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.
Satish Dhawan played a crucial role in making Vikram Sarabhai's dream come true. They wanted to use space research to help India develop and grow. Even after he retired, Dhawan continued his efforts to benefit the public in science and technology, especially space technology.
To honour his incredible contributions, the Indian satellite launch station in Sriharikota was renamed to Prof. Satish Dhawan Space Centre after he passed away in 2002.
Education:
Satish Dhawan's educational journey was quite remarkable. He studied BSc in physics and mathematics at the University of Punjab in Lahore, then part of British India but now in Pakistan. From the same university, he also completed his MA in English literature.
In 1947, he earned his MSc in aerospace engineering from the University of Minnesota in the USA. Then, he pursued aeronautical engineering from the California Institute of Technology. He achieved not one but two PhDs, one in mathematics and the other in aerospace engineering. He completed these dual doctorates in 1951 under the guidance of his advisor, Hans W. Liepmann.
(Edited by : Vivek Dubey)
