Remembering Satish Dhawan, the architect of India’s space legacy

It's been a month since Chandrayaan-3, India's moon mission, successfully soft-landed on the South Pole of the lunar surface. And while the world celebrated what was a one-of-a-kind feat, it was also time for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and others to remember the contributions of those who might not be with us today but their work is still instrumental to India's space aspirations. When we talk about India's achievements in the realm of space, one name just cannot be forgotten. It's Satish Dhawan. Born on September 25, 1920, he took charge of India's space efforts in 1971 after the sudden death of Vikram Sarabhai. In May 1972, Satish Dhawan became the head of India's Department of Space, overseeing both the Space Commission and ISRO, which was just officially established.

Dhawan was an exceptional leader, known for his skill in forming project teams at ISRO. He handpicked talented individuals like APJ Abdul Kalam, Roddam Narasimha and UR Rao to lead important projects. These teams created India's first launch vehicle, SLV-3, and its first satellite, Aryabhata. Dhawan also played a vital role in selecting young, skilled, and dedicated individuals to join ISRO.

Dhawan wasn't just a leader; he was a pioneer in space exploration. He conducted ground-breaking experiments in various fields, including rural education, remote sensing (using satellites to study Earth), and satellite communications. His work led to the development of important projects like INSAT, a satellite for telecommunications, IRS, which helped observe Earth and the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), which put India among the world's space-achieving nations.