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ISRO makes a comeback

Six months ago, there was gloom when the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle failed in flight after an engine malfunction. Now, the nation and the Indian Space Research Organisation have good reason to cheer. The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), the workhorse launcher of the Indian space programme that had already flown eight consecutive successful missions, has once again turned in a flawless performance. On Wednesday, the PSLV launched India's most advanced earth-observation satellite, the country's first effort at a recoverable capsule, and two small satellites for foreign customers. ISRO has not limited itself to building increasingly more sophisticated earth-viewing satellites; it has played a key role in establishing the capability within government and industry to utilise the images from space for practical ends. When IRS-1C was launched in 1995, its black-and-white images were capable of picking up objects just 5.8 metres across; they also offered the highest resolution satellite images that were commercially available at the time. Cartosat-2, which has been launched by the PSLV, will provide images with a resolution of less than a metre, which means they are suitable for many town planning activities, mapping, and several other applications. Images with even better resolution taken by the U.S. QuickBird satellite can, however, be readily purchased. Google Earth uses such pictures to make spectacular views of places across the globe, including Indian cities, freely accessible over the Internet. No doubt easy access to high resolution images raises security concerns, but it is vital for the Government to ensure that excessive bureaucracy and procedural delays do not hamper access to the sort of images Cartosat-2 will take.

Two scientific tests are to be conducted aboard the Space Capsule Recovery Experiment (SRE-I) under very low gravity conditions that prevail as it orbits the earth. After several days in space, the capsule will, on command from ground stations, fire onboard rockets to reduce its speed and make a controlled re-entry before splashing down in the Bay of Bengal. The Soviet Union and the United States first developed recoverable space capsules for film-based spy photography. Since 1975, China has successfully launched several recoverable capsules for microgravity experiments as well as for photography. Should India opt for a manned space programme of its own, ISRO will find its experience in re-entry with recoverable capsules invaluable. ISRO has many ambitious plans for the future. Its biggest challenge in achieving these goals will be attracting talented and committed scientists and engineers to the organisation when other, more financially rewarding opportunities abound.

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