Institution building is a key to great power making. In this context, trace the origin and successes of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
Refer – Financial Express
IAS Parliament 6 years
KEY POINTS
Origin
· The Indian National Committee on Space Research was constituted by the Indian government in 1962, and mandated to look into the possibility of having a national space programme.
· ISRO, as an institution, started functioning from August 15, 1969.
· The then condition of India’s finance was not conducive for any space goals and determinations.
· Thus, engineers and scientists in Indian space programme were always under a burden of lot of expectations to prove the purpose.
· There were critics arguing against spending on “elite” things like outer space when millions were toiling hard under poverty.
· However, the resolve of ISRO and political will of the ruling dispensation in the 1960s made India take forward its space dreams.
Successes of ISRO
· ISRO started with the launch of Nike-Apache Sounding rockets from Thumba way back in 1963.
· The “leapfrogging” for ISRO came with the famous SITE (Satellite Instructional Television Experiment) launch in 1975.
· Jointly developed by ISRO and NASA’s cooperation, it provides educational television programmes on agriculture and farming and helped both farmers and Indian space scientists to gain technical expertise.
· Thereafter, ISRO has made strides with many of its major successes including Chandrayan, MOM, GSLV MK-III, etc. and is now a major player in the field of outer space.
· ISRO still works within very low budgets, as compared to the huge budgets of NASA and other space programmes.
Significance of ISRO
· ISRO’s PSLV is renowned for its accuracy and its least expensive rides.
· It made India, a preferred option for many of the countries to launch its space projects.
· ISRO’s projects such as SAARC, NavIC proves India as a regional stronghold.
· Though India is not a great power yet, it is certainly a major power in the international system.
· ISRO has carved a niche for itself in space communication projects and is playing a significant role in the development and progress of the nation.
· ISRO was in the forefront of using technological advancements for the benefit of the people of the nation in various ways such as distance education, prior intimation of weather and climatic conditions, etc.,
· Space programme of ISRO has contributed to the field of Medicine, Education, weather forecasting, telecommunication and Satellite surveillance.
