lidar, lower atmospheric wind profiler, disdrometer, optical rain gauge and automatic weather station have also been set up.

North Eastern-Space Applications Centre (NE-SAC)
NE-SAC, located at Shillong, was set up as an autonomous society in December 2000 jointly with the North Eastern Council to promote space technology and to ensure its benefits to the population in the north eastern region. NE-SAC addresses areas in natural resources management and developmental communications, besides encouraging space science research in the region.

Antrix Corporation Limited
The Antrix Corporation Limited, Bangalore is the apex marketing agency under the Department of Space with access to resources of DOS as well as Indian space industries. Antrix markets subsystems and components for satellites, undertakes contracts for satellites to user specifications, provides launch services and tracking facilities and also organises training of manpower and software development.