The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has rolled out two new educational modules titled “India: A Rising Space Power”, designed to showcase the country’s remarkable progress in space science and technology.
Aimed at middle- and secondary-level students, the modules trace India’s journey from the modest days of transporting rockets on bicycles and bullock carts in the 1960s to today’s status as a cost-effective leader in global space exploration, with achievements like Chandrayaan-3 and Aditya-L1. Illustrated with timelines, photographs, and diagrams, the modules aim to make India’s space story accessible and engaging for students.
India’s Rise in Space Science
The content highlights the transformation of the Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR), founded in 1962 under Vikram Sarabhai, into the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)—now counted amongst the world’s leading space agencies. It underlines ISRO’s philosophy of producing low-cost, robust, and self-reliant missions that balance simplicity with advanced technology.
The modules also honour Indian astronauts–Rakesh Sharma, who became the first Indian in space in 1984, and Shubhanshu Shukla, who in June 2025 became the first Indian astronaut to live aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
LANDMARK MISSIONS COVERED
Students will learn about pioneering projects such as the launch of Aryabhata (India’s first satellite, 1975) and the Satellite Instructional Television Experiment (SITE), which introduced television to rural India. These early initiatives are contrasted with India’s more recent successes, including:
Chandrayaan-1 (2008): First to detect water molecules on the Moon
Mangalyaan (2013): India’s historic Mars Orbiter, successful on its maiden attempt
Chandrayaan-2 (2019): Orbiter still providing valuable lunar data
Chandrayaan-3 (2023): First ever landing on the Moon’s south pole
Aditya-L1 (2023): First Indian solar observatory studying the Sun’s outer layers
The modules also look ahead to NASA-ISRO’s NISAR mission, which will track Earth’s ecosystems and natural disasters, and India’s ambitious Gaganyaan programme, which will send astronauts to low Earth orbit. Future goals include Chandrayaan-4 (a lunar sample return mission) and the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS), approved in 2024 as India’s first dedicated space station.
APPLICATIONS FOR DAILY LIFE
While celebrating ISRO’s 131 spacecraft missions and over 100 launches, including placing 430+ foreign satellites into orbit for 35 countries,the modules stress that India’s space programme is not only about planetary exploration. It highlights practical applications like NavIC, India’s navigation system; tele-education and telemedicine; weather forecasting; disaster management; and support for agriculture and communication.
The modules also point to the booming private space ecosystem, with more than 200 startups now working alongside ISRO and global agencies. With this momentum, India is aiming to capture 8% of the global space economy by 2035.
By blending science, culture, and innovation, the modules aim to inspire young learners. They portray India’s space journey as both a story of exploration beyond Earth and a tool to improve lives at home through technology and applications.
(With ANI inputs)
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