Unto the Wild Blue Yonder.....

Given the fact that I have nothing much to do in office these days, a lot of my time is spent surfing the Net.....

So it was, that I happened to read the news online, and read about India's newest exploits in space, having successfully launched two new satellites simultaneously into space ("http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/photos/msid-1100000.cms") - a 1000+ kg Cartosat for mapping the earth, and a 45+ kg micro satellite for ham radio enthusiasts or some such.

That set me off on a link-click journey on India's space odyssey - and a wonderful feeling it was to read about the exploits of ISRO and all the other agencies involved in a titanic effort over the years.
Reading about military and space technology has long been my hobby, and a fresh visit to the annals of the Indian space-dream was truly an inspiring experience. At the risk of sounding melodramatic, I would go so far as to say that India's achievements in space technology (and technology in general) should rank right up there with all the modern wonders of the world. Its a story of struggle, a fight against seemingly insurmountable odds - a story akin to that of the ugly duckling, reeling under sanctions and geo-political board-games that superpowers play, who finally evolves into a lovely swan thats the cynosure of all eyes.

The saga started with the establishment of ISRO and its feeble attempts at building high-altitude rockets and weather balloons, on to the development and subsequent success of SLV (Satellite Launch Vehicle) and the beginning of the dream to reach outer space and see eye-to-eye with the established space powers. SLV was soon followed by ASLV (Augmented SLV), followed by the rather more ambitious PSLV (Polar SLV), and onwards to the grandest of them all, the GSLV (Geo-Synchronous SLV).

Quite predictably, the technological successes achieved in peaceful space flight had military spin-offs as well, and that led to the ambitious IGMDP (Integrated Guided Missile Development Program), which helped develop a slew of missiles that were at par, if not better, than others in their class - which, in no time, put India in a commanding position in the subcontinent, and, more recently, the continent itself. We have reached the stage where we can dream of the ultimate weapon - the InterContinental Ballistic Missile - that gives you a global reach and is one of the ultimate deterrents around.

This is not to portray the war-mongering aspect of the effort - it is intended, rather, to bring to attention the impact and reach of the achievements made by a few men who have worked tirelessly through rain and shine to give wings to the Indian dream.

Its not as if there weren't failures - failures there were, nay, catastrophic disasters, no less. Rockets exploding on launch, losing way and falling into the ocean, precious time and effort and money burned up in rarefied air - we've had our share of troubles and setbacks - but probably the most inspiring aspect of ISRO and the Indian effort has been its seemingly phoenix-like powers, to rise from the smouldering ashes time after time after time, to take proud flight into the endless blue skies.....