Latest news with #VikramSarabhai
Time of India
a day ago
- Science
- Time of India
India's space race: From bullock carts to Gaganyaan
Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads When Dr Vikram Sarabhai uttered those words, India was yet to become the thriving contender for space that it is today. But words hold power. More so when one envisions a future many think is too far-fetched. That visionary, and India's father of space research, Dr Sarabhai, dared to imagine rockets launching from Indian soil not as a luxury, but as a necessity. A means to lift millions through technology, education, and started as a simple prototype, built within the humble confinements of a tiny outhouse in his Ahmedabad home, would soon take flight, inching India closer to a future once thought is the story of how one dream, one vision, and one relentless aspiration propelled a third-world country into the race for hard to imagine now, but India's space programme began in a small church on the shores of Kerala. In 1962, the Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR) chose Thumba, a quiet fishing village near Thiruvananthapuram, as the site for its first rocket launch station. The reason was as practical as it was poetic: it sat almost exactly on the magnetic equator, an ideal location for atmospheric St. Mary Magdalene Church became the control room. The adjoining bishop's house turned into the office. The images from those days have become iconic symbols of how resourcefulness filled the gaps that money could November 21, 1963, India launched its first sounding rocket, a small Nike-Apache supplied by the United States. It was a modest start, but it marked the moment India had officially entered the space age. ISRO and India's first satellitesOn 15th August 1969, INCOSPAR evolved into the Indian Space Research Organisation — ISRO — with Vikram Sarabhai as its first chairman. Its mission was clear: to harness space technology for national development, whether in weather forecasting, telecommunications, education, or resource first big leap came in 1975, when India launched its first satellite, Aryabhata , named after the ancient Indian mathematician and astronomer. Though it was built in India, the launch took place from the Soviet Union's Kapustin Yar site. Aryabhata stayed in orbit for nearly 17 the years that followed, satellites like Bhaskara (for Earth observation) and APPLE (for experimental communication) expanded India's capabilities. APPLE's launch in 1981 was particularly memorable, notably for the image of the satellite being transported on a bullock cart to test facilities, a reminder of how far ambition could stretch limited the late 1980s, India was no longer just a participant in the space race, it was becoming a contender with its own launch vehicles, setting the stage for the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle ( PSLV ) programme that would define ISRO's global the early 1990s, ISRO introduced the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle — the PSLV — a rocket designed to place satellites into polar orbits. It wasn't an overnight success; the first flight in 1993 failed. But by its second attempt in 1994, the PSLV had found its footing, and over time, it became ISRO's most reliable launch vehicle, with a success rate that drew clients from across the PSLV's crowning moment came in February 2017, when it launched 104 satellites in a single mission, shattering the previous world rocket went on to carry some of ISRO's most ambitious missions beyond Earth's orbit. In 2008, PSLV launched Chandrayaan-1, India's first mission to the Moon, which famously discovered evidence of water molecules on the lunar surface. Then, in 2013, came the Mars Orbiter Mission — Mangalyaan — which made India the first Asian nation to reach Mars orbit and the first in the world to do so in its maiden attempt. At just $74 million, it became a symbol of frugality meeting innovation, earning global Mangalyaan proved India's interplanetary capability, the next decade showed its staying power. After Chandrayaan-2's lander crashed during its 2019 Moon landing attempt, ISRO returned with Chandrayaan-3 in 2023. This time, the Vikram lander touched down flawlessly near the lunar south pole, a feat no other nation had achieved, and the Pragyan rover began exploring the surface, sending back images and data that would deepen lunar 2023, ISRO also launched Aditya-L1, its first dedicated mission to study the Sun. Placed in a halo orbit around the Sun-Earth Lagrange Point 1, the spacecraft began observing solar winds, flares, and coronal mass ejections, knowledge crucial not just for science, but for protecting satellites and communications on missions weren't just technological successes, they also set the stage for ISRO's most ambitious leap yet: sending humans into path in space has not been without its hurdles which often included geopolitical and racial challenges. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, when ISRO was developing the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV), the United States imposed sanctions on India's space program under technology transfer sanctions slowed progress and challenged India's efforts to build indigenous heavy-lift launch capabilities. Yet, instead of succumbing to external pressure, ISRO doubled down on innovation, eventually mastering cryogenic engine technology and launching the GSLV Mark III, which now powers missions like Gaganyaan A particularly galling moment came when the New York Times published a cartoon depicting Indian farmers as backward and excluded from the global 'elite space club.' The image sparked widespread outrage in India for reducing a complex society to tired stereotypes and undermining the nation's hard-won scientific was a souring reminder of the prevailing Western prejudices that can distort perceptions of India's upcoming Gaganyaan mission represents the culmination of six decades of grit, innovation, and unwavering ambition. Scheduled for launch in late 2025, this human spaceflight program aims to send Indian astronauts, called vyomanauts, into low Earth orbit, marking India's first crewed mission to Vikram Sarabhai's vision remains the guiding star. As India prepares to send its first astronauts into space, that vision of purpose beyond prestige has never been clearer.
NDTV
a day ago
- Business
- NDTV
Vikram Sarabhai's Legacy Powers India's First Private Satellite Constellation
New Delhi: In a landmark announcement coinciding with the birth anniversary of Dr Vikram Sarabhai, the father of India's space program, the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) has selected a PixxelSpace India-led consortium to build and operate the country's first fully indigenous commercial Earth Observation (EO) satellite constellation. This marks a defining moment in India's space journey, the transition from a government-led model to a vibrant public-private partnership ecosystem. The winning consortium includes PixxelSpace India Pvt. Ltd., Piersight Space, Satsure Analytics India, and Dhruva Space, and will invest over Rs 1,200 crore to deploy 12 advanced EO satellites over the next five years. All of us saw the high-resolution images of the bomb damage assessment put out by Maxar Space an American space company in the wake of Operation Sindoor and many asked why Indian satellites don't give us the same high resolution? Now with this announcement, India will also get high-resolution satellite images from its own private sector. "This initiative signals the coming of age of India's private space industry," said Dr Pawan Goenka, Chairman of IN-SPACe. "It demonstrates the capability and confidence of Indian companies to lead large-scale, technologically advanced, and commercially viable space missions that serve both national and global markets. The EO-PPP model fosters an ecosystem where public and private capabilities reinforce each other to drive growth, innovation, and self-reliance." Earlier this year in January, the Bengaluru space start-up Pixxel created history when its founder announced 'Make in India, Made for the Universe' said Awais Ahmed, Founder and CEO, as it bagged contracts from NASA & US intelligence agency. The six-year-old company also created history by making India's first private sector satellite constellation of three satellites and having raised nearly $100 million for this start-up. Pixxel said the 'Fireflies', currently the world's highest-resolution commercial-grade hyperspectral satellites, bring unprecedented precision to monitoring the planet and setting a new benchmark for hyperspectral imaging capabilities. With a five-meter resolution attained for the first time in a hyperspectral spacecraft, 'Fireflies' are six times sharper than the 30-meter standard of most existing hyperspectral satellites, capturing fine details previously invisible to conventional systems. "The future of our planet depends on how deeply we understand it today. The successful deployment of our first commercial satellites is a defining moment for Pixxel and a giant leap toward redefining how we use space technology to address the planet's challenges," said Awais Ahmed, founder and CEO of Pixxel. The upcoming full fleet 12 satellite constellation will feature cutting-edge sensors, panchromatic, multispectral, hyperspectral, and microwave, and deliver Analysis Ready Data (ARD) and Value-Added Services (VAS) for applications ranging from climate change monitoring and disaster management to agriculture, marine surveillance, and national security. "This project is about building India's own independent and future-ready geospatial infrastructure," said Shri Rajeev Jyoti, Director of the Technical Directorate at IN-SPACe. "It will lead to Atmanirbharta in high-resolution optical and radar data, catalyse innovation, create thousands of high-skill jobs, and contribute directly to our goal of growing India's space economy from $8.4 billion in 2022 to $44 billion by 2033." The selection followed a rigorous technical and financial evaluation process, with three consortia shortlisted. PixxelSpace India emerged as the successful bidder, and under the PPP framework, will own and operate the EO system, including satellite manufacturing, launches from Indian soil, ground infrastructure, and commercialisation of data services. Awais Ahmed, CEO of PixxelSpace India, called the announcement a "major milestone" in India's space story. "Being the winning proposal to build India's national EO constellation is a proud moment for Pixxel and our consortium members. We're grateful to IN-SPACe and the Government of India for trusting us with this historic mission. Together with our partners Satsure, Dhruva, and PierSight, we look forward to building world-class space-tech capabilities that serve the whole planet from Indian soil." The constellation will be deployed in phases over the next four years, ensuring continuous service upgrades and expanded coverage. Once operational, it will be among the most advanced EO systems globally, designed, built, and operated entirely in India by Indian talent. The timing of the announcement, on Dr Vikram Sarabhai's birthday, adds symbolic weight to the milestone. Sarabhai envisioned a space program that would serve the needs of India's development. Today, that vision is being realised not just by ISRO, but by a new generation of private innovators. "This is India's moment to lead the world in space-powered solutions," said Awais Ahmed. "We're not just building satellites; we're building sovereignty, capability, and global relevance." The initiative reaffirms the Government of India's commitment to space sector reforms and its support for enabling Indian industry to emerge as a major global player. It also sets the stage for future collaborations, innovations, and commercial missions that could redefine India's role in the global space economy. As Dr Sarabhai once said, "We must be second to none in the application of advanced technologies to the real problems of man and society." Today, his legacy lives on - not just in government labs, but in the hands of private pioneers reaching for the stars.
NDTV
a day ago
- Science
- NDTV
Remembering Father Of Indian Space: How Vikram Sarabhai Built Indian Space Research Organisation From Scratch
On August 12, the nation remembered and celebrated the 106th birth anniversary of Dr Vikram Sarabhai, the legendary physicist, and widely known as Father of India's Space Programme. From pioneering cosmic ray research to laying the foundations of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), his contributions continue to inspire India's journey of space and technology. The ISRO paid tributes to Dr Sarabhai and shared video on Social media platform X, celebrating his legacy. "On his 106th birth anniversary, we celebrate Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, the visionary who ignited India's space journey. His belief in applying space science for societal benefit continues to shape the nation's space programme. As we approach National Space Day, his legacy endures," ISRO wrote on X. On his 106th birth anniversary, we celebrate Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, the visionary who ignited India's space journey. His belief in applying space science for societal benefit continues to shape the nation's space programme. As we approach National Space Day, his legacy endures.… — ISRO (@isro) August 12, 2025 Leaders from across the political spectrum also paid homage to his enduring legacy. Speaker of the 18th Lok Sabha Om Birla in a post on X said, "Respectful salutations on the birth anniversary of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, the pioneer of Indian space programme, great scientist, Padma Vibhushan awardee. With the establishment of the Physical Research Laboratory, he made the country self-reliant in space technology through the establishment of ISRO. Due to his inspiration, today India is touching new heights in space." भारतीय अंतरिक्ष कार्यक्रम के प्रणेता, महान वैज्ञानिक, पद्म विभूषण से सम्मानित डॉ. विक्रम साराभाई जी की जयंती पर सादर नमन। भौतिक अनुसंधान प्रयोगशाला की स्थापना के साथ उन्होंने भारत में वैज्ञानिक अनुसंधान की नींव रखी और भारतीय अंतरिक्ष अनुसंधान संगठन (ISRO) की स्थापना के माध्यम से… — Om Birla (@ombirlakota) August 12, 2025 Calling Dr Sarabhai "a true nation builder," Dr. S Somanath, former ISRO Chairman said, "Remembering the 106th birth anniversary of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai - the visionary who built institutions in space, atomic energy, management, textiles & arts. A true nation builder whose contributions continue to inspire us. Though I never met him, his legacy shaped our journey at Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre since the 80s." Remembering the 106th birth anniversary of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai — the visionary who built institutions in space, atomic energy, management, textiles & arts. A true nation builder whos contributions continues to inspire us. Though I never met him, his legacy shaped our journey at… — Dr. S Somanath (@SomanathSpeak) August 12, 2025 Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge wrote on X, "Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, the Father of India's Space Program, was an exceptional physicist and institution-builder whose legacy we honour on his birth anniversary. His work continues to inspire innovation and progress, serving as a powerful example of how to cultivate a scientific mindset among the public." Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, the "Father of India's Space Program," was an exceptional physicist and institution-builder whose legacy we honour on his birth anniversary. His strong relationship with Pandit Nehru was instrumental in the creation of INCOSPAR, the precursor to @isro one of… — Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) August 12, 2025 Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Minister of Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju wrote, "Salutations on the birth anniversary of the great scientist Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, who laid the foundation of space science in India! His vision and unparalleled contributions led the nation toward a golden era of space research and showed generations the path to excellence in science." अंतरिक्ष विज्ञान में भारत की नींव रखने वाले महान वैज्ञानिक डॉ. विक्रम साराभाई जी की जयंती पर नमन! उनकी दूरदृष्टि और अद्वितीय योगदान ने देश को अंतरिक्ष अनुसंधान के स्वर्णिम युग की ओर अग्रसर किया और पीढ़ियों को विज्ञान में उत्कृष्टता का मार्ग दिखाया। #VikramSarabhai — Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) August 12, 2025 Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis wrote on X, "Remembering the legendary scientist and founder of ISRO, Padma Vibhushan Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, on his Birth Anniversary! His vision launched India into the orbit of global space research." Remembering the legendary scientist and founder of ISRO, Padma Vibhushan Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, on his Birth Anniversary! His vision launched India into the orbit of global space research. भारतीय अंतराळ संशोधन संस्थेचे संस्थापक, भारतीय अंतराळ कार्यक्रमाचे जनक, प्रख्यात शास्त्रज्ञ,… — Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) August 12, 2025 Political parties BJP and Congress also paid tributes to Dr Sarabhai. Sharing a post on X, BJP said, "On his birth anniversary, we honour Padma Vibhushan and Padma Bhushan awardee, visionary physicist and Father of India's Space Program, Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, whose pioneering legacy continues to inspire generations." On his birth anniversary, we honour Padma Vibhushan and Padma Bhushan awardee, visionary physicist and Father of India's Space Program, Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, whose pioneering legacy continues to inspire generations. — BJP (@BJP4India) August 12, 2025 Congress on X wrote, "Remembering Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, the visionary father of India's space programme. His pioneering spirit and dedication to scientific progress continue to inspire generations to dream big, innovate, and take India to new frontiers." Remembering Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, the visionary father of India's space programme. His pioneering spirit and dedication to scientific progress continue to inspire generations to dream big, innovate, and take India to new frontiers. — Congress (@INCIndia) August 12, 2025 Dr. Vikram Sarabhai is remembered not just for his title as the "Father of India's Space Programme," but for being a driving force behind India's scientific awakening post-independence. In 1947, at just 28 years old, he founded the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) in Ahmedabad. Sarabhai played a significant role in establishing major Indian institutions, including the ISRO in 1969 and the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA), in collaboration with local industrialists. He also chaired the Atomic Energy Commission, succeeding his mentor, Dr. Homi Bhabha. Birth Of India's Space Dream After the launch of the Soviet Sputnik in 1957, Sarabhai advocated for a dedicated Indian space programme. He stated, "There are some who question the relevance of space activities in a developing nation. To us, there is no ambiguity of purpose. We do not have the fantasy of competing with the economically advanced nations in the exploration of the moon or the planets or manned space-flight. But we are convinced that if we are to play a meaningful role nationally, and in the community of nations, we must be second to none in the application of advanced technologies to the real problems of man and society." With Dr. Bhabha's support, Sarabhai identified Thumba in Kerala as the site for India's first rocket launching station. On November 21, 1963, the first sounding rocket carrying a sodium vapour payload was launched. Through his engagement with NASA, Sarabhai also laid the groundwork for the Satellite Instructional Television Experiment (SITE) in 1975-1976, a project that brought educational television to rural India. He also initiated the project for India's first satellite Aryabhata, which was launched from the Soviet Union in 1975. ISRO: From Vision To Reality Sarabhai's chairmanship of the Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR) in 1962 marked a new era. By 1969, INCOSPAR evolved into ISRO, India's premier space agency. Sarabhai's groundwork laid the path for India's later achievements: Indian National Satellite System (INSAT) Series in 1983, Chandrayaan-1 in 2008, Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) in 2014, Chandrayaan-3, and beyond. Academic Life Born in Ahmedabad on August 12, 1919, Sarabhai began his higher education at Cambridge, earning an undergraduate degree in physics and mathematics. He pursued his PhD under the guidance of Nobel laureate CV Raman at IISc, Bangalore. In 1942, he published his PhD work, 'Time Distribution of Cosmic Rays.' He passed away on December 30, 1971, at the age of 52. He was honoured with several awards, including, Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award (1962), Padma Bhushan (1966) and Padma Vibhushan (1972, posthumously).
Hans India
a day ago
- Science
- Hans India
Dr. Vikram Sarabhai a visionary space scientist, laid foundation for Indian Space Programme: ISRO
New Delhi: While India today is among global space-faring nations, Dr. Vikram Sarabhai was the visionary space scientist who laid the foundation for Indian Space Programme, said the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), celebrating his 106th birth anniversary on Tuesday. Born in Ahmedabad in 1919, Dr Sarabhai came to be known as the father of the Indian space programme. India today is among the global space-faring nations, but without Dr Sarabhai, the country wouldn't have its own space programme. 'ISRO affectionately commemorates the birthday of visionary space scientist, Dr. Vikram A Sarabhai. His remarkable contributions laid the foundation for the Indian Space Programme. His legacy lives on as ISRO upholds his vision and mission,' ISRO shared in a post on the social media platform X. After returning from Cambridge to an independent India in 1947, as a 28-year-old, he persuaded charitable trusts controlled by his family and friends to endow a research institution near home in Ahmedabad, laying the foundation for the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) in Ahmedabad on November 11, 1947. He was the Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission and also established the ISRO. He successfully convinced the government of the importance of a space programme for a developing country like India after the Russian Sputnik launch. "We must be second to none in the application of advanced technologies to the real problems of man and society," Sarabhai had stated. Together with Dr. Homi Jehangir Bhabha, widely regarded as the father of India's nuclear science programme, he set up the first rocket launching station in India. Dr. Sarabhai also started a project for the fabrication and launch of an Indian Satellite, enabling the first Indian satellite -- Aryabhata -- to be put in orbit in 1975 from a Russian Cosmodrome. 'Remembering the 106th birth anniversary of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai -- the visionary who built institutions in space, atomic energy, management, textiles, and arts. A true nation builder whose contributions continue to inspire us. Though I never met him, his legacy shaped our journey at Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre since the 80s,' Dr. S Somanath, former ISRO chairman, shared on X.
India Today
5 days ago
- Business
- India Today
Skyroot fires first stage of Vikram-1 in preparation for maiden launch
Skyroot Aerospace has achieved a major milestone ahead of the maiden flight of its Vikram-1 orbital launch vehicle. On Friday, the company successfully completed a static test firing of the rocket's Stage 1 solid fuel booster, made from advanced carbon composite test was conducted at Isro's state-of-the-art test complex at Satish Dhawan Space Centre-SHAR in successful static fire test marks a crucial step forward in validating the performance and reliability of Vikram-1's first stage, which provides the powerful thrust needed to lift the rocket and its payload into The carbon composite booster is designed to deliver high thrust with a lightweight structure, enabling the launch vehicle to carry payloads of up to 480 kilograms into low Earth is India's first privately developed orbital rocket, named in honor of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, the father of India's space program. It is a three-stage launch vehicle leveraging cutting-edge propulsion technologies developed in-house by Skyroot, including advanced avionics and launch success of this test builds on previous milestones by Skyroot, such as the static firing of the third stage's Kalam-100 engine and the second stage's Kalam-250 cryogenic engine. The integration and testing at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre highlight a fruitful collaboration between India's private aerospace sector and government space this test completed, Vikram-1 is on track for its much-anticipated inaugural flight later this year, positioning Skyroot as a key player in India's growing commercial space industry. The startup's rapid progress underscores India's ambitions to advance domestic space capabilities beyond the government sector and compete in the global commercial launch Skyroot prepares for the upcoming launch, the success of the Stage 1 booster test solidifies the innovation and expertise driving India's new wave of private space exploration, heralding a new era of accessible, cost-effective satellite launches from Indian soil.- EndsMust Watch
