The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) recently celebrated its 100th mission with a flawless launch of a PSLV from Sriharikota. No mean feat, as for ISRO it all began just 37 years ago when, in 1975, it launched India’s first experimental satellite – Aryabhata. In an exclusive conversation with B&E’s Kumar Buradikatti, Prof. U. R. Rao, Former Chairman of ISRO and the man behind Aryabhata, recalls how he led his team and heralded India into space age
B&E: Who all were there in the Aryabhata team?
URR: In Aryabhata team we had about 250 engineers and scientists. But it all started with a small group in Ahmedabad and Dr. Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan, Former Chairman of ISRO and the Space Commission, was one of them. In fact, many of them were my students. I also had a small group in Trivandrum. They all came. They just said, “We are coming with you.” Then we recruited. Everyday, we conducted six interviews. I even wrote to some institutions and requested them to send two of their best students to us. Many young students came. Some would see the place – an area without proper infrastructure in place – and ask, “Sir, are you going to build it in this shed?” I would simply reply, “Look, if you believe me, you can join me. Otherwise, go back and don’t waste my time. I only have two and a half years to build the satellite and I am bent on meeting it.” I was really changing my life. That’s why I took two years to accept Dr. Sarabhai’s proposal. Dr. Vikram Sarabhai was not only my professor, my guru, but also a wonderful person. We started building Aryabhata in August-September 1972 and had launched it by April 1975. At the time the satellite was being made, the average age of the team was 25 years, and I was the eldest at 40!
B&E: What type of support did the Aryabhata team received from the Russians and others?
URR: As far as Russians are concerned, they gave us a free launch, which was the most important thing at that time. We didn’t pay anything at all. In fact, they even launched Bhaskar-1 and Bhaskara-2 for free. Then, IRS onwards, they started charging us. But a nominal fee, much lesser than what others normally charged. Similarly, for the first experimental communication satellite, Apple, we got free launch from European Space Agency. Second time onwards, we had to pay. These free launches certainly helped us a lot.
B&E: How did you execute the project?
URR: We made a team of three, me being the Chairman. T. N. Seshan, who was the Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Space at that time, was one of the members. We were completely armed and decisive. We would just discuss and place the orders. Since we had nothing, we would buy everything, from furniture to expensive machinery. However, within three months we had set up a wonderful laboratory! Everyone said that it was wonderful and they wanted to come and see the place. In fact, many internationally renowned personalities, including heads of all space agencies, visited it. Even all Prime Ministers, from Morarji Desai to Indira Gandhi, and Presidents visited the laboratory. Everybody thought that something strange is going to happen and cooperated wonderfully. I also gave a list to MIT and NASA headquarters and said, “These are the things I need and it’s up to you figure out how you can help me. But I don’t have much time.” Every evening, I would get a box! Seeing this, some would ask as to how I was going to pay them. I would simply reply, “I won’t pay them. I have friends across the globe and they are helping me.” Everything went like this.
URR: In Aryabhata team we had about 250 engineers and scientists. But it all started with a small group in Ahmedabad and Dr. Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan, Former Chairman of ISRO and the Space Commission, was one of them. In fact, many of them were my students. I also had a small group in Trivandrum. They all came. They just said, “We are coming with you.” Then we recruited. Everyday, we conducted six interviews. I even wrote to some institutions and requested them to send two of their best students to us. Many young students came. Some would see the place – an area without proper infrastructure in place – and ask, “Sir, are you going to build it in this shed?” I would simply reply, “Look, if you believe me, you can join me. Otherwise, go back and don’t waste my time. I only have two and a half years to build the satellite and I am bent on meeting it.” I was really changing my life. That’s why I took two years to accept Dr. Sarabhai’s proposal. Dr. Vikram Sarabhai was not only my professor, my guru, but also a wonderful person. We started building Aryabhata in August-September 1972 and had launched it by April 1975. At the time the satellite was being made, the average age of the team was 25 years, and I was the eldest at 40!
B&E: What type of support did the Aryabhata team received from the Russians and others?
URR: As far as Russians are concerned, they gave us a free launch, which was the most important thing at that time. We didn’t pay anything at all. In fact, they even launched Bhaskar-1 and Bhaskara-2 for free. Then, IRS onwards, they started charging us. But a nominal fee, much lesser than what others normally charged. Similarly, for the first experimental communication satellite, Apple, we got free launch from European Space Agency. Second time onwards, we had to pay. These free launches certainly helped us a lot.
B&E: How did you execute the project?
URR: We made a team of three, me being the Chairman. T. N. Seshan, who was the Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Space at that time, was one of the members. We were completely armed and decisive. We would just discuss and place the orders. Since we had nothing, we would buy everything, from furniture to expensive machinery. However, within three months we had set up a wonderful laboratory! Everyone said that it was wonderful and they wanted to come and see the place. In fact, many internationally renowned personalities, including heads of all space agencies, visited it. Even all Prime Ministers, from Morarji Desai to Indira Gandhi, and Presidents visited the laboratory. Everybody thought that something strange is going to happen and cooperated wonderfully. I also gave a list to MIT and NASA headquarters and said, “These are the things I need and it’s up to you figure out how you can help me. But I don’t have much time.” Every evening, I would get a box! Seeing this, some would ask as to how I was going to pay them. I would simply reply, “I won’t pay them. I have friends across the globe and they are helping me.” Everything went like this.
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