Sky Is Not the Limit for Journey to the Stars

FROM ancient stargazers and astronomers to the invention of zero and grand architectural marvels aligned with celestial events, India's scientific temper was evident long before the space age began.

- HRITHIK KIRAN BAGADE @ Bengaluru

FROM ancient stargazers and astronomers to the invention of zero and grand architectural marvels aligned with celestial events, India's scientific temper was evident long before the space age began. Naturally, this spirit paved the way for advancements in rocketry and space exploration.

After gaining Independence, precisely 78 years ago on August 15, 1947, India emerged onto the global scientific stage just as the Cold War began, and the USA and USSR embarked on a fierce Space Race. While the superpowers competed for supremacy, India took a different path—one rooted in harnessing space technology to address developmental challenges.

That same year, Dr Vikram Sarabhai (1919-1971), hailed as the father of India's space programme, founded the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) in Ahmedabad. He initially focused on cosmic ray and upper-atmosphere research, gradually expanding into broader space science. Sarabhai envisioned that space technology could aid national development, especially in weather forecasting, telecommunications, and resource management.