| APRIL 19, 1975 was a red letter day in the history of | | | | accomplish great technological feats and scientific |
| India's space program. It was on this day that the | | | | marvels. APPLE was India's first 3-axis stabilized |
| Indian Satellite Aryabhatta was successfully launched | | | | geo-stationary communication satellite and India is the |
| into the space. This diamond shaped, 26 faced, blue | | | | fifth nation to obtain the distinction of developing |
| and violet space craft weighing 360kg, was shot into | | | | such a satellite. USA, USSR, France and Canada alone |
| a near circular orbit at an inclination of 510 to the | | | | had this distinction earlier. Though the tracking |
| equator, from a Soviet cosmodrome near Moscow. | | | | stations at Sriharikota, Ahmedabad, Fuji and Kourou, |
| Designed and developed by Indian Scientists and | | | | started receiving information about the altitude, |
| Engineers at its Space Research Centre, Bangalore, | | | | temperature, etc., it is on 27th June, 8 days after its |
| with 90% Indian made components this first satellite | | | | take off that the Indian scientists could successfully |
| is named after the fifth century Indian mathematician | | | | complete all the maneuvers to put the APPLE on its |
| and astronomer Aryabhatta. Its aim is to explore the | | | | planned course. Tense moments ended and India |
| atmosphere of the outer space. Monitored by the | | | | won the applause. |
| SHAR centre, Sriharikota, it transmits important | | | | But APPLE is only a take off point of a series for |
| information which is received by three tracking | | | | INSAT satellite to be launched for the purpose of |
| stations - located in Russia, France and India. | | | | telecommunication, TV and meteorological net work. |
| (Shriharikotta) | | | | The program received a set back when its first |
| Then came Bhaskara, the second Indian satellite. It | | | | multipurpose satellite INSAT - IA failed, 5 months |
| was launched on June 7, 1979, also from Russia. This | | | | after its launch on April 10, 1982. Built for the Indian |
| 44-kg experimental satellite, named Bhaskara - I after | | | | Space Research Organization (ISRO) by the Ford |
| another ancient Indian mathematician, is meant for | | | | Aerospace of USA and launched by NASA it was, to |
| earth observations. Carrying radiometers, infra red | | | | be the first step towards the implementation of |
| TV cameras, it transmit data about hydrology, | | | | 'Operation Space System' for identifying social |
| forestry, oceanography and meteorology. Again on | | | | economic objectives and national requirements, |
| November 20, 1981 bhaskara - II an improved version | | | | combining the services of telecommunication, |
| of Bhaskara - I was launched. With two TV cameras | | | | meteorology, TV relay and Radio broadcasting. The |
| and 3 frequency microwave radiometer system, it | | | | satellite which journeyed through 37,000km in space |
| has a wider scanning range. | | | | passing over Indonesia upset the telecommunication, |
| But it is the Rohini Satellite (RSI) that was first | | | | TV and Radio net work programs. |
| launched from India. It was put into orbit by the | | | | Under STEP ( Satellite Telecommunication Experiment |
| indigenously made Satellite Launch Vehicle SLV-3 on | | | | Project ), ISRO has conducted experiments in |
| July 18, 1980. this 4 - stage solid propellant rocket | | | | remote area communications, using transportable |
| was designed and developed by the Indian scientists | | | | terminals, radio net working integration of satellite |
| and engineers of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, | | | | circuits, in territorial net work and multiple audio - |
| Thiruvananthapuram. It also placed another satellite of | | | | video, transmission. |
| 38 kg - Rohini (RSDI) into orbit, with the fundamental | | | | The indigenous IRS-IA, which was launched by |
| objective of evaluating the vertical performance for | | | | Vostok vehicle on March 17, 1988 form USSR has a |
| future programs. The launching was successful, but | | | | variety of uses to assess the amount of mulberry |
| the satellite's orbital life ended abruptly in 9 days | | | | growth, or the growth of cotton, rice, groundnut and |
| instead of 90days as planned. Again another 41.5kg. | | | | wheat. It would be possible to estimate the output |
| Rohini - 2 (RSD 2) was put into Low - Earth - Orbit | | | | well in advance, before the harvest is made. |
| on April 17, 1983, with the help of 23 meter SLV - 3 | | | | And now, the INSAT - D series of satellites are to |
| weighing 17 tons, also built by Vikram Sarabhai Space | | | | be launched with its own technology. With this India |
| Centre. The successful launching of RSD 2 completed | | | | has joined the select band of countries that have |
| the planned development of its SLV - 3 series and | | | | lanunched satellites. On April 3,1989, the Soviet |
| set the stage for Augmented Satellite Launch | | | | Rocket Souyuz zoomed into the space. It was |
| Vehicles (ASLV'S), capable of hurling into space, | | | | significant to India because, on its crew was an Indian |
| satellites weighing 150kg and PSLV'S capable of | | | | - Squadron Leader Rakhesh Sharma. And now we |
| placing satellites in geo-synchronous orbit. | | | | can proudly say, we too have a Neil Armstrong |
| The Indian Space Application Centre (ISAC) | | | | amongst us. |
| Ahmedabad, developed a 657.5kg 3 axis, stabilized | | | | Thus the primary aim of Indian space program is the |
| geo-station-ary satellite called APPLE. This was | | | | application of space science and technology to |
| launched on June 19, 1981, from Kourou's in French | | | | develop mass communication and education programs |
| Guyana, by the European Space Agency's Arian | | | | and conduct survey of natural resources through the |
| rocket, thus demonstrating again that India can | | | | launching of satellites, with maximum self reliance. |