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Last updated on: 19-Aug-2023
Scientific Payloads
Starting with ground based and balloon borne experiments in the 1940s, the Indian space science research activities were actually initiated with the launching of sounding rockets from the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS) in 1963 to measure the equatorial electrojet parameters. Since then large number of rocket and balloon borne experiments have provided new data on upper atmospheric phenomena, cosmic rays and energetic x-ray and gamma rays. With the advent of satellite era, scientific experimental payloads have been launched starting from the first Indian satellite Aryabhata.
| Payload | Functional description | Project | |
| X-ray Aeronomy Solar Neutrons & Gamma | X-Ray Aeronomy experiment Solar Neutrons & Gamma detection | Space astronomy | Aryabhata |
| Astronomy/stellar | X-ray, Gamma ray Detection | Space astronomy | Rohini Satellites |
| IXAP | Indian X-Ray Astronomy Payload (IXAP) | Space astronomy | IRS-P3 |
| SOLRAD | Solar Radiation Monitor | Space astronomy | Youthsat |
| LiHySI, | Limb-View Hyper spectral Imager | Space astronomy | Youthsat |
| RaBIT | Radio Beacon for Ionospheric tomogram | Ionospheric studies | Youthsat |
| TMC | Terrain Mapping Camera | information about the surface features for 3D imaging of Lunar surface | Chandrayaan-1 |
| LLRI | Lunar Laser Ranging Instrument (LLRI) | for determining accurate altitude of the spacecraft above the lunar surface for topographical mapping | Chandrayaan-1 |
| HEX | High Energy X-ray payload (HEX) | for measuring210Pb, 222Rn degassing, U, Th etc | Chandrayaan-1 |
| MIP | Moon Impact Probe(MIP) | payload for exploration of the moon from close range and impacting on the moon | Chandrayaan-1 |
| LEX | Low Energy X-ray (LEX) Payload (CIXS). | Space astronomy - X-ray spectrometer | Chandrayaan-1 |
| MINISAR | Mini SAR | for detection of water ice in thepermanently shadowed regions on theLunar poles up to a depth of a fewmeters | Chandrayaan-1 |
| SIR-2 | Near InfraredSpectrometer | Investigations of the process of basin,Maria and crater formation on theMoon | Chandrayaan-1 |
| RaDoM | Radiation Dose monitor | To qualitatively and quantitativelycharacterize, in terms of particle flux, dose rate and deposited energyspectrum, the radiation environment in near moon space | Chandrayaan-1 |
| SARA | Sub-KeV Atom Reflecting Analyser | for imaging the Moon surface usinglow energy neutral atoms asdiagnostics in the energy range 10eV-2keV | Chandrayaan-1 |
| MMM | Moon Mineralogy Mapper | spectrometer for characterization andmapping lunar surface mineralogy in the context of lunar geological evolution | Chandrayaan-1 |
| LAP | Lyman Alpha Photometer | absorption cell photometer | MOM |
| MSM | Methane Sensor for Mars | Measures Methane (CH4) in the Martian atmosphere | MOM |
| MENCA | Mars Exospheric Neutral Composition Analyser | a quadruple mass spectrometer capable of analysing the neutral composition in the range of 1 to 300 amu with unit mass resolution | MOM |
| MCC | Mars Color Camera | images & information about the surface features and composition of Martian surface | MOM |
| TIRIS | Thermal Infrared Imaging Spectrometer | Measure the thermal emission and can be operated during both day and night. | MOM |
| SHAPE | Spectro-polarimetry of HAbitable Planet Earth | An experimental payload onboard c Mission for the study of spectro-polarimetric signatures of Earth in the near-infrared (NIR) wavelength range (1.0 – 1.7 μm). | Chandrayaan-3 |