ISRO: Days of Foundation

ISRO is the Indian Space Research Organization by definition, but in reality it is much more than that. ISRO is inspiring a new generation of Indian Space Scientists and giving them platforms to learn and communicate with people from the same community. ISRO more like Inspirational Space Research Organization…

This Blog is a part of a series on the History of ISRO, and covers the first period of ISRO’s History. Enjoy!

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Days of Foundation

 Surprisingly, India’s aspirations for conquering space are actually quite old! Scientist S.K. Mitra was in talks with the Indian congress to make a Indian Space Agency when India becomes a free country as early as 1943!! He was one of the first Indian Scientist to perform small tests that paved the way for future of space in India.

By 1954, Scientists such as C.V. Raman and Meghnad Saha were tasked with the necessary preparations to start an Indian Space Agency and check the practicality of funding one. A small team of scientists worked day and night discovering ways to make an Indian Space Agency possible.

One of the most legendary Periods of Indian Space History followed suit. Scientists such as Dr. Homi Bhabha and Vikram Sarabhai Started to put together the concept of ISRO, piece by piece. In the summer of 1960, the Indian National Committee for Space Research was also formed under the leadership of Vikram Sarabhai himself and physicist Kalpathi Ramakrishna Ramanathan.

Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, A.K.A The Father of the Indian Space Program. Credit to the Economic Times.

From 1962-1969 The basic technologies for India conquering space were developed and a series of practical experiments of the same were conducted. Centers of Space Research and Infrastructure was established for India to conduct further space research.

1. In 1962, the Indian National Committee for Space Research was formed under the leadership of Vikram Sarabhai and physicist Kalpathi Ramakrishna Ramanathan.
2. In 1963, the first sounding rocket was launched from Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station in Kerala which was used for probing upper atmospheric regions and space research. It marked the beginning of the Indian space program.
3. Space Science and Technology Centre (SSTC) was established in Thumba on 1 Jan, 1965.
4. From 1967-1968 two Satellite Communication centers were built in Ahmedabad which were essential to communicate with satellites for space missions.
5. Finally, in 1969, India Created the Indian Space Research Organization for further space research.

The Vikram Sarabhai Space Center. Credit to The Hindustan Times

Brought to you by Vasurva Wadajkar and Aerospace With Vasurva

India has the tech, will and drive to venture out of comfort and reach space, but with dwindling resources would it be able to achieve this decades-long dream? Will the “Optimistic” approach of ISRO (as the west stated it) fail? Will India’s Rohini mission go well? Will ISRO be able to survive on the little it has been given? Will ISRO win the Struggle?  Keep reading my blog series on the History of ISRO to find out!