1THE LURE OF SPACE November 17, 1882: The British Royal Observatory reported strange celestial visitor-a circular object glowing green. June 24, 1997: An Idaho (USA) businessman Kenneth Arnold, while flying near Mt. Rainier (Washington), spotted a group of nine silvery crescent-shaped objects, flying in tight formation. What were those strange sightings? They looked nothing like birds, were nowhere near in appearance to aircrafts and were quite different from clouds. Were they illusions? Were they hoaxes? Were they unidentified flying objects from the 'extraterrestrial? There has been no confirmation or explanation for these and other numerous sightings before and after. Same holds true for the crop circles, intricate precision of pyramids, gigantic stone hinge, etc. Almost each one of us, at one or the other point of our lives, has gazed up to the sky marveling at its sheer beauty, wondering where does it begin? Where does it end? What lies beyond our sight and what facts are waiting to be unveiled? Are we not alone? Are we sharing this existence? Are we the most primitive or the most advanced? Won't it be too arrogant to believe that we are the only one in this universe? Do aliens and E.Ts exist? This unknown and unexplained aspect is the biggest 'lure of space'. A blend of earth, fire, water, air, and ether is said to be the basis of life. Man, the most developed life form on Earth, has been gifted with two unique qualities: one is curiosity and the other is perseverance to scrutinize what leads to curiosity. Through different phases of development, gradually man tamed fire; circumnavigated the earth; explored and analysed the land to its core; fathomed the oceans to their beds and scanned the air with hot air ballons, aircrafts and spacecrafts, tracing different layers of atmosphere. But ether or S-stupendous P-promising Aalluring C-combination (of) E-eniganatic entities Posed a bigger challenge than anticipated. The advent of telescopes has enabled us to realize that there is more to the universe than mere earth, moon, sun and stars. The vast expanse of nothingness containing innumerable stars and other celestial bodies and galaxies and many a mystery that is yet to be discovered, is mesmerizing as well as charming. As it is, the idea of the conquest of space is as old as the human brain. Long before Kepler discovered celestial mechanics making interplanetary travel conceivable, space traffic existed in legends. Man rose to the heavens and gods visited Earth. The Puranas mention Devarishi Narad travelling to and fro in time and space. The first space novel was written in 160 AD. The first technical drawing of a three-stage rocket dates back to 1526. So we, the mankind, were bewitched by it and set off to pursue this highly tempting adventure. Gradually the space research and development and technology started progressing and led us to that platform where the space race triggered in July 1956 with the USA announcing a satellite launch. The erstwhile USSR, which had also made a similar announcement after the USA, had the honour of launching the first ever satellite SPUTNIK 1 on Oct 4, 1957 and amazed the world. This flagged down the space race le by the then USSR, from 1957-1967 setting up many records likeLaika, a dog, became the first living being in the Earth's orbit aboard SPUTNIK 2, 1957; Yuri Gagarin on board VOSTOK1, 1961: First person in space an in Earth's orbit; fainthearted. Six of these missions. The US space agency. etc. 1959. anticipating the construction of hydroelectric power stations in the Himalayas. It was a purely experimental satellite christened Aryabhatta' after the famous Indian mathematician. 1981. First probe to impact the Moon was LUNA 2. Israel (1988 and Iraq (1989). 1984. the best jobs haven't been started. For. It set the pace for all space-related ventures in India. the INSAT series. It was realized that the exploitation of the vast potential of space for socioeconomic development can be done only if India develops 'satellite launching' indigenously an< becomes self-reliant. His words "One small step for man.. the US started gaining on the then USSR.1975 when the first satellite. in 1972. The chances have just begun. designed and fabricated by India. Saturn.e. the probe plans like VIKING to Mars. COLUMBIA was the first to be launched on Apr: 12. National Aeronautics and Space Administration: (NASA) designed the APOLLO programme. APOLLO 11 to APOLLO. he did multispectral photography. EDUSAT. 1971. If achieved the goal. India joined the club in 1961 when the Atomic Energy Department started a programme on space research. Building of reusable space vehicles. 1966. Amongst them. became the first Indian in space. the placing of Hubble Space Telescope. International Space Station (ISS) are the other remarkable feats achieved by NASA. Since then India has successfully launched a series of satellitesBhaskara 1. First permanently manned station MIR orbited the Earth from 1981 to 2001 and the list goes on. Squadron Leader Rakesh Sharma. The Department of Space was established which carried out its plans through Indian Space Research Organisation. Simultaneously India has developed a range of launch vehicles namely SLVs. which intended to land humans on moon. ASLVs. Also. SROSS 3. APPLE. From 1967 onwards. In 2006. PSLVs. The best work hasn't been done' Accordingly. Aboard the Soviet Union spacecraft Soyuz T-ll. an airforce pilot. Uranus and Neptune. space shuttles by the NASA added another feather to its hat. India . The spirit of Indian space programme can be surmised in the following lines: 'Don't worry and fret. GSLVs and also has a launch site at Sriharikota. are emblazoned in gold in the history of space exploration America's first space station 'SKYLAB' kept the NASA busy from the end of APOLLO project to late 1970s. amongst which APOLLO 11 became a milestone in the field of space exploration. was launched from the erstwhile USSR. India made its debut in the field of space research on April 19.2 Valentine Tereshkova became the first woman in space on board VOSTOK 6. IRS series. European Space Agency (1979). Astronaut Neil Armstrong became the firs man to leave footprints on the moon. The other space-faring states are France (1965 Japan (1970). one giant leap for mankind". PIONEER an. VOYAGER missions to Jupiter. i. UK (1971). China became the ninth nation capable of sending 'taikonauts' (Chinese for astronauts) to space in their own spaceships. a space commission was set up in India. On April 2. First space station SALYUT1. who perished? Let their vision. Remote. As for now. We know not where this hard work and expense will lead us? It might take ages to conclude. the future will have no base! And so I say: Let's give in to the LURE OF SPACE.3 has progressed inch by inch learning from its failures. The best part is that these services not only pay their way out but are generating more and more profit for the general economy. Pankhon se nahin. The answer to this is not complete yet. honing skills and never looking back banking on the faith that: "Manzil unhain milti hai. jinke sapnon mein jaan hoti hai. space technology will have a multifaceted role to play in preventing orbital collision of earth (as between Jupiter-comet Shoemaker Levy). houslon se uhdaan hoti hai. daily weather forecasts. Nonetheless we had to start and we have to keep on going because without beginning there is no journey and without journey there will be no end. "Without the creative utilization of the space. ISD at cheaper rates. In the future." Last but not the least. their value and contribution to the economy as a whole. with each country having its own respective urgencies and responsibilities to cater to. Whole branches of economy are thriving on space services. Who knows.sensing satellites are monitoring our environment and managing natural resource efficiently. For the rise of mankind. is liable to raise questions. we might find the solutions to all our problems in space only. dream and passion Be realized and cherished. far outweights their development costs." In this world where criticism is all pervasive. modifying and refining techniques. I salute all those who sacrificed their lives for the benevolent cause of space research and say: "Let not their efforts be wasted. Whether they are operated by private or by public bodies. space programmes have no exception. Communication technology has been revolutionised." . Choice of one among hundred TV channels. Huge amounts of money are being spent on them. telephone calls to the far end of the earth or steering a boat with global positioning system are using space research and development. free e-mails and remote area connectivity are only the preliminary benefits derived from the 'lure of space'. alerting us before the occurrence of natural calamities and harnessing alternative energy sources like Sun. “if one does not do anything. Kalam saw to it that all systems went through rigorous checks. Brahm Prakash asked Dr. fuming nitric acid. Kalam: "I will give you the required budget. All manpower will be available to you from the organization and from all the centres. Except for a solitary failure in 1993. You should become the master of the problem." The first experimental fight on August 10. The US space agency National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the space agencies in Europe and Russia are keen to foster joint venture programmes in India. Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) can today launch a payload of 5. resulting in its malfunctioning. which led to dust entering the valve system of the control power plant. 2005 to rub shoulders with his old colleagues.J. Twenty-five eventful years have gone by and both Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Dr. problems will arise.5 kg Rohini satellite into orbit in just 12 minutes. India was the sixth nation to join the elite space club in 1980. Dr. We must do it in seven years. The rocket put the 38. defeat that problem and succeed. The one-time space scientists. Satish Dhawan to Dr. It would also ulilise digital library facilities that were now being put in place so that it could be made accessible to students in remote areas. The experiment failed. Prof. Even the Chairman will work for the programme…It is a very important programme. Kalam have scripted one success story after another. But if you do any mission. tale-education and several other scientific experiments. Dhawan bucked up Dr.000 primary schools would benefit from EDUSAT. A report was submitted by experts who pinpointed the failure of the air-conditioning plant. He sought to locate the cause of failure and the task was made easy by the Chairman of the Failure Analysis Board. but Dr. We will all work together. about 1. A. He worked here for 20 years and laid before ISRO a vision plan for the next fifteen years. Twenty major . Kalam to be the Project Director for the first Satellite Launch Vehicle at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala). He analysed over 200 data records. what is required is a launch capability of 3. The launch is scheduled to take placed in late 2007.5 tonnes and ISRO has come out with a configuration of GSLV (Mark III) that would have the capacity to carry four tones. meteorology. The Chairman of the Board and then membersecretary of Board. and the world took note of it. That problem should not become your master. The hero of the saga was none other than Dr. It was the ever inquisitive scientist in him that brought Dr. Dhawan and Prof. Kalam did not fail.P. A." The foregoing was the piece of advice given by Prof. July 18. telecommunication. This apart. Abdul Kalam. 1980 was a proud moment for India when India's space scientists launched the Satellite Launch Vehicle 3 (SLV-3) rocketing India into the Space Club. Abdul Kalam in 1972 when Prof. Kalam to VSSC in Kerala on July 28. Dr. AS far as communication satellites are concerned.RJ. On this firm foundation laid in 1980. The new vistas on distance education were opened up recently when the President of India inaugurated the first interactive network on EDUSAT-an Education Satellite that could widen its reach by promoting the selflearning method by laying emphasis on the question and answer methodology. He made constant visits to work centers to see to it that the zeal of the scientists did not flag on any score. The scientist never stops growing or learning. one does not experience any problem.4 "Kalam said. Madhayan Nair interviewed 125 scientists and staff about the failure. television. 1979 failed on account of a leak of oxydiser-red. ISRO is able to meet the various demands of the nation in remote sensing communications. any task. Dr.000 kg. Kalam is now former President of India and ISRO has become a space organization with manifold programmes and achievements that have won kudos from both developing and developed countries. every Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) flight was a success over the past twelve years. Eventually EDUSAT would be connected with the village knowledge centres being set up in different parts of the country. ISRO proposes to launch a reusable vehicle by the end of 2005 or early next year. it will carry out micro-gravity experiments. Why reusable launch vehicles? The idea is to reduce the launch cost. Though VSSC has been able to realize the vision of Vikram Sarabhai r respect of remote sensing and communications. At present. To reduce it. They served as great lessons in technology and the organization has stood to gain from these failures. Gopalaswami. the organization faces problems in regard to launch vehicle technology since they do not get inputs from anywhere. when the space.000 patients showed that thanks to telemedicine. Starting as a point-to-point system connecting the doctor and the patient alone. linking remote hospitals. it has evolved into multipoint connectivity through servers. The development of technology-based healthcare delivery systems through the satellite medium could substantially augment existing healthcare. ISRO can be really proud of its indigenisation: from 80 percent to 82 percent of the systems and subsystems are indigenously fabricated. It has interaction with more than 50 academic institutions. India's pioneering work in the field of hyper plane is the result of innovative thoughts of Air Commodore (retired) R. But even here ISRO hopes that it can overcome the problem in just two years. The reusable vehicle will be an aircraft-like module-a version of the hyper plane visualised by the President-that can re-enter the atmosphere withstanding the high temperature that would be generated on re-entry.000 teacher-training institutes will also use EDUSAT transponders for telecasting lessons. In orbit. It would land at sea using three parachutes that would bring down the velocity to 15 metres a second. Then it will debit to return to earth. Over 1. the patients had saved 81 percent of the cost because of savings in travel. One such reusable system is called hyper plane with 100 takeoffs and 100 landings. Since 2001.000 to $20. ISRO has also promoted tie-ups with industries and academic institutions. VSSC works with the Indian restitute of Technology (IIT) and the University of Hyderabad. The advent of communications technology.There a strong linkage with about 300 industries associated with the production of hardware.stage or two-stage rocket systems as reusable launchers. the University Grants Commission and the All India Council of Technical Education would start telecasting educational programmes using EDUSAT in 2005 itself. especially Satcom.based telemedicine network was established ISRO has been providing telemedicine technology and connectivity between rural/remote hospitals and super speciality hospitals and connectivity for mobile telemedicine units in rural areas. especially in the areas of ophthalmology and community health. ISRO is yet to decide whether to have single. The only area the organization is dependent is on imports of avionics designs.000 per kg of payload. As far as academic institutions. these reissuable rockets will come back after putting the satellites in orbit. The . The spacecraft would remain in orbit for three to 30 days. ISRO had also combined with the IT industry to do extensive work in developing software and hardware for medical applications. ISRO is also working on reusable launchers. including the Indira Gandhi National Open University. The Public Sector Units (PSUs) and the private industry are able to meet almost all the requirement of the Space Department. An impact study conducted by the ISRO on 1. It faced two failures in launching the Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV). The production is done by the industries in elaboration with the Centre for exclusive use in the country's programmes. has enabled taking the benefit of medical science to a large section of the people in remote and inaccessible villages. ISRO has to change from expendable vehicles to reusable vehicles. The VSSC does only research and development work and prototyping. the cost is about $15. stay and treatment at city hospitals.5 institutions. especially in rural and remote areas. rural units and super speciality hospitals in different parts of the country. He said that the next industries revolution would take place in space and that India should prepare itself for manned space missions to the moon and Mars. repair and maintain satellites orbit. GLONASS. For instance. The launch will take place under an Indo-Russian accord on the joint use of the Russian satellite communication. signed in December 2004 during the Russian President. While inaugurating a symposium on launch vehicles. Hectic days are ahead for India. He said the count: should develop the capability to refuel. Mr. Many of the global players who have themselves gone ahead in space exploration are keen to tie up with India in different facets of space probes. Homble President Dr. In a nutshell. A larger reusable vehicle i under development at ISRO and it would be ready in three to four year.2005. India may launch Russian satellites for a global navigational system in 2006. the fast emerging space power. ISF is collaborating with the Ahmedabad-based Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) to draw research students towards the lunar mission. Kalai exhorted India to join the race to set up mining and manufacturing industries on the moon and Mars.6 objective is to demonstrate reusable launch vehicles. at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in Thiruvananthapuram on July 28. A number of universities their own are also planning to start programmes connected with the lunar mission. Chandrayaan-1 will provide challenging opportunities for planetary research for the younger generation. organized i connection with the Silver Jubilee celebrations of the first successful launch of the satellite vehicle SL V-3. Vladimir Putin's visit to India .