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Aryabhata: India’s First Indigenous Satellite

Aryabhata: India’s First Indigenous Satellite

PWOnlyIAS

April 21, 2025

Aryabhata: India’s First Indigenous Satellite

April 19, 2025 marked the 50th anniversary of the launch of Aryabhata, India’s first indigenously built satellite.

  • It laid the foundation of India’s space communication, scientific research, and satellite technology ecosystem.
  • As of 2025, ISRO has launched 131 satellites, with 51 currently operational in orbit.

About Aryabhata Satellite

  • Name: Aryabhata, after the ancient Indian astronomer (Aryabhata I – 476 to 550 CE).
  • Developed by: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
  • Launch Date: April 19, 1975.
  • Launch Vehicle & Site:
    • Launched using Soviet Kosmos-3M rocket
    • From Kapustin Yar, USSR (present-day Russia)

Aryabhata

Mission Details

  • Shape: 26-sided quasi-spherical structure.
  • Scientific Objectives:
    1. X-ray astronomy experiments.
    2. Solar neutron and gamma ray detection.
    3. Upper atmospheric studies.
  • Notable Milestone: First satellite designed and built entirely in India; only launched with foreign assistance.

PWOnlyIAS Extra-Edge

About Aryabhata I (476–550 CE)

  • Era: Born in Pataliputra (modern-day Patna), Bihar.

Key Contributions

  • Proposed a heliocentric model with the rotation of Earth on its axis.
  • Provided an accurate value of π (pi ≈ 3.1416).
    Introduced the concept of zero and sine functions.
    Calculated sidereal rotation, solar eclipses, and lunar eclipses with remarkable precision.

Book: Aryabhatiya: His magnum opus divided into four chapters—

  • Gitikapada: Large units of time.
  • Ganitapada: Algebra and arithmetic.
  • Kalakriyapada: Calendrical calculations.
  • Golapada: Celestial sphere and planetary motion.

Also Read
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Quick Revise Now !
AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD SOON
UDAAN PRELIMS WALLAH
Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
Integration of PYQ within the booklet
Designed as per recent trends of Prelims questions
हिंदी में भी उपलब्ध
Quick Revise Now !
UDAAN PRELIMS WALLAH
Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
Integration of PYQ within the booklet
Designed as per recent trends of Prelims questions
हिंदी में भी उपलब्ध

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