ISRO launched programmes to commemorate birth centenary of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has launched a year-long programmes and functions from 12 August 2019 to commemorate birth centenary of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, founder and eminent space scientist of ISRO. Dr. Vikram Sarabhai is also known as father of Indian Space Program. Starting from 12 August the centenary celebration programmes were organized across 100 selected cities all over India and the yearlong centenary celebration will conclude at Thiruvananthapuram on August 12, 2020.

Key Highlights

As Ahmedabad city is birth place of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, inaugural function was organized at Gujarat University convention Hall in Ahmedabad which was attended by a host of dignitaries from Indian Space Research Organization- Department of Space (DOS) and Department of Atomic Energy (DAE).

Commemorative coins were unveiled during inaugural ceremony.

Unique “Space on Wheels” exhibition inside bus was also held at Gujarat University Convention & Exhibition Center, in Ahmedabad.

ISRO also unveiled a Coffee Table book and a photo album of on life and work of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai.

About Dr. Vikram Sarabhai:

He was born in Ahmedabad in 1919 and earned his doctorate at Cambridge.

He founded Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) in Ahmedabad in 1947.

He is known as father of India’s space program.

After launch of Russia’s Sputnik, he managed to convince Indian government on need for India, a developing country, to have its own space program.

In 1962, he established Indian National Committee for Space Research, which was later renamed as Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).

He helped set up Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station in Thiruvananthapuram, with its maiden flight in 1963.

He had worked on Aryabhata, India’s first satellite, but he never lived to see its launch in 1975, which happened 4 years after his death.

Awards and Honours:

He received Padma Bhushan (1966) and was conferred Padma Vibhushan (1972) posthumously.

In 1973, a crater on moon was named after him.

Lander of Chandrayaan-2, India’s 2nd mission to moon, is named ‘Vikram’ to honour late Dr Vikram Sarabhai. This is naming of lander is part of the centenary celebrations of Vikram Sarabhai.

Month: Current Affairs - August, 2019