Dr. Kalam is renowned for his pivotal role in the nation’s civilian space programme and military missile development. Kalam began his career as a scientist at the Aeronautical Development Establishment of the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO). He was later transferred to the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) where he served as the project director of India’s first Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV-III), which successfully deployed the Rohini satellite in near-earth orbit in July 1980.
Then, Dr. Kalam took up the responsibility of developing Indigenous Guided Missiles at DRDO as the Chief Executive of Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP).
Kalam led the programme, which soon proved to be a resounding success, and produced a number of successful missiles, including the first Prithvi missile in 1988 and the Agni missile in 1989.
He was the Chief Scientific Adviser to the Prime Minister and Secretary of the Department of Defence Research & Development. He also played a major role in conducting the Pokhran-II, a series of five nuclear bomb test explosions in Pokhran in May, 1998.
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