"Chasing the Sun: Exploring India's Unique Journey to the Sun"

First Sounding Rocket launch by Vikram Sarabhai in 1963:

Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, often referred to as the father of India's space program, was instrumental in launching India's first sounding rocket in 1963. The rocket was developed by the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS), which Sarabhai had established in Thumba, Kerala in 1962.

The sounding rocket, named Nike-Apache, was launched on November 21, 1963, and reached an altitude of 212 km. The rocket was used to study the Earth's ionosphere, which is a layer of the Earth's atmosphere that is ionized by solar radiation and plays a key role in radio communications.

The launch of the Nike-Apache marked a major milestone in India's space program and paved the way for further developments in space research and technology. Sarabhai's vision and leadership were crucial in the establishment of TERLS and the successful launch of the sounding rocket, which helped to put India on the map as a rising player in the field of space science.

Indo Soviet manned space mission:

India and the Soviet Union had plans for a joint manned space mission in the 1980s, but the mission never materialized due to a variety of factors.

The idea of an Indo-Soviet manned space mission was first proposed in 1984, when Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi visited the Soviet Union and discussed the possibility with Soviet leaders. The proposed mission would have involved an Indian astronaut flying to space aboard a Soviet spacecraft, with the possibility of conducting experiments and carrying out joint research activities.

However, the project faced a number of challenges, including funding and technical issues. India was facing a severe economic crisis at the time, and was unable to contribute significant funding to the project. In addition, India did not have the infrastructure or technology required to support a manned space mission, which would have required significant investment in space research and development.

Despite these challenges, the two countries continued to explore the possibility of a joint manned space mission throughout the 1980s. However, the project was ultimately shelved in the early 1990s, following the collapse of the Soviet Union and the economic and political changes that followed.

While the Indo-Soviet manned space mission never took place, the two countries have continued to collaborate on a range of space-related activities, including satellite launches and scientific research. In recent years, India has emerged as a major player in the global space industry, with a growing space program and ambitious plans for future missions.

GSLV D1 LAUNCH:

The GSLV-D1 launch was an important milestone for India's space program, as it marked the first successful launch of the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) in 2001.

The GSLV is a three-stage rocket that is designed to launch satellites into geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO), which is an elliptical orbit used by communications satellites to provide continuous coverage of a specific region of the Earth's surface.

The GSLV-D1 launch took place on April 18, 2001, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sri Hari Kota, Andhra Pradesh. The rocket carried a 1,540 kg experimental satellite called GSAT-1, which was designed to test various technologies and systems for future satellite missions.

The launch was initially delayed due to technical issues, but was eventually successful, with the GSLV-D1 rocket placing the GSAT-1 satellite into orbit as planned. The successful launch of the GSLV-D1 was a major achievement for India's space program, as it demonstrated the country's capability to launch satellites into GTO using indigenous technology.

Since the GSLV-D1 launch, India has continued to develop and refine its space launch capabilities, with several successful launches of the GSLV and other rockets in the years since. The country has also become a major player in the global satellite launch market, with a growing portfolio of commercial and scientific satellite launches.

2013 MARS ORBITAL MISSION MANGALYAAN:

The Mars Orbital Mission (MOM), also known as Mangalyaan, was a historic mission launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in 2013. The mission aimed to explore Mars and study its surface, atmosphere, and mineralogy, and make India the first country in the world to successfully reach Mars on its first attempt.

The MOM spacecraft was launched on November 5, 2013, using a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. After a journey of nearly 10 months, the spacecraft successfully entered Mars orbit on September 24, 2014, making India the first country in the world to reach Mars on its first attempt.

The spacecraft carried a suite of scientific instruments to study the Martian environment, including a thermal infrared spectrometer, a methane sensor, and a Mars Colour Camera, among others. The mission was designed to study the Martian atmosphere and surface features, as well as to search for signs of life and water on the planet.

The MOM mission was a major achievement for India's space program, and was widely celebrated across the country as a symbol of India's growing scientific and technological prowess. The mission demonstrated India's ability to undertake complex and challenging space missions, and paved the way for future space exploration and scientific research.

Since the MOM mission, India has continued to expand its space program, with a growing portfolio of missions and collaborations with other space agencies around the world.

103 Satellites from Single Rocket:

The launch of 103 satellites from a single rocket was a historic achievement for India's space program, demonstrating the country's growing capability in the global satellite launch market.

The launch took place on February 15, 2017, when the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) carrying a total of 103 satellites. The rocket was launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sri Hari Kota, Andhra Pradesh, and placed the satellites into orbit around the Earth.

The launch included three Indian satellites and 100 smaller satellites from six other countries, including the United States, Israel, and the United Arab Emirates. The satellites were launched into a variety of orbits, including sun-synchronous orbit, which is commonly used by Earth-observing satellites.

The launch was a major achievement for ISRO, and set a new world record for the most number of satellites launched from a single rocket. It also demonstrated India's growing capability in the global satellite launch market, with the country emerging as a major player in recent years.

Since the launch of 103 satellites, India has continued to expand its space program, with a growing portfolio of satellite launches and space-related activities. The country has also made significant progress in developing new technologies and capabilities, including the development of a reusable launch vehicle and plans for manned space missions in the future.