So, here we are again, another rocket’s ready for take-off, and once again, ISRO has gone full stealth mode. On July 30, 2025, India is set to launch NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar), a crazy collaboration with NASA that’ll scan the Earth like never before, using super advanced radar tech. It’s big, it’s global, it’s the kind of thing you would expect the whole country to be going crazy about.
But who’s actually talking about it? Well, not ISRO.
Instead, the internet, led by space geeks, brand strategists, advertising folks, and random meme lords on X, is doing what ISRO won’t: marketing the mission. Enter the viral trend #IsroFixYourPR, where users are politely (and not-so-politely) asking India’s beloved space agency to do the one thing it seems consistently lacking behind: telling its own story.
Because honestly, in a country where a single reel of Shah Rukh Khan sipping Thums Up can go viral in minutes, it’s almost tragic that a historic Indo-US satellite launch barely makes a ripple.
And let’s be real, more people probably know the lyrics to Saiyaara than the name NISAR. Which is ironic, because ISRO literally launched India’s Mars mission for less money than Sanju’s box office collection.
A Big Launch That’s… Weirdly Quiet
Let’s talk about NISAR. This isn’t your average “put-something-in-orbit” gig. It’s a high-stakes Earth observation mission designed to track climate change, melting glaciers, forest health, and earthquakes. Basically, a space-powered stethoscope for the planet.
Developed jointly by NASA and ISRO, it’s a rare example of two scientific powerhouses pooling resources and brains for the good of Earth.
Now imagine if this were a Marvel movie.
NASA, of course, is playing the part of the flashy American superhero, posting slick animations, countdown stories, behind-the-scenes peeks, and even satellite selfies (yes, that’s a thing). ISRO? It’s like the low-key genius in the background mumbling complex equations while refusing to make eye contact.
No Instagram or X build-up, no “meet the scientist” video, no teaser campaign. Just a date. Maybe a PDF or two if you go digging through the official website.
That’s why #IsroFixYourPR took off faster than a PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) on a clear day. It’s not that people are mocking ISRO. It’s that they’re frustrated. Proud, yes, but also exasperated. Because in 2025, when even toothpaste brands know how to ride a trend, how is ISRO still this shy?
This Isn’t a One-Off. ISRO’s Been Quiet For Too Long
This lack of communication isn’t new. It has happened before.
Remember Chandrayaan-2 in 2019? The mission made international headlines, and India was on the edge of its seat. But the lead-up? Bland. No trailers, no emotional build-up, no cool visuals showing the lander’s journey. The only truly human moment came when Prime Minister Narendra Modi hugged a tearful ISRO Chief K. Sivan post the Vikram lander’s crash. It was raw, it was real, and people finally felt something.
Then there was Mangalyaan in 2014. We became the first Asian nation to reach Mars, and we did it on a budget tighter than a Mumbai 1BHK. The world was stunned. But ISRO? It gave us a press release and quietly went back to work.
We should’ve had posters. Documentaries. Maybe even Mangalyaan-branded notebooks in every school. Instead, we had… a few blurry news clips and that one iconic image of saree-clad scientists throwing petals.
Proud moment for the country but let’s be real, the follow-up could have been better.
When Bad PR Drowns Great Brands
ISRO might think it’s above PR, but history has shown, even the most trusted names can fall hard without it.
Take Maggi. For decades, it was India’s ultimate comfort food. Then came the 2015 lead scare. Panic spread like wildfire. Nestlé India took far too long to respond. And when they finally did, it was corporate and cold. The silence gave birth to confusion, conspiracy theories, and one of the worst PR nightmares in Indian FMCG history. Maggi eventually bounced back, but not before a massive product recall, legal battles, and a gaping hole in public trust.
Then there’s Jet Airways. Once the gold standard of Indian aviation, it lost the plot not just financially, but emotionally. Customers found out their flights were cancelled through news articles and airport screens, not from the airline. Jet’s radio silence turned sympathy into frustration, and by the time they tried to speak up, the damage was done.
And how can we forget Ola. Back in 2022, when videos of Ola Electric scooters catching fire started doing the rounds, especially that chilling video from Pune, people were understandably scared. Social media exploded with questions, but Ola stayed oddly quiet at first. No heartfelt message from the leadership, no real attempt to ease public worry. Eventually, the brand did release statements and promised investigations, but by then, the damage was done. Not just to the scooters, but to the trust. In moments like these, people don’t just want tech jargon or formal notes, they want honesty, reassurance, and a sense that someone’s actually listening. And in Ola’s case, that moment was missed.
These are all reminders for ISRO: PR isn’t fluff. It’s survival. It’s a memory. It’s a connection.
So What Can ISRO Do?
It’s not like ISRO needs to turn into a meme factory. But a little creativity won’t kill the scientific spirit. And the good news? India’s marketing minds are more than ready to help.
Imagine this: A campaign showing young kids playing with rocket toys made from household scraps, cutting to real ISRO engineers who once dreamed the same way.
Or a voiceover from R. Madhavan (yes, we saw Rocketry) narrating NISAR’s journey with soaring visuals, heart, and a bit of desi drama.
Or maybe a quirky animated reel explaining SAR technology using a dosa and coconut chutney, because why not?
Advertising and PR agencies could help craft everything from emotional launch campaigns to crisp school modules, celebrity shoutouts, YouTube explainers, and even Spotify podcasts featuring ISRO scientists breaking it all down in layman’s terms.
No one’s asking ISRO to start selling t-shirts (tho honestly people would buy them). What people are asking for is more visibility – for the agency to speak loudly, proudly, and more often about its incredible work.
ISRO’s Point of View: Why So Quiet?
Now before we all get too caught up with hashtags and hot takes, it’s only fair to ask, what if the quiet is intentional?
ISRO’s lowkey vibe isn’t just a fluke or a case of ignoring PR, it’s kind of who they are. For decades, the space agency has worked in a culture that values humility, scientific focus, and a “let the work speak for itself” mindset. It’s never been about showmanship. You won’t find dramatic mission trailers or merch drops. And honestly? There’s a certain dignity to that. Some insiders even say too much hype can backfire, space missions are delicate, uncertain, and public pressure can sometimes do more harm than good. So staying grounded, in more ways than one, might be part of ISRO’s DNA.
Then there’s the practical stuff. Unlike NASA, which has entire teams (and budgets) dedicated to storytelling, ISRO is a government agency that’s always had to prioritise mission over marketing. Every rupee goes into rockets, not reels. And that’s understandable. You can’t expect a Mars mission and a Marvel-level media campaign on the same budget line.
But here’s the twist. We’ve seen glimpses of what ISRO can do when it wants to. Remember Chandrayaan-3? That livestream brought the whole country to a standstill. People were cheering, crying, posting, and proudly forwarding the moment like it was a World Cup final.
It showed us that when ISRO lets the public in, even just a little, the connection is powerful. The silence isn’t a weakness, it’s a choice. But maybe, just maybe, it’s time to choose a little more noise.
