India’s space sector witnessed a landmark year in 2025, according to the recent update from the Centre. The Department of Space’s year‑end review describes 2025 as a period when India advanced “Space Vision 2047” through technology demonstrations, new partnerships and youth outreach.
One of the most symbolic milestones came on February 11, when the LVM3‑M5 rocket successfully launched the CMS‑03 communication satellite, the heaviest communication satellite ever placed into geosynchronous transfer orbit from Indian soil. CMS‑03 is a multi‑band satellite designed to provide services over a wide oceanic region, including the Indian landmass. The same mission also demonstrated, for the first time, an in‑space restart of the indigenously developed C25 cryogenic upper stage, a capability that “allows for greater mission flexibility” and multi‑orbit deployments.
ISRO successfully conducted a key Integrated Main Parachute Airdrop Test (IMAT) for the Gaganyaan mission at Babina Field Firing Range, Jhansi, on Nov 3, 2025. The test validated the main parachutes under extreme conditions. #ISRO #Gaganyaan
— ISRO (@isro) November 11, 2025
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ISRO and NASA’s joint NISAR mission, launched on GSLV‑F16 on July 30, became “a milestone in Indo‑US space collaboration”, as per the Department of Space. NISAR is the first satellite to use dual‑frequency radar (L‑band and S‑band) to monitor subtle changes in the Earth’s surface, from ice sheets and forests to soil moisture and disasters, providing all‑weather data every 12 days.
The year also saw a major astronomical success, with PRL/ISRO scientists discovering a new sub‑Saturn exoplanet, TOI‑6038A b, using the PARAS‑2 spectrograph in Mount Abu.
Human spaceflight took a big step forward when the Axiom-4 mission carried ‘Gaganyatri’ Shubhanshu Shukla, making him the first Indian to stay and work on the International Space Station. During his 18‑day stay, Shukla completed seven microgravity experiments from Indian institutions, covering muscle regeneration, algal growth, crops, microbes and human performance in space.
Incidentally, Shubhanshu Shukla is also THE WEEK Man of the Year.
ISRO also conducted the first Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT‑01) of the Gaganyaan crew module parachute system and organised the HOPE space-analogue mission in Ladakh’s Tso Kar Valley to simulate Mars‑like conditions for future planetary exploration.
ISRO used satellite data to estimate wheat production in eight major states at 122.724 million tonnes, with the derived sown area closely matching the agriculture ministry statistics. The agency also developed India’s first fully “Make‑in‑India” 32‑bit space‑grade microprocessors (VIKRAM3201 and KALPANA3201), completed a 1,000‑hour life test of an electric propulsion thruster, and led the global “International Charter Space and Major Disasters” for six months, coordinating satellite support for disaster response worldwide.
Major Indian space milestones in 2025
LVM3‑M5 / CMS‑03 communication satellite – February 11, 2025: heaviest Indian communication satellite to GTO; first in‑orbit restart of C25 cryogenic stage.
NISAR Earth‑observation satellite (NASA–ISRO) – July 30, 2025: launch on GSLV‑F16: first dual‑frequency SAR mission for global land and ice monitoring.
Axiom‑4 mission with Shubhanshu Shukla – June–July 2025: first Indian on ISS, 18‑day mission with seven microgravity experiments.
1,000 orbits of POEM‑4 with CROPS‑1 plant growth experiment – March 2025: PSLV fourth stage used as an in‑orbit lab testing robotics, biology, propulsion and in‑orbit AI.
VIKRAM3201 & KALPANA3201 microprocessors – March 5, 2025: first fully Make‑in‑India 32‑bit space microprocessors handed over for launch vehicles and spacecraft.
1,000‑hour life test of Stationary Plasma Thruster (EPS) – March 27, 2025: qualifies electric propulsion for future communication satellites.
GSLV‑F15 / NVS‑02 navigation satellite – January 29, 2025: launch successful, but satellite not fully operationalised due to post‑launch valve issue.
