From failures ISRO steps to multiple-mission

Sriharikota, Jan 10: Leaving behind the GSLV-F02 debacle, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) today scaled new heights with the successful launch of PSLV-C7, the tenth flight of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).

It was a special moment for ISRO scientists, more so for the space organisation chief G Madhavan Nair.

The launch is significant in not just its success but also because it has put India in the elite club of countries having successfully tested Space Capsule Recovery Experiment (SRE-1) and launching multiple satellites, a first for ISRO.

Having been associated with several successful launches earlier, Mr Nair, who was conferred with the prestigious Padmabhushan in 1998, had scripted his success story right from the first launch after he assumed office as the head of ISRO.

He tasted his first success after he took over from his illustrious predecessor Dr K Kasturirangan, when the RESOURCESAT-1 (IRS-P6) was launched by PSLV-C5 on October 17, 2003. Since then, he never looked back.

Under the astute leadership of Dr Kasturirangan, who was at the helm of affairs of ISRO for nearly a decade, the Indian Space Programme had witnessed several major milestones, including the commissioning of India's prestigious launch vehicle, the PSLV and the GSLV.

Mr Nair had virtually stepped into the shoes of Dr Kasturirangan following the successful launch of the PSLV-C5, which had placed the heaviest 1,360 kg, RESOURCESAT-1 in the 817 km Polar Sunsynchornous Orbit.

Adding yet another feather in his cap, came the successful launch of the first operational flight of GSLV-F01, which launched EDUSAT, that not only displayed the country's prowess in the global space scenario, but also placed India among an elite group of nations.

And the May 5, 2005 success of PSLV-C6, carrying two satellites (CARTOST-1 and HAMSAT) in a single mission, reinforced the ISRO's commitment to use the PSLV for its 'dream project'--Chandrayaan (Moon Mission) next year. But for the rare setback when GSLV-F02, the second operational flight of the GSLV, failed to launch INSAT-4C, it was a success again for Mr Nair and the smile was back on his face.

A leading technologist in the field of Rocket Systems, Mr Nair had served as the Director of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC, Thiruvananthapuram) and had made significant contributions to the development of multi-stage Satellite Launch Vehicles for the Indian Space Programme.

As the top boss of the VSSC, he had led research and development in the area of satellite launch vehicles for orbiting spacecraft for remote sensing and communications.

An engineering graduate from Kerala University, Mr Nair underwent training at Bhabha Atomic Research Center (BARC), Mumbai, and joined the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS) in 1967.

Since then, he had held various positions posting illustrious milestones on his way to the present position, the most significant being his contributions to the first Indian Satellite Launch Vehicle, SLV-3.

As Project Director, he brought to fruition the development of India's first operational Satellite Launch Vehicle, PSLV. With nine successful launches so far, PSLV, in its tenth flight, had convincingly demonstrated its reliability for launching multiple satellites, including placing them in different orbits in a single launch. And today's success once again reinforced the PSLV's reliability as the workhorse of ISRO.

Mr Nair's contributions to the indigenous development of cryogenic technology were immense and as Director, Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre during 1995-99, he was instrumental in giving concrete shape for the vital infrastructure for its development.

After taking over as VSSC Director in 1999, and in the following two years, he led the successful flight of GSLV in the very first attempt followed by yet another successful flight in May 2003.

He had demonstrated it again by scripting yet another success story on the first operating flight of GSLV-F01 in September 2004 and carried it forward today (PSLV-C7 launch).

UNI