INDIAN Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has achieved a new high in the country’s space programme by facilitating docking of two satellites as part of the SpaDex experiment. The two docked satellites are now operating as a single object subject to joint control. This needs to be recorded as a historic moment in India’s ambitious space programme that has achieved successful lunar landing as well in the past. The world watched in awe as the ISRO scientists successfully conducted the docking experiment, thus taking one more major step towards manned missions into space. The entire community of scientists at the ISRO and elsewhere needs to be complimented and congratulated on this achievement -- which takes India into the elite league of just four nations to have acquired the technology. India -- ISRO -- harbours high ambitions as part of the space programme that started on a small note several decades ago. But the verve and nerve the scientists showed then is the same today as in those early times.

 

The biggest fight was against lack of appropriate resources that were needed to conduct research in space science. Undaunted, the country’s scientific community continued its work doggedly -- not just in space science but also in many other disciplines including nuclear domain -- to record high achievement in almost every endeavour. In the process, countless numbers of Indian scientists attained international acclaim for their professionalism and their spirit. The successful SpaDex experiment is the latest and the highest point in that trajectory so far. Though various achievements of ISRO may make many to feel that success is habitual for the Indian space agency. But those who know the intricacies of rocket science and the high degree of risks involved, would realise how ISRO has been scaling up its performance levels painstakingly. Very unambiguosly conscience of resource crunch, the ISRO scientists have often spent every rupee at their disposal with utmost care and caution.

 

In the process, they have earned global acclaim by making even trips to the moon much less expensive than those undertaken by other countries with advanced technologies available at their command. India’s successful SpaDex experiment looks all the brighter against the reality of Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams having been stuck at the International Space Station (ISS) for a long time, thanks to the snag in the space vehicle that was expected to bring her back to Earth. Of course, even in those conditions, Sunita Williams is conducting her work as mission commander, all right. But the coincidence of her getting stuck up there at the ISS and the successful Indian SpaDex deployment is striking. The ISRO is diligently working on the manned missions into space, as is known to one and all. Such endeavours are full of serious risks -- of which the ISRO leading lights are aware fully.

 

Yet, they are confident that in due time, the Indian space agency will complete all those missions and will keep registering greater achievements in space. Thanks to all the achievements, the world now looks at ISRO as an agency manned by some of the best brains in space science in the world. India’s speciality is that it can boast of a great talent pool in sciences -- which has ensured that there is a steady supply of scientists at all levels to take the country forward in different domains, space being one. This has invited a comprehensive appreciation from all quarters including politics. In the past few years, ISRO has become a new signature of India’s scientific achievements. This success is also attracting bright children to studying sciences in greater depths. Thus, ISRO is proving to be an inspirer for newer generations of Indians in the field of science and technology -- deserving a wholesome appreciation.