Out of This World

India's space mission is a lesson in how to conduct complex missions independently

- MADHU KAPPARATH

Aryabhata

India's first satellite, the 360-kg Aryabhata was launched from Kapustin Yar, Soviet Union, using a Kosmos-3M launch vehicle on April 19, 1975.

Named after the noted Indian astronomer, Aryabhata marked the beginning of India's foray into space, providing valuable lessons in satellite design, fabrication, and operation.

SLV-3

Engineers toiled for a decade through the 1970s to emerge with the first Indian-built satellite launch vehicle SLV-3 in 1980, which successfully launched the Rohini satellite.

This mission was a turning point, making India the sixth member of an exclusive club of space-faring nations. By 1983, India would launch the INSAT series of satellites in geostationary orbit that improved its telecommunication network, facilitating the rapid expansion of Doordarshan’s network by linking all regional stations and enabling broadcast from New Delhi to the rest of India.

Rakesh Sharma

IAF's Squadron leader Rakesh Sharma became the first Indian to travel to space, aboard the Soyuz T-11 on April 3, 1984, in a joint mission with the Soviet Interkosmos space programme. Spending a week at the Salyut 7 orbital station, Sharma responded to a query about how India looks from outer space, saying 'Saare jahan se achcha'.

PSLV