The ISRO saga is a story of achievements. From its humble origins – when rocket parts were carried on bicycles and bullock carts – the organization has come a long way. Today, India can hold her head high among space research nations because of the spectacular feats by ISRO. ISRO is not just a space research institution, but it is much more than that.
India's most visible scientific and engineering achievements have come from the space sector. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is a model today for every other sector that has a large scientific research and development requirement. It is not uncommon in India to speak of emulating the ISRO when it comes to achieving scientific successes in the technology sectors.
No wonder, India's greatest scientist and the most loved President is from the space sector background, originally. Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam was originally a space engineer from ISRO, who shifted to defence research and development. He later went on to occupy the highest constitutional post in India is now a matter of pride for all Indians.
It is but natural that we will trace the achievements of ISRO, and in its preceding avatars, over the last six decades at a time it has scripted history in February 2017 by launching successfully 104 satellites in one go using the workhorse of ISRO's space launches, the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). The launch was achieved from Sriharikota in southern Andhra Pradesh, from where India has launched most of its satellites over the years.
Among these 104 satellites were 88 from the San Francisco-based Plant Labs, as well as others built by companies and universities in Israel, Kazakhstan, Switzerland and the United Arab Emirates. This is a record that is going to be difficult to match for years to come. These satellites will be used to map the Earth, track ships to monitor illegal fishing and piracy, as well as conduct microgravity experiments without making an expensive trip out to the International Space Station. The heaviest of them, India's Cartosat 2D, weighs 714 kg. The lightest, the Nayif, weighs just 1.1 kg.
This story is from the April 2017 edition of Geopolitics.
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This story is from the April 2017 edition of Geopolitics.
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