Dipak Kurmi
(The writer can be reached at dipaknewslive@gmail.com)
The Indian Space Re search Organisation is currently celebrating its remarkable achievements in space exploration. One of its recent triumphs includes the successful soft landing of Chandrayaan-3, an impressive lunar mission. Furthermore, ISRO has achieved a precise deployment of Aditya, India’s groundbreaking mission to study the sun. Aditya is set to orbit the Lagrange-1 vantage point, promising to offer groundbreaking insights into the intricate mechanisms of the celestial furnace that powers our universe.
What distinguishes these missions is the extraordinary accomplishment of controlling these spacecraft from millions of kilometres away on Earth. These remarkable achievements were orchestrated from the Master Control Room located in Bengaluru, captivating the attention and admiration of various spacefaring nations such as the US, Russia, France, and China. It’s worth noting that Russia, a pioneer in planetary exploration, faced complications just moments before its planned lunar landing during its lunar mission. Presently, India is deeply involved in charting out its upcoming endeavours, including a manned space mission named Gagan Yaan and missions to explore Venus, referred to as Shukrayaan, among other exciting projects on the horizon.
The significant increase in the number of spectators flocking to the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota to witness live launches underscores the nation’s passionate engagement with space programs. These occasions have evolved into a nationwide spectacle, rivalling the excitement generated by an India-Pakistan cricket match.
Looking back to the late 1990s and early 2000s, when India embarked on its Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) missions and the Geo-Synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) programmes, the audience consisted of only a few spectators from Sriharikota and nearby regions. Today, the number of onlookers has multiplied significantly, although they now observe the events from a gallery situated six kilometres away. As the mission director initiates the final countdown through the public address system, a tangible sense of anticipation fills the atmosphere. While not everyone may grasp the technical intricacies distinguishing PSLV from GSLV, the pride and delight stemming from these space endeavours, conceived and executed by Indian scientists, remain unmistakable.
The nation’s space programme is deeply integrated into the very fabric of daily life. Everything, from mobile phone calls and direct-to-Home television services to vital weather forecasts that provide early warnings about impending cyclones and natural disasters, owes its existence to ISRO’s network of communication and remote sensing satellites. This signifies that ISRO has a role in every aspect of an ordinary person’s life to some extent. Vikram Sarabhai, the visionary who laid the foundation for India’s space programme, envisioned space technology as a means to enhance the quality of life for every Indian, particularly those in need. Sarabhai and his team never aimed for a space monopoly but rather sought to benefit the entire populace.
Sarabhai’s vision stood in stark contrast to the approaches of the USA and the now-defunct Communist USSR. In the case of the latter two, launch vehicle technology had its roots in World War II, when ballistic missiles were repurposed into satellite launch vehicles, with applications following the deployment of satellites. However, Sarabhai’s paradigm prioritised applications over satellites and launch vehicles. One notable example of this approach is how ISRO utilised satellites for the nationwide school education programme SITE (Satellite Instructional Television Programme), making use of transponders from a US satellite. SITE represented the world’s largest mass communication experiment of its time.
After the success of SITE, the Satellite Telecommunication Experimental Project (STEP), conducted between 1977 and 1979, shed light on the complexities of space and ground systems for communications. This pivotal project paved the way for the development of the Indian National Satellite System (INSAT). The INSAT has since become the cornerstone of India’s satellite communication network and played a significant role in India achieving the status of having the highest number of mobile phone users in the country.
ISRO’s remarkable progress was not achieved without facing formidable challenges. One can vividly recall the image of scientists transporting a sounding rocket on a bicycle carrier to the launch pad at the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS). Another iconic moment was when the APPLE (Ariane Passenger Payload Experiment) satellite was transported on a bullock cart for its airlift to the European Space Agency’s launch pad in French Guiana. While ISRO had excelled in the fabrication of satellites for diverse purposes, the development of launch vehicles, particularly the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicles and Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicles, presented a daunting task. Both internal and external efforts were made to hinder ISRO’s progress in launch vehicle development missions.
The well-known spy case dealt a significant setback to cryogenic engine technology, resulting in a setback that lasted for decades in India’s space program. Spacefaring nations were concerned about India potentially challenging their monopoly in the highly profitable launch industry, which was valued at hundreds of billions of dollars even during the 1990s. India continues its efforts to refine the technology for the heavy lift launch vehicle (GSLV) designed to deploy substantial communication satellites into geostationary orbit, located 36,000 km above Earth’s surface. While there have been successful GSLV launches, ISRO remains committed to guaranteeing the vehicle’s reliability, safety, and security, particularly in preparation for potential manned missions into outer space.
ISRO’s primary objective should be to establish a direct data link between communication satellites and mobile handsets, eliminating call rate drops associated with mobile phone towers. This technological advancement could revolutionise telemedicine, bringing healthcare services right to people’s doorsteps, and facilitate widespread access to online education, making learning more affordable and accessible to all.
Prior to launching humans into space, it is imperative to certify the spacecraft as human-rated. While manned space missions hold undeniable importance, they should not be prioritised at the expense of other vital programs. At present, fields such as telemedicine and satellite-based education are facing stagnation and require attention and innovation to progress.
Even though independent India is now more than 75 years old, it still lacks a nationwide broadcast channel for Akashwani accessible to the entire country. One potential solution could involve a collaboration between All India Radio and ISRO, leveraging ISRO’s extensive network of FM stations to establish a national channel. Such a channel could offer a wide range of programmes, including news, radio newsreels, discussions, and a diverse selection of music. This 24-hour radio network would undoubtedly benefit the public, reigniting interest in the medium.
The Ministry of Communications should take steps to revive inactive landline connections. The Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is grappling with workforce shortages, and there is a tendency within the management to encourage customers to transition to mobile phones. These are aspects where ISRO can play a crucial role. While venturing into interplanetary space exploration is certainly commendable, it’s equally vital to acknowledge that India has yet to develop its own civilian aircraft. The time has come for India to introduce a domestic counterpart to aviation giants like Boeing or Airbus, reminiscent of the legendary Pushpak from antiquity.