ISRO diaries: Chandrayaan-2 and other milestones of the Indian space agency

Image Credit: ISRO

New Delhi: It's a big day for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and for Indians across the world as its second lunar mission Chandrayaan-2 is all set to make a landing on the moon on September 7.

The soft landing of Chandrayaan-2 Vikram lander on the lunar surface is scheduled between 1:30 am to 2:30 am on Saturday, followed by the Rover (Pragyan) roll out between 5:30 am to 6:30 am.

ISRO has so far launched 75 missions, two re-entry missions and built 105 spacecrafts, 10 student satellites and 297 foreign satellites.

Chandrayaan-2 is a giant leap of India's space programme as it is India's first attempt at soft-landing on the surface of the moon and when it makes a touchdown, India will become the first country to do so.

As we wait with bated breath to witness history being scripted, let's have a look at a timeline of the space missions carried out by ISRO so far.

Chandrayaan-2

Chandrayaan-2 is a follow-on mission to Chandrayaan-1. It comprises of an Orbiter, Lander (Vikram) and Rover (Pragyan). It aims to widen the scientific objectives of Chandrayaan-1 by way of soft landing on the moon and deploying a rover to study the lunar surface.

The mission life of Orbiter is one year whereas the mission life of Vikram lander and Pragyran rover is one Lunar day which is equal to 14 earth days.

This mission will make India the fourth country after the US, Russia, and China to conduct a soft landing on the moon. After revolving around the Earth`s orbit for nearly 23 days, the craft began its journey to the moon on August 14.

List of Spacecrafts

SN	Name	Launch Date	Launch Vehicle	Orbit Type	Application	Remarks
105	RISAT-2B	May 22, 2019	PSLV-C46 Mission	LEO	Disaster Management System, Earth Observation
104	EMISAT	Apr 01, 2019	PSLV-C45/EMISAT MISSION	SSPO
103	GSAT-31	Feb 06, 2019	Ariane-5 VA-247	GTO	Communication
102	Microsat-R	Jan 24, 2019	PSLV-C44	SSPO
101	GSAT-7A	Dec 19, 2018	GSLV-F11 / GSAT-7A Mission		Communication
100	GSAT-11 Mission	Dec 05, 2018	Ariane-5 VA-246	GTO	Communication
99	HysIS	Nov 29, 2018	PSLV-C43 / HysIS Mission	SSPO	Earth Observation
98	GSAT-29	Nov 14, 2018	GSLV Mk III-D2 / GSAT-29 Mission	GTO	Communication
97	IRNSS-1I	Apr 12, 2018	PSLV-C41/IRNSS-1I	GSO	Navigation
96	GSAT-6A	Mar 29, 2018	GSLV-F08/GSAT-6A Mission	GSO	Communication
95	INS-1C	Jan 12, 2018	PSLV-C40/Cartosat-2 Series Satellite Mission	SSPO	Experimental
94	Microsat	Jan 12, 2018	PSLV-C40/Cartosat-2 Series Satellite Mission	SSPO	Experimental
93	Cartosat-2 Series Satellite	Jan 12, 2018	PSLV-C40/Cartosat-2 Series Satellite Mission	SSPO	Earth Observation
92	IRNSS-1H	Aug 31, 2017	PSLV-C39/IRNSS-1H Mission		Navigation	Launch Unsuccessful
91	GSAT-17	Jun 29, 2017	Ariane-5 VA-238	GTO	Communication
90	Cartosat-2 Series Satellite	Jun 23, 2017	PSLV-C38 / Cartosat-2 Series Satellite	SSPO	Earth Observation
89	GSAT-19	Jun 05, 2017	GSLV Mk III-D1/GSAT-19 Mission	GSO	Communication
88	GSAT-9	May 05, 2017	GSLV-F09 / GSAT-9	GSO	Communication
87	INS-1B	Feb 15, 2017	PSLV-C37 / Cartosat -2 Series Satellite	SSPO	Experimental
86	Cartosat -2 Series Satellite	Feb 15, 2017	PSLV-C37 / Cartosat -2 Series Satellite	SSPO	Earth Observation
85	INS-1A	Feb 15, 2017	PSLV-C37 / Cartosat -2 Series Satellite	SSPO	Experimental
84	RESOURCESAT-2A	Dec 07, 2016	PSLV-C36 / RESOURCESAT-2A	SSPO	Earth Observation
83	GSAT-18	Oct 06, 2016	Ariane-5 VA-231	GSO	Communication
82	SCATSAT-1	Sep 26, 2016	PSLV-C35 / SCATSAT-1	SSPO	Climate & Environment
81	INSAT-3DR	Sep 08, 2016	GSLV-F05 / INSAT-3DR	GSO	Climate & Environment, Disaster Management System
80	CARTOSAT-2 Series Satellite	Jun 22, 2016	PSLV-C34 / CARTOSAT-2 Series Satellite	SSPO	Earth Observation
79	IRNSS-1G	Apr 28, 2016	PSLV-C33/IRNSS-1G	GEO	Navigation
78	IRNSS-1F	Mar 10, 2016	PSLV-C32/IRNSS-1F	GEO	Navigation
77	IRNSS-1E	Jan 20, 2016	PSLV-C31/IRNSS-1E	GSO	Navigation
76	GSAT-15	Nov 11, 2015	Ariane-5 VA-227	GEO	Communication, Navigation
75	Astrosat	Sep 28, 2015	PSLV-C30/AstroSat MISSION		Space Science
74	GSAT-6	Aug 27, 2015	GSLV-D6	GTO	Communication
73	IRNSS-1D	Mar 28, 2015	PSLV-C27/IRNSS-1D	GSO	Navigation
72	Crew module Atmospheric Re-entry Experiment (CARE)	Dec 18, 2014	LVM-3/CARE Mission		Experimental
71	GSAT-16	Dec 07, 2014	Ariane-5 VA-221	GSO	Communication
70	IRNSS-1C	Oct 16, 2014	PSLV-C26/IRNSS-1C	GEO	Navigation
69	IRNSS-1B	Apr 04, 2014	PSLV-C24/IRNSS-1B	GSO	Navigation
68	GSAT-14	Jan 05, 2014	GSLV-D5/GSAT-14	GSO	Communication
67	Mars Orbiter Mission Spacecraft	Nov 05, 2013	PSLV-C25	Martian	Planetary Observation
66	GSAT-7	Aug 30, 2013	Ariane-5 VA-215	GSO	Communication
65	INSAT-3D	Jul 26, 2013	Ariane-5 VA-214	GSO	Climate & Environment, Disaster Management System
64	IRNSS-1A	Jul 01, 2013	PSLV-C22/IRNSS-1A	GSO	Navigation
63	SARAL	Feb 25, 2013	PSLV-C20/SARAL	SSPO	Climate & Environment, Earth Observation
62	GSAT-10	Sep 29, 2012	Ariane-5 VA-209	GEO	Communication, Navigation
61	RISAT-1	Apr 26, 2012	PSLV-C19/RISAT-1	SSPO	Earth Observation
60	Megha-Tropiques	Oct 12, 2011	PSLV-C18/Megha-Tropiques	SSPO	Climate & Environment, Earth Observation
59	GSAT-12	Jul 15, 2011	PSLV-C17/GSAT-12	GSO	Communication
58	GSAT-8	May 21, 2011	Ariane-5 VA-202	GEO	Communication, Navigation
57	RESOURCESAT-2	Apr 20, 2011	PSLV-C16/RESOURCESAT-2	SSPO	Earth Observation
56	YOUTHSAT	Apr 20, 2011	PSLV-C16/RESOURCESAT-2	SSPO	Student Satellite
55	GSAT-5P	Dec 25, 2010	GSLV-F06 / GSAT-5P	GSO	Communication	Launch Unsuccessful
54	CARTOSAT-2B	Jul 12, 2010	PSLV-C15/CARTOSAT-2B	SSPO	Earth Observation
53	GSAT-4	Apr 15, 2010	GSLV-D3 / GSAT-4	GSO	Communication	Launch Unsuccessful
52	Oceansat-2	Sep 23, 2009	PSLV-C14 / OCEANSAT-2	SSPO	Climate & Environment, Earth Observation
51	RISAT-2	Apr 20, 2009	PSLV-C12 / RISAT-2	SSPO	Earth Observation
50	Chandrayaan-1	Oct 22, 2008	PSLV-C11	Lunar	Planetary Observation
49	CARTOSAT – 2A	Apr 28, 2008	PSLV-C9 / CARTOSAT – 2A	SSPO	Earth Observation
48	IMS-1	Apr 28, 2008	PSLV-C9 / CARTOSAT – 2A	SSPO	Earth Observation
47	INSAT-4CR	Sep 02, 2007	GSLV-F04 / INSAT-4CR	GSO	Communication
46	INSAT-4B	Mar 12, 2007	Ariane5	GSO	Communication
45	CARTOSAT-2	Jan 10, 2007	PSLV-C7 / CARTOSAT-2 / SRE-1	SSPO	Earth Observation
44	SRE-1	Jan 10, 2007	PSLV-C7 / CARTOSAT-2 / SRE-1	SSPO	Experimental
43	INSAT-4C	Jul 10, 2006	GSLV-F02 / INSAT-4C	GSO	Communication	Launch Unsuccessful
42	INSAT-4A	Dec 22, 2005	Ariane5-V169	GSO	Communication
41	HAMSAT	May 05, 2005	PSLV-C6/CARTOSAT-1/HAMSAT	SSPO	Communication
40	CARTOSAT-1	May 05, 2005	PSLV-C6/CARTOSAT-1/HAMSAT	SSPO	Earth Observation
39	EDUSAT	Sep 20, 2004	GSLV-F01 / EDUSAT(GSAT-3)	GSO	Communication
38	IRS-P6 / RESOURCESAT-1	Oct 17, 2003	PSLV-C5 /RESOURCESAT-1	SSPO	Earth Observation
37	INSAT-3E	Sep 28, 2003	Ariane5-V162	GSO	Communication
36	GSAT-2	May 08, 2003	GSLV-D2 / GSAT-2	GSO	Communication
35	INSAT-3A	Apr 10, 2003	Ariane5-V160	GSO	Climate & Environment, Communication
34	KALPANA-1	Sep 12, 2002	PSLV-C4 /KALPANA-1	GSO	Climate & Environment, Communication
33	INSAT-3C	Jan 24, 2002	Ariane5-V147	GSO	Climate & Environment, Communication
32	The Technology Experiment Satellite (TES)	Oct 22, 2001	PSLV-C3 / TES	SSPO	Earth Observation
31	GSAT-1	Apr 18, 2001	GSLV-D1 / GSAT-1	GSO	Communication
30	INSAT-3B	Mar 22, 2000	Ariane-5G	GSO	Communication
29	Oceansat(IRS-P4)	May 26, 1999	PSLV-C2/IRS-P4	SSPO	Earth Observation
28	INSAT-2E	Apr 03, 1999	Ariane-42P H10-3	GSO	Communication
27	IRS-1D	Sep 29, 1997	PSLV-C1 / IRS-1D	SSPO	Earth Observation
26	INSAT-2D	Jun 04, 1997	Ariane-44L H10-3	GSO	Communication	Failed in Orbit
25	IRS-P3	Mar 21, 1996	PSLV-D3 / IRS-P3	SSPO	Earth Observation
24	IRS-1C	Dec 28, 1995	Molniya	SSPO	Earth Observation
23	INSAT-2C	Dec 07, 1995	Ariane-44L H10-3	GSO	Communication
22	IRS-P2	Oct 15, 1994	PSLV-D2	SSPO	Earth Observation
21	SROSS-C2	May 04, 1994	ASLV-D4		Experimental
20	IRS-1E	Sep 20, 1993	PSLV-D1	LEO	Earth Observation	Launch Unsuccessful
19	INSAT-2B	Jul 23, 1993	Ariane-44L H10+	GSO	Communication
18	INSAT-2A	Jul 10, 1992	Ariane-44L H10	GSO	Communication
17	SROSS-C	May 20, 1992	ASLV-D3		Experimental
16	IRS-1B	Aug 29, 1991	Vostok	SSPO	Earth Observation
15	INSAT-1D	Jun 12, 1990	Delta 4925	GSO	Communication
14	INSAT-1C	Jul 22, 1988	Ariane-3	GSO	Communication	Partial Failure in Orbit
13	SROSS-2	Jul 13, 1988	ASLV-D2		Earth Observation, Experimental	Launch Unsuccessful
12	IRS-1A	Mar 17, 1988	Vostok	SSPO	Earth Observation
11	SROSS-1	Mar 24, 1987	ASLV-D1		Experimental	Launch Unsuccessful
10	INSAT-1B	Aug 30, 1983	Shuttle [PAM-D]	GSO	Communication
9	Rohini Satellite RS-D2	Apr 17, 1983	SLV-3	LEO	Earth Observation
8	INSAT-1A	Apr 10, 1982	Delta	GSO	Communication	Failed in Orbit
7	Bhaskara-II	Nov 20, 1981	C-1 Intercosmos	LEO	Earth Observation, Experimental
6	APPLE	Jun 19, 1981	Ariane -1(V-3)	GSO	Communication, Experimental
5	Rohini Satellite RS-D1	May 31, 1981	SLV-3D1	LEO	Earth Observation
4	Rohini Satellite RS-1	Jul 18, 1980	SLV-3E2
3	Rohini Technology Payload (RTP)	Aug 10, 1979	SLV-3E1			Launch Unsuccessful
2	Bhaskara-I	Jun 07, 1979	C-1Intercosmos	LEO	Earth Observation, Experimental
1	Aryabhata	Apr 19, 1975	C-1 Intercosmos		Experimental

Launches from SDSC SHAR, Sriharikota

SN	Name	Launch Date	Launcher Type	Payload	Remarks
75	GSLV-Mk III - M1 / Chandrayaan-2 Mission	Jul 22, 2019	GSLV-MK-III
74	PSLV-C46 Mission	May 22, 2019	PSLV-CA	RISAT-2B
73	PSLV-C45/EMISAT MISSION	Apr 01, 2019	PSLV	EMISAT
72	PSLV-C44	Jan 24, 2019	PSLV-DL	Microsat-R
71	GSLV-F11 / GSAT-7A Mission	Dec 19, 2018	GSLV	GSAT-7A
70	PSLV-C43 / HysIS Mission	Nov 29, 2018	PSLV	HysIS
69	GSLV Mk III-D2 / GSAT-29 Mission	Nov 14, 2018	GSLV-MK-III	GSAT-29
68	PSLV-C42 Mission	Sep 16, 2018	PSLV
67	PSLV-C41/IRNSS-1I	Apr 12, 2018	PSLV-XL	IRNSS-1I
66	GSLV-F08/GSAT-6A Mission	Mar 29, 2018	GSLV	GSAT-6A
65	PSLV-C40/Cartosat-2 Series Satellite Mission	Jan 12, 2018	PSLV-XL	Cartosat-2 Series Satellite
64	PSLV-C39/IRNSS-1H Mission	Aug 31, 2017	PSLV-XL	IRNSS-1H	Mission Unsuccessful
63	PSLV-C38 / Cartosat-2 Series Satellite	Jun 23, 2017	PSLV-XL	Cartosat-2 Series Satellite
62	GSLV Mk III-D1/GSAT-19 Mission	Jun 05, 2017	GSLV-MK-III	GSAT-19
61	GSLV-F09 / GSAT-9	May 05, 2017	GSLV	GSAT-9
60	PSLV-C37 / Cartosat -2 Series Satellite	Feb 15, 2017	PSLV-XL	Cartosat -2 Series Satellite
59	PSLV-C36 / RESOURCESAT-2A	Dec 07, 2016	PSLV-XL	RESOURCESAT-2A
58	PSLV-C35 / SCATSAT-1	Sep 26, 2016	PSLV	SCATSAT-1
57	GSLV-F05 / INSAT-3DR	Sep 08, 2016	GSLV-MK-II	INSAT-3DR
56	Scramjet Engine - TD	Aug 28, 2016
55	PSLV-C34 / CARTOSAT-2 Series Satellite	Jun 22, 2016	PSLV-XL	CARTOSAT-2 Series Satellite
54	RLV-TD	May 23, 2016
53	PSLV-C33/IRNSS-1G	Apr 28, 2016	PSLV-XL	IRNSS-1G
52	PSLV-C32/IRNSS-1F	Mar 10, 2016	PSLV-XL	IRNSS-1F
51	PSLV-C31/IRNSS-1E	Jan 20, 2016	PSLV-XL	IRNSS-1E
50	PSLV-C29 / TeLEOS-1 Mission	Dec 16, 2015	PSLV-CA
49	PSLV-C30/AstroSat MISSION	Sep 28, 2015	PSLV-XL	Astrosat
48	GSLV-D6	Aug 27, 2015	GSLV-MK-II	GSAT-6
47	PSLV-C28 / DMC3 Mission	Jul 10, 2015	PSLV-XL
46	PSLV-C27/IRNSS-1D	Mar 28, 2015	PSLV-XL	IRNSS-1D
45	LVM-3/CARE Mission	Dec 18, 2014	GSLV-MK-III	Crew module Atmospheric Re-entry Experiment (CARE)
44	PSLV-C26/IRNSS-1C	Oct 16, 2014	PSLV-XL	IRNSS-1C
43	PSLV-C23	Jun 30, 2014	PSLV-CA
42	PSLV-C24/IRNSS-1B	Apr 04, 2014	PSLV-XL	IRNSS-1B
41	GSLV-D5/GSAT-14	Jan 05, 2014	GSLV-MK-II	GSAT-14
40	PSLV-C25	Nov 05, 2013	PSLV-XL	Mars Orbiter Mission Spacecraft
39	PSLV-C22/IRNSS-1A	Jul 01, 2013	PSLV-XL	IRNSS-1A
38	PSLV-C20/SARAL	Feb 25, 2013	PSLV-CA	SARAL
37	PSLV-C21	Sep 09, 2012	PSLV-CA
36	PSLV-C19/RISAT-1	Apr 26, 2012	PSLV-XL	RISAT-1
35	PSLV-C18/Megha-Tropiques	Oct 12, 2011	PSLV-CA	Megha-Tropiques
34	PSLV-C17/GSAT-12	Jul 15, 2011	PSLV-XL	GSAT-12
33	PSLV-C16/RESOURCESAT-2	Apr 20, 2011	PSLV-G	RESOURCESAT-2YOUTHSAT
32	GSLV-F06 / GSAT-5P	Dec 25, 2010	GSLV-MK-II	GSAT-5P	Mission Unsuccessful
31	PSLV-C15/CARTOSAT-2B	Jul 12, 2010	PSLV-CA	CARTOSAT-2B
30	GSLV-D3 / GSAT-4	Apr 15, 2010	GSLV-MK-II	GSAT-4	Mission Unsuccessful
29	PSLV-C14 / OCEANSAT-2	Sep 23, 2009	PSLV-CA	Oceansat-2
28	PSLV-C12 / RISAT-2	Apr 20, 2009	PSLV-CA	RISAT-2
27	PSLV-C11	Oct 22, 2008	PSLV-XL	Chandrayaan-1
26	PSLV-C9 / CARTOSAT – 2A	Apr 28, 2008	PSLV-CA	CARTOSAT – 2AIMS-1
25	PSLV-C10	Jan 21, 2008	PSLV-CA
24	GSLV-F04 / INSAT-4CR	Sep 02, 2007	GSLV-MK-II	INSAT-4CR
23	PSLV-C8	Apr 23, 2007	PSLV-CA
22	PSLV-C7 / CARTOSAT-2 / SRE-1	Jan 10, 2007	PSLV-G	CARTOSAT-2SRE-1
21	GSLV-F02 / INSAT-4C	Jul 10, 2006	GSLV-MK-II	INSAT-4C	Mission Unsuccessful
20	PSLV-C6/CARTOSAT-1/HAMSAT	May 05, 2005	PSLV-G	CARTOSAT-1HAMSAT
19	GSLV-F01 / EDUSAT(GSAT-3)	Sep 20, 2004	GSLV-MK-II	EDUSAT
18	PSLV-C5 /RESOURCESAT-1	Oct 17, 2003	PSLV-G	IRS-P6 / RESOURCESAT-1
17	GSLV-D2 / GSAT-2	May 08, 2003	GSLV-MK-II	GSAT-2
16	PSLV-C4 /KALPANA-1	Sep 12, 2002	PSLV-G	KALPANA-1
15	PSLV-C3 / TES	Oct 22, 2001	PSLV-G	The Technology Experiment Satellite (TES)
14	GSLV-D1 / GSAT-1	Apr 18, 2001	GSLV-MK-II	GSAT-1
13	PSLV-C2/IRS-P4	May 26, 1999	PSLV-G	Oceansat(IRS-P4)
12	PSLV-C1 / IRS-1D	Sep 29, 1997	PSLV-G	IRS-1D
11	PSLV-D3 / IRS-P3	Mar 21, 1996	PSLV-G	IRS-P3
10	PSLV-D2	Oct 15, 1994	PSLV-G	IRS-P2
9	ASLV-D4	May 05, 1994		SROSS-C2
8	PSLV-D1	Sep 20, 1993	PSLV-G		Mission Unsuccessful
7	ASLV-D3	May 20, 1992		SROSS-C
6	ASLV-D2	Jul 13, 1988		SROSS-2	Mission Unsuccessful
5	ASLV-D1	Mar 24, 1987		SROSS-1	Mission Unsuccessful
4	SLV-3	Apr 17, 1983		Rohini Satellite RS-D2
3	SLV-3D1	May 31, 1981		Rohini Satellite RS-D1
2	SLV-3E2	Jul 18, 1980		Rohini Satellite RS-1
1	SLV-3E1	Aug 10, 1979		Rohini Technology Payload (RTP)	Mission Unsuccessful

(Data from ISRO's website)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be at the ISRO around midnight to watch the event. Over 60 high school students across the country who cleared an online space quiz last month will watch the soft landing of the mission with the Prime Minister.

How excited are you for Chandrayaan-2 launch? Tell us in the comments section below.