Giant leap in space technology

 

 

The successful launching of Aryabhatta, our first experimental scientific satellite, into a near earth orbit on April 19, 1975, heralded the entry of India into the space age. Named after our most illustrious ancient astronomer and mathematician, the 358 kg satellite was built by dedicated and highly motivated young scientists and engineers, in a record time of less than three years in the industrial sheds of Peenya, on the outskirts of Bangalore. The firm foundation laid by the successful launch of Aryabhatta enabled Indian Space Research Organisation scientists to take up the higher challenge of building complex, state-of-the-art communication and remote sensing satellites.

During the last three decades following Aryabhatta's launch, India has successfully launched 48 artificial satellites, about half of them from our own spaceport in Sriharikota. The INSAT series of geostationary satellites, which initiated the communication revolution in India in 1983, has now grown to become the largest communication satellite system in the Asia-Pacific region, providing vital services in telecommunication, TV broadcasting, education, weather monitoring and disaster management. The Indian Remote Sensing Satellite (IRS) has become the backbone for optimal management of our natural resources, including water, agriculture, forestry, fisheries and environment.

The journey, which started with Aryabhatta, has enabled India to become a major global space power, providing the most cost-effective services in number of areas of direct relevance for improving the quality of life in our nation. (1975)

Prof UR Rao Chairman, PRL Council, ISRO-DOS; Former Chairman, Space Commission; Former Secretary, Department of Space