ISRO was established in 1969 and built India's first satellite called Aryabhata. Dr. Vikram Sarabhai is considered the father of India's space program, having established organizations that led to the formation of ISRO. Key accomplishments of ISRO include launching the first satellite in 1975, developing launch vehicles like the PSLV and GSLV, and successfully sending a Mars orbiter on its first attempt in 2014, making India the first nation to do so.