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.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the April 2017 edition of Geopolitics.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
India's space economy set to soar
India's burgeoning space economy could see a substantial increase in its global share by 2040. At present, India's space sector contributes a modest $8 billion to the overall cake. However, the government has set its sights on an ambitious target, aiming for a five-fold surge in India's share of the global space economy.
CRITICAL NEED TO BOOST CONVENTIONAL SUBMARINE FLEET
VENUGOPAL MENON explains why India cannot afford to view the critical deficiency in Submarine force levels lightly
BEEFING UP OUR SUBMARINE FLEET
In the last week of March, the Indian Navy displayed its submarine prowess. Eight of its submarines operated together in the Western Indian Ocean Region, a first in three decades, and one of its Scorpene submarines sailed to the Andaman Nicobar Islands, overlooking the Malacca Strait, a critical choke point for China. But how is the comparison with China? RITU SHARMA reports
ENHANCING CRUISE MISSILE CAPABILITY
India’s cruise missile capability has largely evolved as a credible conventional level deterrence since the turn of the new millennium. But much more needs to be done, writes AMARTYA SINHA
BOOSTING DEFENCE EXPORTS
Earlier, India was known to be an arms importer. But today, the country has come out of its comfort zone and found a place in the list of top-25 arms exporter nations argues AMARTYA SINHA
ENHANCING INDIA'S AIRBORNE SURVEILLANCE CAPABILITIES
Project NETRA represents a proactive initiative by ISRO to safeguard India's interests in space by mitigating the risks posed by space debris and other hazards, says GIRISH LINGANNA
THE HIMALAYAN TRIANGLE: WHY INDIA KEEPS BHUTAN SAFE FROM CHINA
India, given its special relationship with Bhutan, has been very wary about the possibility of the establishment of diplomatic relations and the signing of a boundary agreement between Bhutan and China, writes SIMRAN SODHI
TROOST, DESAI AND SANCTIONS
The Western sanctions against companies and individuals doing business with Russia have produced a complex set of reactions with lobbyists and shell companies working overtime to beat the rap. A GEOPOLITICS Bureau report
THE KOREA-GATE
India attaches great importance to “three principles of inclusiveness, trust and reciprocity’” for creating the basis for working more closely with like-minded partners in the Indo-Pacific such as the Republic of Korea (ROK), better known as South Korea for “a free, peaceful and prosperous region”. Prakash Nanda dissects the relationship and the way ahead
Pushpak RLV-TD successfully lands autonomously
ISRO achieved another significant milestone in reusable launch vehicle (RLV) technology with the successful landing of Pushpak (RLV-TD), the winged vehicle, autonomously on the runway.