Category Indian Defence Services

One of the most important projects by Dr. Kalam was SLV-3, a satellite launch vehicle. As the project director for the development of the indigenous Satellite Launch Vehicle at ISRO, Dr. Kalam had put in over 10 years of hard work. His efforts ultimately resulted in the SLV-3 being one of the greatest scientific developments in kilometers and carry a 40 kg payload.

In August 1979, the first experimental flight of SLV-3 failed. Its first successful launch took place on 18 July, 1980. At 8.03 A. Mon 18 July 1980, the rocket SLV-3 blasted off from Sriharikota in Orissa with a 35 kg satellite, Rohini RS-1, launching India into the club of nations that could indigenously develop satellite launch technologies.

The SLV-3 was a 22-metre-long vehicle weighing 17 tonnes. It launched three Rohini satellites into orbit in 1980, 1981 and 1983. Since then India has marched forward in launch vehicle technology with advanced launch vehicles such as Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV), Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV).

Chandrayaan, India’s first unmanned lunar probe, was also launched by a modified version of the PSLV.

Picture Credit : Google

Dr. Vikram Sarabhai wanted to develop a Rocket Assisted Take Off System (RATO) for military aircraft, to make take-off and landing easy in the Himalayan region. Approved by the then-prime minister and headed by Dr. Kalam, this project was completed within 18 months.

Along with fiberglass motor casing, Dr. Kalam incorporated safety measures into a diaphragm that expanded when the temperature was raised twice the normal rate. The construction of a missile panel in the Ministry of Defence was the second step during the RATO project. Dr. Kalam was one of the panelists. Since much of the equipment had to be imported and was costly, Dr. Kalam instructed his assistants to create their own parts!

On October 8, 1972, the RATO system was successfully launched at the Bareilly Air Force Station. Dr. Kalam, by using local parts, saved approximately 40 million rupees in foreign exchange. The Indian RATO was much cheaper than its counterpart in other countries.

Picture Credit : Google