Editing ISRO (section)

== Goals and objectives ==
[[File:Vikram Sarabhai.jpg|thumb|180px|[[Vikram Sarabhai]], first chairperson of [[INCOSPAR]], ISRO's predecessor organization]]
As the national space agency of India, ISRO's purpose is the pursuit of all space-based applications such as research, reconnaissance, and communications. It undertakes the design and development of space rockets and satellites, and undertakes explores upper atmosphere and deep space exploration missions. ISRO has also incubated technologies in India's private space sector, boosting its growth.<ref name="isro_aboutus">{{cite web |url=http://www.isro.gov.in/about-isro/vision-and-mission-statements |title=ISRO – Vision and Mission Statements |publisher=ISRO |access-date=27 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904080053/http://www.isro.gov.in/about-isro/vision-and-mission-statements |archive-date=4 September 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>{{sfn|Rajagopalan|Prasad|2017|pp=1-2}}

On the topic of the importance of a space programme to India as a developing nation, Vikram Sarabhai as INCOSPAR chairman said in 1969:{{sfn|Burleson|2005|page=136}}<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.isro.gov.in/about-isro/dr-vikram-ambalal-sarabhai-1963-1971 |title=Dr. Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai (1963–1971) – ISRO |access-date=21 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190422014937/https://www.isro.gov.in/about-isro/dr-vikram-ambalal-sarabhai-1963-1971 |archive-date=22 April 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Sarabhai_compilation">{{Cite web |title=List of Important Speeches And Papers By Dr. Vikram A. Sarabhai. |url=https://www.prl.res.in/~library/sarabhai_v_speeches.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190627181445/https://www.prl.res.in/~library/sarabhai_v_speeches.pdf |archive-date=27 June 2019 |access-date=27 June 2019 |website=PRL.res.in |page=113 }}</ref>

{{blockquote|text=To us, there is no ambiguity of purpose. We do not have the fantasy of competing with the economically advanced nations in the exploration of the Moon or the planets or manned space-flight. But we are convinced that if we are to play a meaningful role nationally, and in the community of nations, we must be second to none in the application of advanced technologies to the real problems of man and society, which we find in our country. And we should note that the application of sophisticated technologies and methods of analysis to our problems is not to be confused with embarking on grandiose schemes, whose primary impact is for show rather than for progress measured in hard economic and social terms.}}

The former [[president of India]] and chairman of [[Defence Research and Development Organisation|DRDO]], [[A. P. J. Abdul Kalam]], said:<ref name=apj_autobiography>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=c3qmIZtWUjAC&pg=PA43 |title=Wings of Fire: An Autobiography |last1=Kalam |first1=Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul |last2=Tiwari |first2=Arun |date=1999 |publisher=Universities Press |isbn=9788173711466 |language=en |access-date=16 August 2019 |archive-date=17 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170417091638/https://books.google.com/books?id=c3qmIZtWUjAC |url-status=live}}</ref>
{{blockquote|text=Very many individuals with myopic vision questioned the relevance of space activities in a newly independent nation which was finding it difficult to feed its population. But neither Prime Minister Nehru nor Prof. Sarabhai had any ambiguity of purpose. Their vision was very clear: if Indians were to play a meaningful role in the community of nations, they must be second to none in the application of advanced technologies to their real-life problems. They had no intention of using it merely as a means of displaying our might.}}

India's economic progress has made its space programme more visible and active as the country aims for greater [[Self-sustainability|self-reliance]] in space technology.<ref name=newsweek1 /> In 2008, India launched as many as 11{{Nbsp}}satellites, including nine from other countries, and went on to become the first nation to launch 10{{Nbsp}}satellites on one{{Nbsp}}rocket.<ref name=newsweek1>{{Cite web |url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/160037 |title=Hennock etc. (2008), "The Real Space Race Is in Asia", ''Newsweek''. |website=[[Newsweek]] |access-date=25 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081222044922/http://www.newsweek.com/id/160037 |archive-date=22 December 2008 |url-status=live |date=20 September 2008}}</ref> ISRO has put into operation two major satellite systems: the [[Indian National Satellite System]] (INSAT) for communication services, and the [[Indian Remote Sensing Programme]] (IRS) satellites for management of natural resources.<ref name="isro-comsats" /><ref name="IRSSaga" />