The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has established itself as one of the world’s most successful and cost-effective space agencies, with a vast network of specialized centres and facilities spread across India.
These centres form the backbone of India’s space program, supporting everything from satellite development and launch operations to advanced research in space technology and applications.
In this article, we explore these ISRO Centres along with their locations, roles and functions, key facts and a free downloadable PDF map.
Points to Remember:
- ISRO, the national space agency of India operates as the primary research and development arm of the Department of Space (DoS). The DoS is directly overseen by the Prime Minister of India while the Chairman of ISRO (currently, Dr. V. Narayanan) also acts as the Secretary of the DoS.
- ISRO and the Department of Space (DoS) are headquartered in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
- ISRO was previously known as the Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR), set up under Jawaharlal Nehru on the suggestions of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai in 1962. It became the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in 1969, within the Department of Atomic Energy. In 1972, the government of India set up a Space Commission and the Department of Space (DoS), bringing ISRO under it.
- ISRO built India’s first satellite, Aryabhata, which was launched by the Soviet space agency (Interkosmos) in 1975.
Major ISRO Centres: Locations & Key Facts
Here are some of the most prominent ISRO centres, their locations and key facts (including roles and functions):
| Centre | Location & Key Facts |
|---|---|
| Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) | – Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala – Established in 1963 (as Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station; later renamed in honour of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai) – Major centre for design & development of launch vehicles (rockets). – Fundamental to ISRO’s launch vehicle R&D. – Major programmes at VSSC include the PSLV, GSLV, and LMV3 |
| Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC-SHAR) | – Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh – Established in 1971 (originally as Sriharikota Range, renamed in 2002 in honor of Dr. Satish Dhawan) – ISRO’s primary launch site (Spaceport of India). – Supports sounding rockets, PSLV, GSLV launches, and more complex missions like lunar, solar observatories, etc. – India’s three Chandrayaan Missions, Mars Orbiter Mission, Aditya-L1 Mission, and space observatory (XPoSat) were all launched from SDSC. |
| U. R. Rao Satellite Centre (URSC) | – Bengaluru, Karnataka – Established in 1972 as ISRO Satellite Centre (ISAC); renamed URSC in 2018 in honor of Dr. Udupi Ramachandra Rao. – Satellite design, development and construction – both communication (INSAT/GSAT) and Earth-observation (IRS) series. – Built India’s first satellites including Aryabhata and Bhaskara |
| Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) | – Bengaluru, Karnataka – Develops liquid propulsion systems, cryogenic engines, auxiliary propulsion systems for both rockets and satellites. |
| ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC) | – Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu – Works in conjunction with LPSC; focuses on assembly, integration and testing of rocket propulsion systems – particularly heavy propulsion. |
| Space Applications Centre (SAC) | – Ahmedabad, Gujarat – Established in 1972 by Dr. Vikram Sarabhai. – Applications of space technology: remote sensing, GIS (geographic information systems), satellite altimetry; developing payloads and sensors. |
| National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) | – Hyderabad, Telangana – Acquiring, processing, distributing remote-sensing data; Earth observation services. |
| ISRO Telemetry, Tracking & Command Network (ISTRAC) | – Bengaluru, Karnataka – Responsible for tracking, telemetry and command of satellites; ensures satellites are healthy in orbit. – Operates Indian Deep Space Network (IDSN) at Byalalu near Bengaluru, vital for missions like Chandrayaan and Mangalyaan. |
| Master Control Facility (MCF) | – Hassan, Karnataka & Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh – Monitors and controls satellites in orbit. – Manages operations such as orbit raising, health checks. |
| Indian Institute of Space Science & Technology (IIST) | – Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala – Educational institution; trains engineers and scientists specifically for space sector. |
| Indian Institute of Remote Sensing (IIRS) | – Dehradun, Uttarakhand – Higher education & training in remote sensing, geoinformation; supports capacity building. |
| Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) | – Ahmedabad, Gujarat – Premier institute for space & allied science: planetary science, astrophysics, atmospheric science. – Founded in 1947 by Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, often called the “cradle of space sciences” in India. |
| National Atmospheric Research Laboratory (NARL) | – Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh – Studies atmospheric physics, meteorology, upper atmospheric phenomena. – Provides data for weather prediction, climate modeling, and space weather monitoring. |
| North Eastern‐Space Applications Centre (NE-SAC) | – Shillong, Meghalaya – Space applications in the northeast; remote sensing applications tailored for hilly/remote terrains; capacity building in that region. |
| Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC) | – Bengaluru, Karnataka – Nodal centre for ISRO’s human spaceflight program; responsible for crew training, astronaut health management, crew module and space station development. – Leading the Gaganyaan Mission, India’s first crewed spaceflight project. |
| Laboratory for Electro-Optics Systems (LEOS) | – Bengaluru, Karnataka – Designs, develops, and delivers electro-optical sensors and systems for satellites, including star sensors, attitude sensors, and high-precision optics. – Functions under ISRO’s U R Rao Satellite Centre (URSC) |
| ISRO Inertial Systems Unit (IISU) | – Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala – Designs and develops inertial sensors, inertial navigation systems, and actuators for launch vehicles and spacecraft. – Works on advanced satellite attitude control systems and precision instruments. |
| Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) | – Ahmedabad, Gujarat – Acts as a single-window autonomous agency under the Department of Space to promote, authorize and regulate private sector participation in India’s space activities. – Aims to boost India’s commercial space ecosystem and support innovation. |
| Antrix Corporation Limited | – Bengaluru, Karnataka – Commercial and marketing arm of ISRO; responsible for promoting, marketing, and commercially exploiting ISRO’s products, services, and technologies. – Established in 1992 as a Government of India company under the Department of Space. – Handles launch services for foreign satellites, transponder leasing, remote sensing data sales, and technology transfer. |
| NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) | – Bengaluru, Karnataka – Public sector company under the Department of Space; responsible for enabling Indian industries to participate in space activities, commercial launch services, satellite building, and technology transfer. – Incorporated in 2019 as a Government of India company under Department of Space. – Unlike Antrix, which mainly marketed ISRO products, NSIL focuses on end-to-end space services — from building satellites to providing launch and operational support. |
Other Facilities & Units
Apart from the above listed ISRO Centres, there are several other noteworthy facilities and specialized units that provide critical support to India’s space program. These include tracking stations, observatories, data centres, and liaison offices that extend ISRO’s capabilities beyond its primary centres.
- Down Range Stations – such as those at Port Blair, which play an important role in launch trajectory tracking.
- Infrared and Solar Observatories – including the Mt. Abu Infrared Observatory (Rajasthan) and the Udaipur Solar Observatory (Rajasthan), dedicated to space science research.
- Control, Liaison & Data Centres – like the Indian Deep Space Network (IDSN) and the Indian Space Science Data Centre (ISSDC), both located at Byalalu in Karnataka, along with ISRO Liaison Offices that are crucial for mission support, data processing, and international coordination.
Key Points & Highlights
- Launch Capability: SDSC-SHAR is the hub of ISRO’s launch operations; multiple launch pads to handle different mission classes (sounding rockets, PSLV/GSLV, etc.).
- Propulsion R&D: LPSC and IPRC are crucial for indigenous propulsion systems – liquid, cryogenic. This is central for heavier payloads and deep-space missions.
- Satellite Design & Payloads: URSC designs the satellites; SAC and NRSC assist with sensors, payloads, data acquisition. Payload R&D is spread across multiple centres.
- Tracking & Control: ISTRAC, MCF, and other telemetry/ground-station units ensure satellites’ operational health after launch.
- Education & Outreach: IIST, IIRS, PRL, etc., serve to train new generations of scientists & engineers; also support research.
- Regional Impact: Centres in the northeast (NE-SAC), and observatories in remote/hilly areas extend ISRO’s benefits and data reach for disaster management, agriculture, environment etc.
- Redundancy & Resilience: Having units across various states helps in spreading risk, continuous operations (if one unit is down, others can assist) and enabling specialized climate/terrain-based research.
Challenges and Future Directions
- As ISRO takes on more ambitious missions (Gaganyaan, Chandrayaan series, manned flight, deep-space), the demand on existing propulsion, tracking, and launch infrastructure is increasing.
- Expanding ground-station network to support more launches, more data throughput (satellite constellations, Earth observation, navigation).
- Enhancing international collaboration & private sector involvement; outsourcing certain payloads or leveraging private launchers etc.
- Further investment in R&D for technologies such as reusable launch vehicles, advanced rockets, space habitats.
Summary
ISRO’s network of centres across India is highly diversified, geographically distributed, and specialized. Each centre contributes uniquely — whether it’s designing and building satellites, developing propulsion technology, launching rockets, handling communications, training personnel, or applying space technology to societal needs.
The strength of India’s space program rests not on any single facility but on this integrated ecosystem of centres, enabling cost-effectiveness, resiliency, and continuous innovation.
