The Indian Space Research Organisation is the primary body for space research under the control of the Government of India, and one of the big six advanced space research organizations that dominate space (others are NASA (U.S), RKA (Russia), CNSA (China), ESA (Europe) and JAXA (Japan). It was established in its modern form in 1969.
S. K. Mitra, C.V. Raman and Meghnad Saha are the notable names during Indias formative years of space research. Organized space research in India was spearheaded by two scientists: Vikram Sarabhai—founder of the Physical Research Laboratory at Ahmedabad—and Homi Bhabha, who had played a role in the establishment of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in 1945.Government support became visible by 1950 when the Department of Atomic Energy was founded with Homi Bhabha as secretary. The Department of Atomic Energy provided funding for space research throughout India. Space research was further encouraged by the technically inclined prime minister of India—Jawaharlal Nehru.In 1957, the Soviet Union successfully launched Sputnik and opened up possibilities for the rest of the world to conduct a space launch. Beginning in the 1960s, close ties with the Soviet Union enabled India rapidly to develop its space program and advance nuclear power in India.