ISRO Missions List Notes for SSC Exams

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is in the news almost every month, so space questions are a regular part of SSC General Awareness. The questions are about the name, the date and the purpose of a mission. These ISRO missions notes for SSC give the important missions in a table with the date and the main point, followed by the launch vehicles, the status of Gaganyaan and practice questions.

Important ISRO Missions

Launch Vehicles of ISRO

Gaganyaan: India's Human Spaceflight Mission

• Gaganyaan aims to send Indian astronauts to a low Earth orbit and bring them back safely.
• ISRO plans three uncrewed missions before the first crewed flight.
• The humanoid robot "Vyommitra" is to fly in the uncrewed missions.
• As per the statement of the ISRO chairman in June 2026, the aim was to launch the first uncrewed mission by the end of 2026, but it may be delayed to 2027. Check the latest news for the final dates.
• Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla became the first Indian to go to the International Space Station, in the Axiom-4 mission in 2025.

Upcoming and Planned Missions

• Chandrayaan-4: A Moon sample return mission, targeted for 2028.
• Gaganyaan: The first uncrewed flight is awaited.
• Bharatiya Antariksh Station: India's planned space station for the coming years.

ISRO: Basic Facts

Quick Tips

• Learn the missions in the order of date, with one point for each.
• Remember that Chandrayaan-3 landed near the lunar south pole and India became the first to do so.
• Revise the rocket names with one use for each.
• Check the Gaganyaan status once more before the exam because the schedule may change.

Quick Revision Points

• ISRO was founded on 15 August 1969, with its headquarters at Bengaluru.
• Chandrayaan-3 landed on 23 August 2023.
• Aditya-L1 is India's first solar mission.
• NISAR is a joint NASA-ISRO mission launched on 30 July 2025.
• Chandrayaan-4 is a planned Moon sample return mission.

Practice Questions With Answers

1. Which was the first Indian satellite?
   Answer: Aryabhata
2. On which date did Chandrayaan-3 land on the Moon?
   Answer: 23 August 2023
3. Which is India's first solar mission?
   Answer: Aditya-L1
4. Which is India's first X-ray polarimetry mission?
   Answer: XPoSat
5. Which mission tested the docking of two satellites in space?
   Answer: SpaDeX
6. Which joint mission of NASA and ISRO was launched in July 2025?
   Answer: NISAR
7. Where is the main launch site of ISRO?
   Answer: Sriharikota
8. What is the name of the humanoid robot of Gaganyaan?
   Answer: Vyommitra
9. Who was the first Indian to travel to the ISS?
   Answer: Shubhanshu Shukla
10. Which ISRO rocket is the heaviest?
    Answer: LVM3

How to Practise This Chapter

Make a timeline of missions and learn five facts every day. Then solve questions from our practice papers, the free SSC quizzes and the previous year papers page. Link this topic with the General Science notes for space and satellites, and read the Summits 2026 note next. The Current Affairs notes page has more topics.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is ISRO?

ISRO is the Indian Space Research Organisation, the national space agency of India. It was founded on 15 August 1969 and has its headquarters in Bengaluru.

When did Chandrayaan-3 land on the Moon?

Chandrayaan-3 landed on the Moon on 23 August 2023, near the lunar south pole. The day is celebrated as National Space Day.

What is Aditya-L1?

Aditya-L1 is India's first space mission to study the Sun. It was launched on 2 September 2023 and placed near the Lagrange point L1.

What is XPoSat?

XPoSat is India's first mission to study the polarisation of X-rays from space. It was launched on 1 January 2024.

What is SpaDeX?

SpaDeX is a space docking experiment launched on 30 December 2024. It showed that two satellites can join in space.

What is NISAR?

NISAR is a joint satellite of NASA and ISRO for radar imaging of the Earth. It was launched on 30 July 2025.

What is the Gaganyaan mission?

Gaganyaan is India's human spaceflight programme. ISRO plans uncrewed missions first and a crewed mission later.

What is Chandrayaan-4?

Chandrayaan-4 is a planned Moon sample return mission, which is targeted for 2028.

Who was the first Indian to go to the International Space Station?

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla was the first Indian to go to the ISS, in the Axiom-4 mission in 2025.

Which is the heaviest launch vehicle of ISRO?

LVM3, earlier called GSLV Mk III, is the heaviest launch vehicle of ISRO.

How can I remember the ISRO missions?

Make a timeline of missions with their date and purpose, and revise it every week along with the latest news.

How many questions come from ISRO and space in SSC exams?

Usually one question comes from space and ISRO in SSC General Awareness papers, but the number changes from year to year.