Aryabhatta was India’s first satellite, named after the renowned ancient Indian astronomer. Weighing 360 kg, it was launched on April 19, 1975, by the Soviet Union from Kapustin Yar using a Cosmos-3M launch vehicle. The mission marked a significant milestone in India's space program, representing the country’s entry into space research. Aryabhatta was indigenously designed and aimed to test satellite technology and gather scientific data.

The satellite had key objectives, including designing and evaluating a space-worthy system, conducting complex orbital operations, and developing ground-based tracking infrastructure. It also helped establish capabilities for spacecraft fabrication in India. Aryabhatta carried experiments in X-ray astronomy, solar physics, and aeronomy. The satellite re-entered Earth's atmosphere on February 11, 1992, after 17 years in space.