ISRO's marvelous feat
Indian Space Research Organization's (ISRO), successful launch of one hundred and four nano-satellites into orbit all on board a single rocket, is record-breaking and huge landmark proving India's capabilities in its space programme that needed wholehearted applause. That this India's space scientists are among the best in the world has been proved time and again. But unfortunately, caught in a web of petty politics on partisan lines, we fail to exult collectively as a people in any meaningful way on any of our strides. History is being made around us but we still revel in negativism in overall terms. The reality is that the milestone launch from the Sriharikota space Centre superseded the Russian record of 37 satellites in a single launch. On board was a 714kg satellite for earth observation and more than 100 smaller satellites weighing less than 10kg each. Three were Indian-owned, 96 were from US companies, and the rest belonged to companies based in Israel, Kazakhstan, the Netherlands, Switzerland and the United Arab Emirates. Most were owned by Planet Labs Inc, a US-based Earth-imaging company and offered a fine opportunity to India to make commercial capital of our rare expertise and enterprise.
The feat did not require vastly new technology, but rather reflects the shrinking size and weight of modern satellites. After reaching a height of about 505km, the satellites will separate from the launch vehicle at different times, angles and velocities to avoid collisions. The precision required in this is mind-boggling. That India had sent an unmanned rocket to orbit Mars in 2013 at a cost of just $73 million compared with NASA's
It is indeed happy augury that the business of putting commercial satellites into space for a fee is growing as phone, internet and other companies as well as countries seek greater and more hi-tech communications. The reputation India has built up as a reliable low-cost option in this line will go a long way in getting India orders in the future but there is no room for complacency in a world that is so fiercely competitive. We can neither afford to lower our guard against saboteurs nor loosen our grip over tight pricing.
