Thumba equatorial rocket launching station dedicated to

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is organising a function here on Friday to commemorate the golden jubilee of the launch of India’s first indigenous sounding rocket and the dedication of the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS) to the United Nations. It was on November 20, 1967 that the country’s first indigenous sounding rocket Rohini-75 soared into the sky from the TERLS range, marking India’s first step in the development of rocketry. On February 2, 1968 TERLS was dedicated to the UN by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi as an international range for carrying out experiments near the geomagnetic equator. In 1962, Homi J. Bhabha, then Chairman, Department of Atomic Energy, and Vikram Sarabhai, then Chairman of the newly constituted Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR), selected the fishing hamlet of Thumba here as the ideal location for establishing the rocket launch station. TERLS began its operation with the launch of the Nike-Apache, a two-stage US Sounding rocket, on November 21, 1963, fuelling the beginning of modern rocket-based research in India and the development of indigenous sounding rockets. The Nike Apache, weighing 715 kg with a payload weight of 30 kg, reached an altitude of 207 km. Four years later on November 20, 1967, the first indigenously developed sounding rocket Rohini-75 (RH-75) was launched. The rocket reached an altitude of 9.3 km marking the beginning of Indian rocketry. The Rohini family of sound...

YEAR MILESTONE 1962 Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR) formed by the Department of Atomic Energy and work on establishing Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS) started. 1963 First sounding rocket launched from TERLS (November 21, 1963). 1965 Space Science & Technology Centre (SSTC) established in Thumba. 1967 Satellite Telecommunication Earth Station set up at Ahmedabad. 1968 TERLS dedicated to the United Nations (February 2, 1968). 1969 Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO ) formed under Department of Atomic Energy (August 15, 1969). 1972 Space Commission and Department of Space set up (June 1, 1972). ISRO brought under DOS. 1972-1976 Air-borne remote sensing experiments. 1975 Becomes Government Organisation (April 1, 1975). ISRO First Indian Satellite, Aryabhata , launched (April 19, 1975). 1975-1976 Satellite Instructional Television Experiment (SITE) conducted. 1977 Satellite Telecommunication Experiments Project (STEP) carried out. 1979 Bhaskara-I, an experimental satellite for earth observations, launched (June 7, 1979). First Experimental launch of SLV-3 with Rohini Technology Payload on board (August 10, 1979). Satellite could not be placed in orbit. 1980 Second Experimental launch of SLV-3, Rohini satellite successfully placed in orbit. (July 18, 1980). 1981 First developmental launch of SLV-3. RS-D1 placed in orbit (May 31, 1981) APPLE , an experimental geo-stationary communication satellite successfully launched (June 19, 19...

It was as if Mary Magdalene had reserved the most ideal spot for India's space mission much in advance. Way back in 1962, two visionary scientists of Indian Atomic Energy, Homi Bhabha and Vikram Sarabhai, were scouting for a suitable spot to start a space research station when, deep down along the Kerala coast, they came across an imposing red stone church dedicated to Saint Mary Magdalene, the woman to whom Jesus Christ first appeared after resurrection. The church was within a vast 600-odd acres between the coast and a railway line in an obscure hamlet called Thumba, and what interested Bhabha and Sarabhai was that it was almost on the earth's magnetic equator. The scientists made a request and the Latin Church, after getting consent from the fisherfolk who believed in the miraculous powers of the deity, obliged. Nearly 90 acres of the church land, which included a primary school also, were handed over and 183 families, too, had to move out. In all, over 800 acres of land were taken over. Work is worship The magnificent church was converted into the first office of the Thumba Space Centre. But the sandalwood statue of Mary Magdalene was kept where it was, above the altar, hovering over young scientists like a guardian angel as they went about assembling the country's first rockets. The church's prayer room was the scientists' first laboratory and the bishop’s quarters nearby was the first design and drawing office. Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS) was t...

Vikram Sarabhai Space Center (VSSC) Liquid Propolusion Systems Center (LPSC) Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station [TERLS] 8°29'N 76°55'E The Vikram Sarabhai Space Center (VSSC) in Tiruvananthapuram is responsible for the whole gamut of issues involved in launch vehicle development. Its scientists and engineers have several success stories of which to boast. From humble beginnings, starting with the early days of sounding rockets, its most recent success story is the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) which placed the indigenous 1000 KG class Indian Remote Sensing satellite IRS-P2 in orbit on October 15, 1994. PSLV's successor is the GSLV, with the G standing for Geosynchronous. It will be capable of launching 2500 KG class communication satellites in geosynchronous orbit. The Liquid Propolusion Systems Center (LPSC) is reponsible for R&D in liquid propulsion, earth storable and cryogenic engines, stages and associated components for launching spacecraft . The Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station [TERLS] is located on the magnetic equator and hence strategically poised for scientists to conduct atmospheric research. The Thumba Station at the VSSC Complex has been dedicated to the UN for research on atmospheric sciences. India's practical space activity began with the establishment of Thumba. At the helm of affairs overseeing this token achievement was Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, Chairman of the erstwhile Indian National Committee for Space Research. India's space pr...