India's Space Odyssey

From taking its first baby steps in Thumba, India's epic space trek has crossed several mega frontiers.

 

- K V Venkatasubramanian

The successful delivery ofIndia's heaviest high-techGeostationary Communication Satellite (GSAT-19) into a geosynchronous transfer orbit early in June by the most powerful indigenous rocket GSLV Mark-III has propelled the country into the league of big achievers in space technology. It has also paved the way for the first manned mission.

The June 5 launch came after the GSLV Mark-III's first experimental flight on December 18, 2014, which carried a prototype crew capsule. The suborbital mission helped scientists understand the vehicle's performance in the atmosphere and test the capsule.

For the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), this was the third feather in its cap - an astounding and memorable feat - this year. It fulfilled the country's long quest to develop its own economical but effective cryogenic engine and inject heavy geostationary satellites up to 4,000 kg into orbit at 36,000 km in space.

Earlier, on May 5, India presented a "priceless gift" to Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, the Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka by launching the first-ever South Asia Satellite (SAS) to boost communication and improve disaster links among its six neighbours. The 2,230-kg communication spacecraft "opened up new horizons of engagement" in the region and helped India carve a unique place for itself in space diplomacy. Built by ISRO and funded entirely by India, the Geostationary Communication Satellite-9 (GSAT-9) was hauled on board the GSLV-F09 rocket.

In February, the space agency made world headlines by using a polar satellite launch vehicle (PSLV C37) to slingshot a record 104 satellites, including the Cartosat-2 series satellite, into orbit. The masterstroke established India as the launch service provider for small satellites.