Achievements of Indian space programme brought changes in lives of common people, says former ISRO chairman

Former ISRO chairman A.S. Kiran Kumar highlights the Indian space programme's impact on daily life.

Shivamogga

The achievements of Indian space programme over several decades have brought significant changes to the lives of common people, said A.S. Kiran Kumar, former chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

He was speaking at a programme titled “Nanu Vijnani” (I Am a Scientist), organised by the Shivamogga Zilla Panchayat for gram panchayat librarians on Monday (March 2, 2026).

Mr. Kiran Kumar said the Indian space programme began with the Satellite Instructional Television Experiment (SITE) in 1975-76, in which ISRO used a USA satellite to reach over 2,400 villages across the country. The success of the experiment prompted the country’s leaders to invest money in the space programme.

“Over the years, by launching satellites, we have improved our communication technology. The pictures sent by the satellites are helping us take necessary steps to minimise damage caused by cyclones. Fishermen are benefiting greatly from Oceansat satellites, which provide precise data to locate fish,” he said.

Referring to recent milestones, he noted that last year, ISRO, in collaboration with NASA, launched a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) with a huge antenna. Additionally, a private company from the U.S., BlueBird, joined hands with ISRO to launch its satellite. “These achievements show how much the U.S. trusts the efficiency of the Indian space programme,” he said.