Indian Space Programme began at Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS) located at Thumba near Thiruvananthapuram.

ISRO was formed on August 15, 1969.

Department of Space (DOS) and the Space Commission were set up in 1972. ISRO was brought under DOS on June 1, 1972.

Space Commission formulates the policies and oversees the implementation of the Indian space programme to promote the development and application of space science and technology for the socio-economic benefit of the country. Department of Space (DoS) implements these programmes through, mainly, ISRO, Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), National Atmospheric Research Laboratory (NARL), North Eastern-Space Applications Centre (NE-SAC) and Semi-Conductor Laboratory (SCL). Antrix Corporation Ltd., and NewSpace India Limited, Government owned Public Sector Units are set up for commercialization of R&D activities of DoS/ISRO.

There are seven major Centres and several other Units, Facilities and Laboratories spread across the country.

Design and development of launch vehicle technology at VSSC,; Satellites are designed and developed at URSC; SDSC SHAR provides Launch Base Infrastructure for launch; Development of liquid stages and cryogenic stage is carried out at LPSC, Sensors for Communication and Remote Sensing satellites and application aspects of the space technology are taken up at SAC; Remote Sensing satellite data reception processing and dissemination by NRSC and HSFC for the execution of Gaganyaan programme and to take up sustained activities in human space flight arena.