about the Satellite Launch Vehicle ( SLV ), he asked me , almost in the same breath , to take up studies on a rocketassisted take-off system ( RATO ) for military aircraft . The two things had no apparent connection except in the mind of this great visionary . I knew that all I had to do was to remain alert and focussed on my purpose , and sooner or later , an opportunity to do a challenging job would enter my laboratory .
Prof . Sarabhai was ever-willing to try out novel approaches and liked to draw in young people . He had the wisdom and judgement which enabled him to realise not only if something was well done , but also when it was time to stop . In my opinion , he was an ideal experimenter and innovator . When there were alternative courses of action before us , whose outcome was difficult to predict , or to reconcile varying perspectives , Prof . Sarabhai would resort to experimentation to resolve the issue . This was precisely the situation at INCOSPAR in 1963 . A bunch of young , inexperienced , but nevertheless energetic and enthusiastic persons were given the task of fleshing out the spirit of selfreliance in the field of science and technology in general , and of space research in particular . It was a great example of leadership by trust .
The rocket launch site later blossomed into the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launch Station ( TERLS ). TERLS was established through active collaboration with France , USA and USSR . The leader of the Indian space programme — Prof . Vikram Sarabhai — had comprehended the full implications of the challenge and had not balked at taking it on . Right from the day INCOSPAR was formed , he was aware of the need to organize an integrated national space programme , with the equipment for the manufacture of rockets and launch facilities developed and produced indigenously .
With this in view , a wide-ranging programme for scientific and technological development in rocket fuels , propulsion systems , aeronautics , aerospace materials , advanced fabrication techniques , rocket motor instrumentation , control and guidance systems , telemetry , tracking systems and scientific instruments for experimentation in space were launched at the Space Science and Technology Centre and the Physical Research Laboratory at Ahmedabad . Incidentally , this laboratory has produced a large number of Indian space scientists of extremely high calibre over the years .
The real journey of the Indian aerospace programme , however , had begun with the Rohini Sounding Rocket ( RSR ) Programme . What is it that distinguishes a sounding rocket from a Satellite Launch Vehicle ( SLV ) and from a missile ? In fact , they are three different kinds of rockets . Sounding rockets are normally used for probing the nearearth environment , including the upper regions of the atmosphere . While they can carry a variety of scientific payloads to a range of altitudes , they cannot impart the final velocity needed to orbit the payload . On the other hand , a launch vehicle is designed to inject into orbit a technological payload or satellite . The final stage of a launch vehicle provides the necessary velocity for a satellite to enter an orbit . This is a complex operation requiring onboard guidance and control systems . A missile , though belonging to the same family , is a still more complex system . In addition to the large terminal velocity and onboard guidance and control , it must have the capability to home onto targets . When the targets are fast-moving and capable of manoeuvring , a missile is also required to carry