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 9,000+ 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 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Lessons From Gaza And Lebanon
The ongoing war, loosely called the Gaza War, is actually being fought in two different loosely connected segments; against the Hamas with a spill off in the West Bank and East Jerusalem areas against Palestinian factions and against the Hezbollah in Lebanon with a spill off in Syria. Treating Israel-Hamas War and the Lebanon War as separate entities, RAJ MEHTA explains the lessons from these wars
POSITIVE STEPS TOWARDS POTENTIAL REGIONAL COOPERATION
It has been a whirlwind of diplomatic activity for India recently. India participated in both the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation SCO) summit that took place in Islamabad on October 15-16, and the 16th BRICS Summit was held in Kazan, Russia, from October 2224, 2024. These back-to-back summits within a short span of time underscore India's active role in shaping regional and global diplomacy, balancing national interests with multilateral cooperation
THE EAGLE'S EYE TEJAS MK-II RADAR PIERCES VEIL OF THE SKY
The Tejas Mk-II, featuring DRDO's GaN-based Uttam AESA radar, marks a major leap in India's defence, enhancing range, precision, and multi-target tracking capabilities, highlights GIRISH LINGANNA
PRIME MOVER
The indigenously developed Wheeled Armoured Platform (WhAP) has received a boost with its first export order from the Kingdom of Morocco
TRANSFORMATIONAL INDUCTION
The GA-ASI MQ-9B will dramatically enhance the ISR and precision strike capabilities of the Indian armed forces
TACAN PRINCIPLES OF OPERATION
Navigation systems have evolved significantly since the Viking era, with Tactical Air Navigation TACAN) now widely used for air and sea travel. Post-World War Il, reliable systems became essential for safety and efficiency, as highlighted by DR. SUJAN KUMAR SARASWATI, in this article on TACAN’s operational principles.
AIRBORNE TRACKER
Indigenous efforts towards AEW&C and AWACS platforms need to be stepped up even as international programmes extend the current state-of-the-art for such aircraft, highlights
AFFORDABLE LETHALITY THE INDIAN DILEMMA
India's defence dilemma is now being complicated by the lessons learnt in the Ukraine and Gaza wars because these conflicts are reshaping the way wars are fought in the modern world.
FROM IMPORTS TO SELF-RELIANCE IN ARMS
Self-reliance in Defence Production needs new ideas, new definitions _es and an appropriate methodology, argues AMIT COWSHISH
"THE INDIAN AIR FORCE IS WORKING HARD TO REMAIN A CREDIBLE AIR FORCE"
Commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force on December 21, 1984, Air Chief Marshal AMAR PREET SINGH PVSM AVSM took over as the 28th Air Chief of India on September 30, 2024.
