ISRO is reaching the Stars on a Shoestring Budget
The incredible achievements of ISRO and it’s space programme, known for its frugal yet effective missions. Discover how India’s ambitious space plans—from Moon landings to Venus orbiters—are achieved at a fraction of the cost compared to global standards.
Many of my readers are familiar with epicwords.in, the school magazine I proudly edit. Recently, while leafing through submissions, I found myself drawn to an article by Srinika Chowdhury, a bright young student from Epic Public School. Her piece, titled “India is Incredible” was brimming with optimism and patriotism—a refreshing change, really. But here’s the kicker: shortly after publishing Srinika’s piece, I stumbled upon an article on the BBC about India’s recent accomplishments in space exploration and how ISRO works with far less budget compared to other such agencies. And there I was, reading about India’s latest feats in space missions, feeling an actual shiver down my spine. It was as if Srinika’s pride in India had leapt off the page and made itself tangible.
India has just sanctioned a whopping 227 billion rupees (£2.1 billion) for a series of daring projects in space. We’re talking about extending India’s iconic Moon missions, launching an orbiter to Venus, building a national space station, and engineering a reusable, heavy-lifting rocket. Not only are these projects revolutionary, but they’ve also grabbed attention because India’s space programme, famously run by ISRO (the Indian Space Research Organisation), has managed to do all of this for a fraction of what other nations would spend. To be precise, India’s programmes come in cheaper than a Hollywood blockbuster.
Take, for instance, India’s Mars mission, Mangalyaan, which cost a modest $74 million—considerably less than the film Gravity’s $100 million production bill. Comparatively, NASA’s Maven orbiter cost an astronomical $582 million, while Russia’s Luna-25, which met a rather tragic end on the Moon’s surface, had a price tag of $133 million. Yet, despite ISRO’s shoestring budgets, the results are no less impressive. India’s lunar mission, Chandrayaan-1, was the first to confirm water on the Moon, while Mangalyaan carried a payload to detect methane on Mars, a key element in the quest for life.
So, what’s India’s secret to space missions on a budget that wouldn’t make an accountant blink? It turns out this knack for thrift dates back to the 1960s, when the newly independent India was grappling with poverty, a high illiteracy rate, and the Herculean task of rebuilding its economy. Vikram Sarabhai, ISRO’s visionary founder, had to convince government officials that a space programme wasn’t a luxury for rich nations alone. With conviction, he explained that satellites could improve communications, support agriculture, and uplift education—essential tools for a growing nation.
In those early days, the programme’s budget was so tight that satellite parts were sometimes transported on bullock carts. Even today, ISRO’s annual budget is about $1.55 billion, a fraction of NASA’s $25 billion. While NASA’s satellites are made by private companies and insured, ISRO builds its equipment in-house and foregoes insurance, which reduces costs significantly. ISRO takes calculated risks, often using a single, fly-ready model for a mission rather than engineering multiple prototypes.
When it comes to passion, ISRO scientists display it in spades. According to Mylswamy Annadurai, the lead on India’s first two Moon missions and the Mars mission, his team often consisted of fewer than ten people, working tirelessly, sometimes even skipping pay for overtime. One can imagine the camaraderie in these hallowed halls, the determination to make things work no matter the obstacles.
In 1974, India’s budding space programme faced another setback. Following a nuclear test, the West imposed strict technology embargoes, barring India from purchasing crucial tech from abroad. Ironically, what was intended to stymie India’s progress became a blessing in disguise. The restrictions pushed ISRO to innovate, forcing scientists to develop everything domestically. Today, this self-reliance is a cornerstone of ISRO’s ability to deliver high-quality missions at a fraction of international costs.
While there’s no denying the thrill of saving a pound or two, India’s frugal approach to space also involves a bit of clever physics. Unlike NASA’s massive rockets, India’s comparatively modest launch vehicles can’t power a spacecraft directly to its destination. Instead, ISRO scientists use Earth’s gravity like a catapult, slowly building up momentum before flinging the spacecraft towards its target. This resourceful trick saved millions when India’s latest lunar lander, Chandrayaan-3, made it to the Moon after weeks of carefully calculated orbits.
However, as India’s ambitions in space continue to grow, so might the budget. ISRO’s newest goals, including manned Moon missions by 2040, will require more powerful—and, inevitably, pricier—rockets. Plans are already underway for a Next Generation Launch Vehicle, a true workhorse capable of carrying more weight to space.
It’s thrilling to think that students like Srinika, who beam with pride for India, could one day be the very minds that power these ambitious missions. As India opens its space sector to private companies, perhaps her generation will lead the charge, taking ISRO’s legacy of ingenuity and frugality to new heights. And knowing the unique teaching methodology of EPIC Scholl this is definitely possible shortly. Until then, however, it’s heartwarming to think of ISRO scientists, still tinkering in their modest labs, finding ingenious ways to reach the stars—on a budget that wouldn’t ruffle even the thriftiest of accountants.
What's Your Reaction?
