India’s space programme in 2025 celebrates the 50th anniversary of the landmark Satellite Instructional Television Experiment (SITE), a pioneering project that showcased the power of space technology in driving social transformation. Launched on 1 August 1975, SITE brought educational content to 2,400 rural villages using NASA’s ATS-6 satellite, marking India’s first major use of satellites for public welfare.
The initiative introduced modern farming, improved school education, and supported teacher training in remote areas. With localised programming and grassroots involvement, it bridged technological gaps in backward districts and earned global praise, including UNESCO’s Rural Communication Prize.
SITE’s success laid the foundation for India’s focus on using space tech for development — a philosophy driven by Vikram Sarabhai and still evident in ISRO’s current missions like NISAR. The legacy of SITE continues to shape India’s inclusive, practical, and people-first approach to space innovation.
