When it started 40 years back, the only investments were the sky high dreams and the extreme confidence that ISRO had in its talented scientists. The growth and dreams of the Indian Space Research organization over the decades are awe inspiring.
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Author: Shabu Prasad
When it start 40 years back, the only investment were the sky high dreams and the extreme confidence on the talent of the scientists. A small sounding rocket which transported to the launch pad with bicycle was roaring up to the space dreams of India.
It was only a humble start in a small a village near Trivandrum. The resources were the talents and limited budget. By the time, USA and USSR were already started the competition for space. Being a nation which struggling to move ahead with a high population, poverty, illiteracy etc, India had to think hundred times before engaging such a high investment and technology demanding field. In spite of all odds, the political leadership has given the green signal for the great vision of Dr.Vikram Sarabhai, the legendary founder of ISRO.
Fortunately, Dr.Sarabhai got a team of talents like Dr.APJ.Abdul Kalam, Dr.Sathish Dhawan, Mr. Madhavan Nair etc to fulfill the dreams. The first Indian satellite “Aryabhatta” has launched from Soviet Union in 1975 and “Bhaskara” succeeded in 1977. Those are very small satellites of 35Kg. That time a team led by Dr.Kalam was engaged in developing a Rocket which capable to carry satellites of the 35Kg class into a 100km orbit. The first developmental flight of SLV was a failure. But the team got more energy from the lessons of this failure and succeeded to a thrilled success after two years. By, this successful flight, India has entered the mighty space club which include only six nations having a technological capability to launch satellites with own vehicles.
After two more successful flights of SLV, the need of powerful rockets which had more payload capacity and higher orbit were became essential. The first two flights of ASLV (Augmented satellite launch vehicle) were again failed and the projects delayed much due to this. Finally ISRO succeeded and the time of PSLV (Polar satellite launch vehicle) has arrived. After the failure of its first developmental flight, now PSLV is considered as one of most trusted launch vehicles in the world.
Same time, we became independent to build all kind of satellites for communication, remote sensing, atmospheric studies, education etc. INSAT series is now considered as one of most efficient communication networks. Our technology is well proved and precise to build multipurpose satellites and the components. USA is the main market of the data from our remote sensing satellites and ISRO is now able to produce revenue of Rs.900.00 Cr per annum.
Even though, ISRO was capable of building satellites, we were not able to launch INSAT kind of heavy satellites and depend the Arian rocket of European Space agency. Needed more powerful vehicles equipped with Cryogenic technology to place heavy satellites to geo synchronous* orbits. We entered in a contract with Russian space agency Glavcosmos to provide the cryogenic engine and technology. But due to extreme protest from USA under MTCR (Missile technology control regime), they were withdrawn from the contract to transfer the technology but provide few engines. So we forced to develop the technology our own and ISRO crossed another milestone in this regard a few years ago. But, all these things made unwanted delay in GSLV (Geo synchronous satellite launch vehicle) project. Now ISRO is totally independent to launch our communication satellites with our own vehicle. A more powerful vehicle can carry a payload of 4000kg is under development which meant for manned missions.
Relevance of Chandrayan
In a cloudy but clear sky of strong monsoon morning, 22nd October 2008 has witnessed another golden milestone for ISRO. 44 meter long PSLV has placed the first moon mission space craft “Chandrayan” to orbit with text book precision. The mission last two years and a moon impact probe will crash land on lunar surface to search the sources of water and other elements.
Lot of eyebrows have already risen regarding the huge investment and relevance of such mission. Being an under developed nation, is it so appreciable to be a part of the unhealthy race for space? Is it to be welcome the missions which dropped by USA and USSR decades back due to the huge liabilities by the unworthy investments. For each manned mission, USA was spending around 25 billion dolor. Instead of such missions, India has to concentrate more to explore space with commercially viable projects. Its not at all advisable to waste our brain and wealth in this distant hollow celestial object and let it be continue as a source of imagination for poets and artists.
Yes, doubts are partially sensible. USA and USSR were spent a huge on lunar surface. All those missions were at the peak of cold war and they never had any objectives other than the competition for the leadership. Both of them taken the space missions just like the participants in an athletic meet. Obviously, scientific goals were sidelined. That is the reason why, we don’t have a complete atlas of moon even today.
Natural sources of energy such as petroleum and coal are going down alarmingly. We have to find out some replacement for future generation. Controlled nuclear fusion is under development. Helium-3, the very rarely available element in earth is the main fuel of nuclear fusion. Lunar surface is considered very rich with Helium-3. If possible to transport the element to earth, it will be a successful replacement of our conventional energy sources. The process is still in concept stage and a long way to go ahead technologically to explore this great opportunity. As per the available data, moon surface have helium-3 deposit which can meet our energy needs for next 1000 years. Only this fact is enough to justify the investment on Lunar missions.
During the interplanetary missions which planned in 30 years, moon will be an intermediate station. Because, launch and control from moon is very easy and economical because of the low gravitation. For setting up a station, first we need a complete atlas about the surface.Chandrayan is the first mission which going to prepare a three dimensional atlas of entire lunar surface. The moon impact probe which supposed to crash land in the moon will give valuable information regarding the presence of various available elements. In the next mission after two years one probe will soft land on moon and engage in various experiments.
So, its not going to be a dead investment. Beneficiaries may be next generation. Dr Vikram Sarabhai and his humble team had faced lot of such blames during the embryo stage of Indian space programme. Now same such people blaming new project by using internet and television talk shows. Every time sending a sms, sending a criticism through email, the same people engage with a distant satellite which silently serving us in deep solitude. Dr.Sarabhai and other great visionaries may have a satisfactory smile from the other world.
As a decisive nation which has a great roll in the future of mankind, India cant be a silent spectator in this technological sojourn. The opportunities and the gifts of God are limitless as space. Only question is, weather we try it or not. We chosen the answer which God like, yes we want it.
The mind blowing facts about Chandrayan
- This is one among very few lunar missions ever conducted which 100% success in the first attempt. More than 30% of the initial attempts made by USA and USSR were failed during launch, by loosing control over the vessel in deep space, when to enter the lunar orbit by high tricky maneuverings. At this stage, the speed of the vessel should come down to get cached by the gravity of moon. If not, the vessel will lose to deep space for ever. If the speed comes very low, it will crash to lunar surface instead of orbiting moon. So, to get that optimum speed is the major challenge in every lunar mission.
- Chandrayan is going to prepare the first lunar atlas in three dimensions. No other missions by any nation tried on this.
- This is the first mission which going to conduct comprehensive study about moon such as the presence of water, Helium 3, other minerals etc. That’s why several equipments from other nations also integrated with vessel. The future informations from it will be very helpful in future missions and to make moon as interim station during inter planetary missions.
* Geo synchronous orbit – This is the orbit which the satellite has the velocity same as earths rotation 24 hours. This orbit is 36,800 km high. Satellite in this orbit will always target one point in earth. And we feel that satellite is at same position. All communication satellites are positioned in this orbit.
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