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ScienceIndia's space programme marks 60 years since first rocket launch
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The article commemorates the 60th anniversary of India's space program, which began on November 21, 1963, with the launch of a 715-kg Nike Apache rocket from Thumba, a fishing village near Thiruvananthapuram. The rocket rose 208 km into the sky, witnessed by thousands, including pioneers Vikram Sarabhai, E.V. Chitnis, P.D. Bhavsar, and A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. This launch was an international effort under the United Nations. India launched its first fully indigenous rocket on February 22, 1969, described as 'pencil-sized' by Vasant Gowariker. On July 18, 1980, India joined the elite club of nations capable of placing satellites into orbit using its own SLV-3 rocket. Despite failures, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has grown into a major spacefaring power.
Source report
From a small launch pad, the 715-kg Nike Apache rocket rose 208 km into the sky.
The sight fascinated thousands of people in the area, which even motivated some of them to join the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The Nike Apache launch was an international effort under the United Nations.
The launch took place in the presence of legends such as Vikram Sarabhai, father of the Indian space programme, E.V. Chitnis, P.D. Bhavsar, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, among others.
Key Milestones
- February 22, 1969: India launched its first truly indigenous rocket. The rocket carried a few kilograms of solid propellants and rose a few kilometres into the air. Vasant Gowariker, who later became the Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, described it as "a pencil-sized rocket."
- July 18, 1980: India became part of a select club of nations to put their satellites into orbit using their own launch vehicles, with its SLV-3 rocket launch.
Though ISRO has had its share of failures, today, India is an influential spacefaring nation.
Read the full story here.
Script: T.S Subramanian Production and Voiceover: Yuvasree S
Published - December 02, 2023 07:07 pm IST
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India's Space Programme Marks 60 Years Since First Rocket Launch