"There are some who question the relevance of space activities in a developing nation. To us, there is no ambiguity of purpose. We do not have the fantasy of competing with the economically advanced nations in the exploration of the moon or the planets or manned space-flight. But we are convinced that if we are to play a meaningful role nationally, and in the community of nations, we must be second to none in the application of advanced technologies to the real problems of man and society.
- Dr. Vikram Sarabhai
Image Source: ISRO
The Personal Drive Of ISRO's Founding Father(s)
Image Source: Wikimedia
‘'If he wanted to send someone abroad for training, all he had to do was to make a call. He then turned to us and said ‘you go tomorrow’. By a miracle, the visas and tickets would arrive on the same day”
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‘There were food shortages in India and the US was giving us grain. How could a country which couldn’t even feed itself start building rockets and satellites? They did not think that India would be able to develop the technologies.’
Sarabhai with Kalam at Thumba Image Source: Rediff
Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV) Programs
Satellite Division Systems
The Rockets Being Transported By A Cycle At Thumba And A Satellite Being Taken For A Test On A Bullock Cart.
Consolidation And Structure
UR Rao on the Left and Satish Dhawan in the center Image Source: Frontline
“The press had to be addressed after the flight. When the flight failed, Dhawan went alone and told them that he was responsible for the failure. And when it succeeded, he was missing. He had left it to me to convey the news."
A Model of India's First Sattelite Image Source: ISRO
“I am certain that if we had started copying we would have done things all right, but not done something original. Once again, India’s remote sensing is one of the best in the world because of its coupling with the sociological elements,”
UR Rao, who had spear-headed the satellite program, took over as chairman in 1984 when Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV) experiments were the main focus for ISRO. Subsequent launch vehicle failures of the Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicles saw a comprehensive investigation ordered in 1988, a turning point in the organisation's history . “The ASLV failure was the reason for all the subsequent successes of ISRO,” said Rao as the subsequent ASLV flight launches in 1992 and 1994 proved to be successful and emboldened the organisation to pursue the PSLV and GSLV missions.
1992 also saw the start of an initiative which very few in the Indian mainstream know about- Antrix Corporation, the commercial arm of ISRO.
Image Source: IBN Live
More ‘MOMS?’ We Don’t Know Yet...
Antrix recently signed contracts to launch 16 satellites in six countries over the coming years with developing countries in Asia and Africa such as Indonesia and Algeria. ISRO has also signed agreements with NASA and the Chinese National Space Agency for greater collaboration and cooperation including the Spacecraft Communication and Navigation support for the Mars Mission.
Indian GPS System & A Cryogenic Engine Are On The Cards...
The Indian Regional Navigation System Satellite (IRNSS) Constellation system
GSLV Mark III Image Source: Worldly Post
Why ISRO Deserves Admiration & Support
The Triumphant Team After Mars Orbiter's succesful entry into Mars Image Source: ISRO