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Department of Space

The Department of Space (DoS)[3] is an Indian government department responsible for administration of the Indian space programme. It manages several agencies and institutes related to space exploration and space technologies. The Indian space programme under the DoS aims to promote the development and application of space science and technology for the socio-economic benefit of the country. It includes two major satellite systems, INSAT for communication, television broadcasting and meteorological services, and Indian Remote Sensing Satellites (IRS) system for resources monitoring and management. It has also developed two satellite launch vehicles Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) to place IRS and INSAT class satellites in orbit.

This article is about the governmental department of India. For the general governmental topic, see space agency. For the general military topic, see space force.

History[edit]

In 1961, the Government of India and then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru entrusted the responsibility for space research and for the peaceful use of outer space to the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), then under the leadership of Homi J. Bhabha. In 1962, the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) set up Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR), with Vikram Sarabhai as chairman, to organise a national space programme.


In 1969, INCOSPAR was reconstituted as an advisory body under the India National Science Academy (INSA) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) was established. The Government of India constituted the Space Commission and established the Department of Space (DoS) in 1972 and brought ISRO under DoS management on 1 June 1972.


On 15 January 2022 S. Somanath succeeded Kailasavadivoo Sivan as the Secretary (Space) and ex-officio chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation and Space Commission.[2] Vanditha Sharma is the additional secretary of the department.[4]

Indian Space Research Organisation

Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre

– The marketing arm of ISRO

Antrix Corporation

(PRL), Ahmedabad

Physical Research Laboratory

(NARL), Gadanki

National Atmospheric Research Laboratory

[6] (NE-SAC), Umiam

North-Eastern Space Applications Centre

(IIST), Thiruvananthapuram – India's space university

Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology

(NSIL), Bengaluru

NewSpace India Limited

(IN–SPACe)[7][8]

Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre

The Department of Space manages the following agencies and institutes:[5]

Swami Vivekananda Planetarium, Mangalore

Official website