August 12, 2025

“There are some who question the relevance of space activities in a developing nation. To us, there is no ambiguity of purpose.” These powerful words from Dr Vikram Sarabhai, India’s father of space research, set the tone for an incredible journey. Back then, India was just starting its space dreams, but Sarabhai saw rockets as a must, not a luxury. His vision? Use space tech to help millions through education, communication, and technology. The story began in a humble church in Kerala. In 1962, the Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR) chose the little fishing village of Thumba near Thiruvananthapuram for India’s first rocket launch station. Why here? Because it sat right on the Earth’s magnetic equator — perfect for studying the atmosphere. The St. Mary Magdalene Church was turned into the control room, and the bishop’s house became an office. This clever use of resources showed India’s smart way forward. On November 21, 1963, India launched its first sounding rocket, a Nike-Apache provided by the US. Modest but mighty — this was India stepping into the space age. On August 15, 1969, INCOSPAR grew into the Indian Space Research Organisation, ISRO, with Sarabhai as chairman. The goal was clear: use space tech for national growth — weather, telecom, education, and more. The big jump came in 1975 with Aryabhata, India’s first satellite named after an ancient astronomer. Launched from the Soviet Union, it stayed in space for 17 years! Then came Bhaskara and APPLE satellites, the latter even carried on a bullock cart, showing India’s mix of tradition and technology. By the late ’80s, India built its own launch vehicles, readying for the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). First tried in 1993 and perfected by 1994, PSLV became ISRO’s reliable rocket. Its world record? Launching 104 satellites in one go in 2017! PSLV propelled India beyond Earth. Chandrayaan-1 in 2008 found water on the Moon, and Mangalyaan in 2013 made India the first Asian nation to reach Mars on its first try — all at an amazing $74 million budget. The Moon still called India home in 2023, when Chandrayaan-3 landed perfectly near the South Pole, a world first, while the Pragyan rover explored the surface. That same year, ISRO launched Aditya-L1 to study the Sun, helping protect Earth’s communication from solar storms. Challenges? Plenty! US sanctions in the ’90s slowed things, but ISRO’s grit shone through with its own cryogenic engines and GSLV Mark III rockets. Even rude portrayals like a New York Times cartoon that insulted Indian farmers and scientists couldn’t dim India’s spirit. Now, the shining star is Gaganyaan, India's first human space mission set for 2025. With astronauts called vyomanauts ready for low Earth orbit, ISRO’s six decades of hard work are about to reach new heights. Dr Sarabhai’s vision of space as a tool for India’s growth lives on — not just for glory, but for making life better for millions. This is India’s masaledar space saga, from quiet beginnings to cosmic dreams!

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Tags: Isro, Vikram sarabhai, Pslv, Gaganyaan, Indian space program, Chandrayaan,