Innovative organisation of the year: Inter-planetary explorer

The Indian Space Research Organisation’s record of sending 104 satellites into space in a single day (on February 15 this year) is only the latest of its achievements.
 
While the West has largely focused on commercially exploiting space assets, Isro has just begun the journey. Yet, its achievements dwarf the challenges it faces. It has built rockets, satellites and ground equipment in the face of severe budget constraints and technology denial on the part of global powers.
 
Isro has developed capabilities using technology to address problems in the remotest parts of India in a cost-effective manner, thanks to its innovations in every mission.

 

The Indian space agency’s record speaks for itself. India has among the largest constellations of civilian remote sensing satellites in the world, which send data for weather forecasting, urban planning and agriculture. It also has advanced communication satellites for television viewing and telecommunication.
 
Isro has embarked on inter-planetary explorations with two successes — Chandrayaan-1, which found water on its first mission to the moon, and the Mars Orbiter Mission, whose scientific objectives were to explore the surface features, morphology and mineralogy of Mars and the Martian atmosphere with the help of indigenous scientific instruments. India has an observatory — AstroSat — in space to explore the universe and beyond. A follow-up mission to land a rover on the moon, and the exploration of Venus and other planets is on the cards.

 
The journey has been challenging and exciting, starting with earth observation satellites and communication and navigation satellite systems, and moving on to space science, planetary exploration satellites and technology development launch vehicles. The hallmark of Isro has been to make use of whatever capability or technology was accessible, says A S Kiran Kumar, its chairman.
 
While the goal is space, the results are visible on the ground too. It helps the country in disaster management support during floods, cyclones, landslides and earthquakes. It also works with fishermen to identify locations in the seas where they can harvest a rich catch.

 
“A satellite has no boundaries, either national or international, and collects information on the surface of earth, vegetation, clouds and even pollution,” says Kumar.
 
Isro is building heavier rockets, such as the GSLV-Mk2 — which can carry two-tonne communication satellites — and the GSLV-Mk3 to carry 4.5-tonne satellites and reduce the country’s dependence on foreign launchers. The agency is also creating capabilities to send a man into space and building a space station that can be a home in the sky for astronauts.
 
At the same time, it is looking to reduce the cost of space transportation to a fraction of what it is today. Isro has been involving the private sector to build satellites, rockets and ground equipment, so that the country benefits. By 2020, the first industry-built PSLV rocket will be launched. Isro has already contracted private firms to build its Navic satellite and will eventually look at the country becoming a hub for the space industry. It wants to replicate in the space sector India’s success in the software industry, and help the world realise the benefits of designing and manufacturing in India.