January 22, 2026

Watch ISRO Live: Rocket Launches, Mission Control & The Road to Gaganyaan

🔴 Watch Live: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)

The Live Stream Hub

Access the official broadcast from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC-SHAR), Sriharikota.

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🔴 LIVE STATUS: Event-BasedNext Major Event: Gaganyaan Test Vehicle Abort Mission (TV-D3) & PSLV-C60 Mission.Broadcast Timing: Stream usually begins 90 minutes prior to lift-off.Primary Platforms: YouTube, Facebook, and DD National.Key Location: Mission Control Centre (MCC), Sriharikota.

Introduction: When the Nation Holds Its Breath

(Why ISRO is India's Most Loved Institution)

In a country as diverse as India, few things unite the population like an ISRO launch. Whether it is a farmer in Punjab or a software engineer in Bengaluru, when the countdown begins—"Ten, Nine, Eight..."—the heartbeat of the nation syncs with the pulse of the rocket.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is more than just a space agency; it is the crowning jewel of modern India’s scientific temperament. From transporting rocket cones on bicycles in Thumba in the 1960s to landing on the South Pole of the Moon with Chandrayaan-3, ISRO’s journey is one of resilience, frugality, and brilliance.

When you tune into this live stream, you are not just watching fire and smoke. You are witnessing the culmination of millions of man-hours of engineering. You are watching India assert its place as a global space superpower.

This comprehensive guide is designed to enhance your viewing experience. We will help you decode the technical jargon used by the scientists in the Mission Control Centre, explain the different types of rockets in India’s fleet, and even guide you on how to book a seat at the stadium in Sriharikota to watch a launch with your own eyes.

🚀 The Launch Experience: Decoding the "T-Minus"

The commentary during a launch can sound like a foreign language to the uninitiated. Here is a listener’s guide to the key phrases you will hear from the Mission Director.

1. "T-Minus" (Time Minus)

This indicates the time remaining until lift-off.

  • T-Minus 15 Minutes: The "Automatic Launch Sequence" (ALS) is initiated. The ground computers take full control of the rocket's health checks. Human intervention is minimized.
  • T-Minus 0: Lift-off. The clamps holding the rocket release, and the solid boosters ignite.

2. "Trajectory is Normal"

You will hear this phrase every few seconds. It means the rocket is following the exact mathematical path predicted by the navigation computers. If the rocket deviates, the Range Safety Officer (RSO) has the power to destroy it mid-air to protect populated areas.

3. "Stage Separation"

Rockets are like onions; they have layers (stages). As fuel in one stage runs out, it is dropped to reduce weight.

  • Strap-ons Separated: The small boosters on the side fall off.
  • Heat Shield Separated: Once the rocket leaves the dense atmosphere (approx 110km altitude), the nose cone (fairing) protecting the satellite splits open and falls away. This is often the most cheered moment after lift-off.

4. "Injection Success"

The final and most critical announcement. It means the satellite has been released from the final stage of the rocket at the precise velocity and angle required. The mission is declared a success only after this.

🛸 The Fleet: Know Your Rockets

ISRO does not use the same vehicle for every mission. Depending on the weight of the cargo (payload) and the destination, they choose from a specific fleet.

1. PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle)

  • The Nickname: "The Workhorse."
  • Role: It has launched over 50 successful missions. It is reliable, relatively cheap, and used for Earth Observation satellites and smaller interplanetary missions (like the original Mangalyaan).
  • Identification: It is tall and thin. It uses a 4-stage engine mix (Solid-Liquid-Solid-Liquid).

2. LVM3 (Launch Vehicle Mark-3)

  • The Nickname: "Bahubali" or "Fat Boy."
  • Role: This is India’s heaviest rocket. It is used for massive communication satellites and, crucially, for the Chandrayaan and Gaganyaan missions.
  • Identification: It is shorter but much wider than the PSLV. It has two massive S200 solid boosters on the side and a liquid core stage. It uses the complex Cryogenic Upper Stage (C25).

3. SSLV (Small Satellite Launch Vehicle)

  • The Nickname: "Baby Rocket."
  • Role: Designed for the "Launch on Demand" market. It can be assembled in just 72 hours by a small team. It is used for launching small nano-satellites into Low Earth Orbit.

4. NGLV (Next Generation Launch Vehicle) - In Development

  • The Future: ISRO is currently designing this to replace the PSLV. It will use green fuel (Methane-LOX) and will be partially reusable, similar to SpaceX's Falcon 9.

👨‍🚀 The Big Goal: Gaganyaan (Human Spaceflight)

As we move through 2026, the focus of the entire agency is on Gaganyaan. This is India’s ambitious program to send humans (Gaganauts) to space and bring them back safely.

What to watch for in 2026:

  • Abort Missions: ISRO is conducting tests to ensure that if the rocket fails mid-air, the "Crew Escape System" can pull the astronauts away to safety.
  • Vyommitra: Keep an eye out for the launch of "Vyommitra," the humanoid robot that will fly to space before the humans do, to test life support systems.
  • The Astronauts: Four Indian Air Force pilots have been undergoing rigorous training (in Russia and Bengaluru) for this historic mission.

Did you know you don't have to watch on YouTube? You can feel the ground shake beneath your feet at Sriharikota.

The Facility: ISRO has built a stadium-class Launch View Gallery (LVG) at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre that can accommodate up to 10,000 visitors. It faces the two launch pads (SLP and FLP).

Step-by-Step Booking Guide:

  1. Wait for Announcement: Registration usually opens 5 to 7 days before a scheduled launch. Keep an eye on ISRO’s Twitter (@isro).
  2. Visit the Portal: Go to lvg.shar.gov.in.
  3. Register: You will need a valid email ID.
  4. Add Visitors: You can book for a group. You must provide details (Name, Age, Gender, Aadhaar Number) for every individual.
  5. Confirmation: Once submitted, you will receive a QR-code-based pass.
  6. Cost: It is absolutely FREE.

Travel Tip: Sriharikota is an island. The nearest major town is Sullurpeta (Andhra Pradesh), which has a railway station. From Sullurpeta, you can take a bus or taxi to the space center (approx 18 km).

🏢 Beyond the Launch: ISRO's Ecosystem

ISRO is not just one building. It is a network of centers across India. Knowing this helps you understand the news better.

  • VSSC (Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre), Thiruvananthapuram: This is where the rockets are built. If the news is about a new engine or propellant, it is coming from here.
  • URSC (U R Rao Satellite Centre), Bengaluru: This is where the satellites are built. The Chandrayaan lander was assembled here.
  • ISTRAC (Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network), Bengaluru: The nerve center. This helps track the satellite once it is in space.
  • NRSC (National Remote Sensing Centre), Hyderabad: They process the data. When you see satellite images of floods or forest fires, they come from NRSC.

🎓 For Students: Yuvika and Internships

ISRO is actively looking for the next generation of scientists.

YUVIKA (Yuva Vigyani Karyakram)

  • What is it? A special 2-week residential training program for school students (specifically Class 9).
  • Selection: Based on academic performance and extracurriculars.
  • Experience: Students get to visit the labs, meet top scientists, and see how rockets are made.
  • When to apply: Usually in February/March every year.

Internships

Engineering students (final year) can apply for project work/internships at various ISRO centers. The application process is decentralized—you have to apply to the specific center (like VSSC or SAC) via their respective websites.

💼 The Commercial Arm: NewSpace India Limited (NSIL)

Space is now a business. ISRO has created NSIL to handle the commercial side.

  • Role: If a private company in USA or Singapore wants to launch a satellite, they pay NSIL to put it on an ISRO rocket.
  • LVM3 Commercials: The LVM3 recently launched 36 OneWeb satellites, proving India can compete with SpaceX in the heavy-lift market.

To stay updated on the final frontier:

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. Why does ISRO launch form Sriharikota?

Sriharikota was chosen for two main reasons:

  1. East Coast Location: Rockets are launched eastward to take advantage of the Earth's rotation (which gives an initial speed boost). Launching from the east coast means if the rocket fails, debris falls into the Bay of Bengal, not on land.
  2. Near Equator: It is closer to the equator than other sites in India, which helps in launching geostationary satellites more efficiently.

Q2. What happened to Chandrayaan-3?

It was a massive success! On August 23, 2023, the Vikram lander successfully touched down near the Lunar South Pole, making India the fourth country to land on the Moon and the first to land in the southern polar region. The rover Pragyan explored the surface for 14 Earth days.

Q3. Can I work at ISRO?

Yes. ISRO recruits scientists/engineers primarily through the ICRB (ISRO Centralised Recruitment Board) exam.

  • Eligibility: B.E./B.Tech in Mechanical, Electronics, or Computer Science with a high CGPA.
  • Process: Written Test + Interview.

Q4. What is the difference between ISRO and NASA?

  • Budget: NASA’s budget is approximately 10-15 times larger than ISRO’s.
  • Focus: NASA focuses heavily on deep space exploration and manned missions. ISRO focuses on "Space for Development"—using satellites for agriculture, weather forecasting, and disaster management, though it is now moving into exploration.
  • Cost Efficiency: ISRO is famous for "Frugal Engineering" (e.g., the Mangalyaan mission cost less than the Hollywood movie Gravity).

Q5. Is ISRO privatizing?

No, ISRO is not privatizing, but the government has opened up the space sector to private players (like Skyroot and Agnikul). A new body called IN-SPACe has been created to regulate and encourage private companies to launch their own rockets, allowing ISRO to focus on advanced R&D.

Stay tuned to Sansad Online for the live countdown of the next mission. To infinity and beyond—Indian style.