India made its first rocket launch on November 21 , 1963 . Indian space group list more than 60 events it considers `` milestones '' including the successful test of a missile in December 1962 and the launching of India's first satellite into orbit in January 1964. So far , there have been some 2,200 sounding-rocket launches from that facility , according to the Vikram Sarabhai Space Center . The South Asian nation is seen as being in an Asian space race with China .
India made its first rocket launch on November 21 , 1963 . Indian space group list more than 60 events it considers `` milestones '' including the successful test of a missile in December 1962 and the launching of India's first satellite into orbit in January 1964. The South Asian nation is seen as being in an Asian space race with China .