# Aryabhata

> India's first satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q19706](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q19706)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aryabhata_(satellite))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/aryabhata-q19706

## Summary
Aryabhata was India's first satellite, launched on April 19, 1975. Built and operated by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), it was a 360-kilogram research satellite named after the ancient Indian mathematician Aryabhata. The spacecraft conducted scientific research in low Earth orbit until it re-entered the atmosphere in 1992.

## Key Facts
- **Identity:** India's first satellite; classified as a research satellite (COSPAR ID: 1975-033A).
- **Launch Date:** April 19, 1975, at 07:58:55 UTC.
- **Launch Vehicle:** Kosmos-3M (Russian rocket), launched from Kapustin Yar.
- **Operator/Manufacturer:** Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
- **Mass:** 360 kilograms.
- **Orbital Parameters:** Apoapsis of 619 km; Periapsis of 563 km; Orbital period of 96.46 minutes; Inclination of 50.7 degrees.
- **End of Mission:** Atmospheric entry (decay) occurred on February 11, 1992.
- **Namesake:** Named after the mathematician Aryabhata.
- **Alternate Name:** Aryabhatta.

## FAQs
### Q: When was Aryabhata launched?
A: Aryabhata was launched on April 19, 1975, at 07:58:55 UTC. It was sent into orbit using a Russian Kosmos-3M rocket from the Kapustin Yar launch site.

### Q: Who built and operated the Aryabhata satellite?
A: The satellite was manufactured, owned, and operated by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

### Q: How long did Aryabhata remain in orbit?
A: The satellite remained in orbit until it decayed and underwent atmospheric entry on February 11, 1992, nearly 17 years after its launch.

### Q: What were the physical characteristics of the satellite?
A: The satellite had a mass of 360 kilograms and was designed to orbit in a low Earth orbit with a period of approximately 96.46 minutes.

## Why It Matters
Aryabhata holds a monumental place in the history of space exploration as the milestone that marked India's entry into the space age. As the nation's first satellite, it validated the capabilities of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to design, build, and operate complex spacecraft systems. Launched aboard a Soviet rocket during a era of significant geopolitical collaboration, it demonstrated India's technological ambition and established the foundational infrastructure for the country's future indigenous launch capabilities.

The mission provided critical experience in spacecraft integration, telemetry, and tracking, serving as a learning platform for subsequent, more advanced missions. While it was a scientific research satellite intended to study outer space, its primary legacy lies in its role as a technological demonstrator. By successfully functioning in a low Earth orbit with specific inclination and periapsis/apoapsis parameters, Aryabhata paved the way for India’s self-reliance in space technology, influencing the development of communication and remote sensing satellites that followed.

## Notable For
- **First of its Kind:** Being India's very first artificial satellite.
- **Indigenous Design:** Being designed and manufactured entirely in India by ISRO, despite being launched on a foreign rocket.
- **Historical Namesake:** Being named after the pioneering Indian mathematician-astronomer Aryabhata.
- **International Collaboration:** Launching via a Soviet Kosmos-3M rocket, highlighting early Indo-Soviet space cooperation.
- **Long Orbital Life:** Remaining in orbit for nearly 17 years before natural orbital decay caused atmospheric entry in 1992.

## Body
### Development and Identity
Aryabhata (COSPAR ID: 1975-033A) was a research satellite constructed to conduct scientific experiments in space. It is identified in catalogs by the SCN value 07752 and NSSDCA ID 1975-033A. The entity is sometimes aliased as "Aryabhatta" and is categorized as an instance of a research satellite. The project was executed entirely under the aegis of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), which served as the manufacturer, owner, and operator.

### Launch Details
The satellite was successfully launched on **April 19, 1975**, precisely at **07:58:55** time.
- **Launch Site:** Kapustin Yar.
- **Launch Vehicle:** Kosmos-3M (a Russian rocket).
- **Vehicle Specifics:** The specific launch configuration included the identifier 53731-279.

### Technical Specifications
The spacecraft was engineered to operate in a specific low Earth orbit to facilitate its research objectives.
- **Mass:** 360 kilograms.
- **Orbital Geometry:**
    - **Apoapsis:** 619 kilometres.
    - **Periapsis:** 563 kilometres.
    - **Inclination:** 50.7 degrees.
    - **Orbital Period:** 96.46 minutes.

### Mission Timeline and Conclusion
Following its launch in 1975, the satellite completed its operational phase and continued to orbit Earth for nearly two decades. The mission formally concluded with the satellite's decay.
- **Significant Event:** A rocket launch event recorded at Kapustin Yar on April 19, 1975.
- **Decay:** The satellite underwent uncontrolled atmospheric entry on **February 11, 1992**, as recorded by tracking data.

## References

1. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/aryabhata-1.htm)
2. [Source](https://web.archive.org/web/20091027104057/http://geocities.com/hari_ghk/arya.htm)
3. Jonathan's Space Report
4. [Source](https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/gk-current-affairs/story/aryabhata-318688-2016-04-19)
5. [Source](https://www.n2yo.com/satellite/?s=07752)
6. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
7. [Source](https://www.isro.gov.in/Spacecraft/aryabhata-1)