Vikram Sarabhai

Question and answers: -

1. Describe India's journey towards space.
A: - India's space programme began in the early 1960s. The Tata Institute of Fundamental Research did its experiment with high altitude balloons to collect data. As magnetic equator passes through Thumba, near Trivandrum, at first the rocket launching station was established at Thumba. The first sounding rocket, Rohini 75 went up through Thumba station in 1967. India later planned to use US-built ATS-6 satellite during 1974-75 to try out experimental TV broadcasting to about 2000 Indian villages.

           The first satellite, Aryabhatta was launched from Soviet Russia in 1975, as India did not have a launching pad then. Later Bhaskara satellite was launched to get the details like movement of glaciers in the Himalayas. As Thumba rocket launching station was located in a densely populated area, Sriharikota of Andhra Pradesh was selected as a launching station. It was a deserted island and had the added advantage of the sea. In 1980, Rohini satellite was put in orbit by an Indian launch vehicle, SLV-3. The next attempt, Rohini-II did not succeed, it burnt up.

           Later APPLE satellite was sent into orbit. With APPLE, Indian space exploration entered another phase. India's INSAT-I series satellites are currently providing telephone and television links and taking meteorological pictures. India's remote sensing satellites are basically meant for earth's observation. There are helping in mining, agriculture, in assessing ocean resources and assisting oil exploration.

        For all this and much more Indians have to thank Vikram Sarabhai as he was the architect of space programme in India.

2. 'Space exploration...had immense benefit to offer to a country of India's size with its innumerable problems.' Identify the benefits.
A: - We can explain the benefits of space exploration in the words of Vikram Sarabhai himself. To the question 'why should India venture into space?' he replies that it was a quickest way to success. If India had satellites of her own, messages can be transmitted in a matter of seconds and important information can be gained easily. India's INSAT-1 series satellites particularly provide telephone and television links. They also enable us to take meteorological pictures. India's remote sensing satellites are helping us in mining, agriculture, in assessing (estimate) ocean resources and in bringing out oil exploration. With the help of communication satellites, we can pass the information on nutrition, health and agriculture to the village-dwellers/people.

3. What advantages did Sarabhai bring about in the scientific world in India?
A: - Vikram Sarabhai is one of the greatest personalities in the scientific world of India. He brought about number of changes in the scientific world of India. But he is chiefly remembered as an architect of the space age in India. In fact, he set the stage for India's take-off into space age.

           Sarabhai established a research station at Gulmarg in 1954 which was later expanded into a full-fledged high altitude laboratory. Most of the people of the world were dismissive about India's chances of success in space technology. Sarabhai had the foresight, courage and confidence to launch India into space age even when most of the Indian scientists were in no mood to do any further space research.

         With the help of Vikram Sarabhai's efforts, we were able to launch number of satellites like Aryabhatta, the first Indian satellite, Bhaskara, Rohini and APPLE etc. Besides these, India launched communication satellites like, INSAT-I series and remote sensing satellites. All these satellites are helping us in mining, agriculture, assessing ocean and oil resources, and providing telephone and television links and taking meteorological pictures etc. For all this we have to thank Vikram Sarabhai.

            The initiations of Homi Jahangir Bhabha like, atomic energy technology, power plants, heavy water plants and nuclear fuel complex etc. were taken over by Sarabhai. Sarabhai marched all these fields to the pinnacles of success. In his view, there had to be a close relation between basic science, technology and the industry to achieve maximum efficiency. Thus, Sarabhai brought a new totality of approach to science.

4. Trace Sarabhai's work relating to atomic energy.
A: - Sarabhai took over the chairmanship of the Atomic Energy Department when Homi Jahangir Bhabha died in 1966. It is true that Bhabha's efforts had introduced atomic energy technology in India. While, Bhabha laid the foundation of atomic energy, Sarabhai led it to the success levels in India. During Sarabhai's time Reactor Physics, which is related to power production had made unimagined progress and nuclear technology was a wide, varied and highly sophisticated field.

            Like Bhabha, Sarabhai also committed to a large atomic programme, particularly to the building of fast breeder reactors. He gave special priority to the Cyclotron project at Calcutta, which is now an advanced Centre for Nuclear Research and the best of its kind in Asia.