ISRO has done it

“Today the naughty boy has become obedient”, were the historic words uttered by S Ramakrishnan, Director of Vikram Sarabai Space Centre while referring to many failures that had preceded the moment of triumph. After more than 30 years of toil, Indian scientists have been able to successfully ignite an indigenous cryogenic engine to launch a GSLV rocket in the space. The crucial engine had remained an enigma with our space scientists who had vowed to manufacture it indigenously after the US imposed embargo on the transfer of cryogenic technology.
The story of India making indigenous cryogenic is bizarre in part. It was way back in 1991 that we were to receive the technology of cryogenic engine from the then Soviet Union. Then happened the implosion of the Soviet Union, and two years later, Russia retracted the agreement. However, it did agree to give four more engines but not the technology. Veteran Indian scientist Nambi Narayanan managed to bring in crucial components of the engine without drawing the attention of the Americans who would have obstructed it. Since Air India had refused to carry the crucial components fearing the American embargo, Narayanan employed an alternative plan of shipment and succeeded to complete the shipment in three flights.  Narayanan’s arrest and alleged espionage charges in ISRO spying case later put ISRO under cloud and production of cryogenic engine, scheduled for 2001 could not come about.
On April 15, 2010, ISRO made the maiden attempt of firing GSLV-D3 carrying GSAT-4 from Siriharikota. But the engine failed shortly after ignition. For the next launch ISRO used the one of the two last Russian cryogenic engines left with it. But success was still far away. This time liquid fuel boosters failed. The last attempt was aborted on August 18, 2013 when the scientists detected a leak in the liquid fuel tank. They corrected it and at last success kissed their hands on Sunday last.
Putting the success story in perspective, the mission Director S Radhakrishnana said,” Behind the 1,000 wonderful seconds of GSLV-D5’s flight were more than a thousand days of dedication of our scientists”.  These harbingers of new India have brought us honour and dignity. We salute them for their service to the nation and to the world of technology and science. Their name will embellish the pages of our history. The successful launch will make one of the cutting edge technological breakthroughs—-manned mission to space —– a possibility. With this India has become the sixth spacefarer to develop cryogenic engines, a pre-requisite for inter-planetary probes and manned space missions.
Some people believe that the success of GDLV-D5 signals the beginning of a new era of commercial viability for Indian space missions. Germany is reported to have approached ISRO for the launch of an 800 kg satellite and the UK for three satellites weighing 300 kg each.  GSLV-D5 has the capacity to launch more than the limits prescribed for PSLV and PSLV launches are reported to have earned ISRO Rs. 1,300 crore during the current fiscal year.
With this singular technological achievement to the credit of our scientists, India is well poised for taking ling strides in the realm of science and technology so as to be at par with advanced nations of the world. At this point we are reminded of the prophetic words of President Pranab Mukherjee who recently said at convocation that our scientific researches should be oriented to bringing comforts and facilities to our citizens. Our resources and our manpower have to be put to the important necessity of improving life of our citizens, to eradicate illiteracy, poverty and backwardness. Western countries have used science and technology for changing life and society and for bringing in modernity into life style. We should also at this point of time, remember our visionary leaders who realized in good time the need and utility of opening up the country to scientific and technological investigation and research. The successful launch of the GSLV in the space is a right tribute to them which we can pay with all humility. Each big success induces us to work for bigger success and for a country with such a vast advanced technical and skilled manpower and infrastructure, nothing is impossible to do. ISRO has done it.

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