ISRO’s giant leap: From tiny 1963 rocket to launching 6,500 kg US-built satellite

After marking a humble beginning in the Indian space programme with a tiny rocket supplied by the United States, ISRO would launch a 6,500 kg communication satellite built by the US in the next couple of months, the chairman of the space agency, V Narayanan, said on Sunday.

Following the historic launch of NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission onboard a GSLV-F16 rocket on July 30, ISRO would be launching another satellite for the United States, he said at an event near Chennai.

Narayanan, who is also the secretary of the Department of Space, was presented with the honorary degree of Doctor of Science, by the Governor of Maharashtra CP Radhakrishnan, during the 21st convocation of SRM Institute of Science and Technology at Kattankulathur near Chennai.

In his acceptance speech, Narayanan recalled that ISRO was set up in 1963 and the country was 6-7 years behind advanced countries then. In the same year, a tiny rocket was donated by the United States, marking the beginnings of the Indian Space Programme. “It was on November 21, 1963,” he said.

In 1975, through satellite data given by the US, ISRO demonstrated ‘mass communication’ by keeping 2,400 television sets across 2,400 villages of six Indian states, he said.

“From that (kind of humble beginnings), July 30 was a historical day for the Indian space programme. We have launched the NISAR satellite. The costliest satellite ever built in the world. The L Band SAR payload from the USA and S Band payload provided by ISRO. The satellite was placed in orbit precisely by Indian launcher (GSLV). And today, we are shoulder to shoulder with advanced countries,” Narayanan remarked.

He noted that the team from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) lauded their counterparts in ISRO for the precision launch of the GSLV-F16/NISAR Mission.

“In another couple of months, a country which received a tiny rocket from the United States, is going to launch a 6,500 kg communication satellite built by America using our own launcher from Indian soil. What a significant growth it is,” he noted.

He said, “Today, there are 55 applications where ISRO has been contributing for the welfare of the country. It includes television broadcasting, telecommunication, weather forecasting, disaster warning and mitigation, navigation, ensuring food and water security,” he said.

On the future launch missions planned by the Bengaluru-headquartered space agency, Narayanan said, currently there are 56 satellites orbiting the earth, serving the purpose of ISRO. The number of satellites would be increased ‘3xtimes’ over the next 2-3 years.

“We are going to have our own Gaganyaan programme and ISRO is also going to build its own space station by 2035. The Indian Space programme is really one of the outstanding programmes and by 2040 we will match all developed countries in terms of capability of all space programmes,” he said.

“With this spirit, the youth will lead India to become the world’s foremost economic power by 2047,” he added.

Ministry of Earth Sciences, Secretary, M Ravichandran was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Science. On the occasion, a total of 9,769 students received their degrees and 157 who secured top ranks were honoured.