Science and Technology of India: 10 Key points About the Aryabhata Satellite

Here are 10 key points about the Aryabhata satellite:

1. **First Indian Satellite**: Aryabhata was India's inaugural satellite, representing a significant achievement in the nation's space endeavors.

2. **Naming**: The satellite was named in honor of the ancient Indian mathematician and astronomer Aryabhata.

3. **Launch Date**: It was successfully launched on April 19, 1975.

4.**Launch Vehicle and Site**: The satellite was launched by the Soviet Union using a Kosmos-3M launch vehicle from the Kapustin Yar launch site.

5. **Purpose**: Aryabhata was designed for conducting scientific experiments in the fields of X-ray astronomy, solar physics, and space environment monitoring.

6. **Design and Development**: The satellite was entirely designed and fabricated in India by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

7. **Weight**: Aryabhata had a launch mass of 360 kilograms (794 pounds).

8. **Power Supply Issue**: Soon after its launch, Aryabhata experienced a failure in its power system due to a battery malfunction, which limited its operational capacity.

9. **Data Transmission**: Despite the power issues, Aryabhata managed to transmit valuable data back to Earth for about four days before the systems failed completely.

10. **Legacy**: Aryabhata’s successful launch and operation laid the foundation for India’s future space missions and established ISRO as a significant player in space research and technology.