YEARENDER: 7 Indian space achievements of 2025 — SpaDeX, an Indian at ISS, 100th mission
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) achieved several new milestones in the year 2025. The successful docking of two SpaDeX satellites, the space agency's 100th mission, and having the first Indian at the ISS are among the few that had the Indian flag flying high in 2025.
ISRO has over 200 successful space missions in 2025
ISRO noted that between 2015 and 2025, the number of missions was nearly double that of what was achieved between 2005–2015. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman V Narayanan said, "From January until now, over 200 significant accomplishments have been made under the visionary leadership of our Prime Minister Narendra Modi."
SpaDeX (Space Docking Experiment) — first in-space docking by India
In January this year, India successfully carried out in-space docking using its own docking system. It became only the fourth country to do so. On 16 January 2025, ISRO completed the docking of the two SpaDeX satellites (SDX-01 & SDX-02). The achievement is a crucial step for future Indian space missions as it aims to land humans on the moon and establish a space station.
100th rocket launch from Sriharikota: GSLV-F15 carrying NVS-02
On 29 January 2025, ISRO launched NVS-02 aboard the GSLV-F15 rocket, marking the 100th mission from its Sriharikota spaceport. NVS-02 was successfully placed into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO), boosting India's navigation-satellite infrastructure. Although it faced a slight hiccup as its orbit-raising motor failed to activate, it couldn't be placed in the intended orbit.
NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR)
ISRO and NASA joined hands to launch the first radar imaging satellite to use dual frequencies. They co-developed and launched the Earth observation satellite (EOS), called the NISAR mission. It will observe and measure disturbances in the ecosystem, ice-sheet collapse, and earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes and landslides.
Propagation of scientific data from Aditya-L1
Aditya-L1 is India's first space-based solar observatory and is placed at the Sun-Earth L1 Lagrange point. In 2025, ISRO released about 15 terabytes of scientific data from the Aditya-L1 solar mission for scientific global use. This data will help advance solar and space-weather research.
Advances in propulsion and cryogenic-stage development
India made advances in the propulsion and cryogenic stage development in 2025. On 28 March 2025, ISRO performed a successful “hot test” of its semi-cryogenic engine (SE2000) in intermediate configuration, a step that will advance India's propulsion technology.
LVM3‑M5 / CMS-03 mission
Then, in November 2025, during the LVM3‑M5 / CMS-03 mission, ISRO successfully tested the in-orbit ignition of the C25 cryogenic upper stage. This event showed that India was surging ahead in the cryogenic rocket-stage design and gaining more control in space.
First Indian at the International Space Station
One of the most notable milestones in 2025 for India was to have the first Indian astronaut at the International Space Station. Shubhanshu Shukla was the first ISRO astronaut at the ISS and went there as part of the Axiom 4 mission. He spent approximately 18 days in space, making Indians across the globe proud.
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