iRead, iLearn, iWrite. Hence, iBlog.

For Indian Military, Nuclear & Space matters, visit:

Monday, July 27, 2015

This Rare Video Shows ISRO's Rohini RS-1 Satellite Being Launched Into Space

It was the first ever satellite to be successfully launched from India.

35 years ago, this month, the Indian Space Research Organisation [ISRO] launched its Rohini RS-1 satellite. With the placement of this satellite into orbit on July 18, 1980, India became only the 7th country in the world to demonstrate its indigenous satellite launching technology*. This video, AFAIK, is the only one available in the public domain of the historic occasion. No audio.

The RS-1 was launched atop one of ISRO's experimental Satellite Launch Vehicle [SLV]-series of Launchers, the SLV-3, that placed it in a Low Earth Orbit [LEO]. A prior attempt to launch another satellite, the 'Rohini Technology Payload' on the 10th of August in 1979, met with 70% success, due to a faulty Solenoid Valve. In the video, one can see the satellite being mated to the launcher, the SLV-E-02. The assembly was, then, transported horizontally to the launch pad & tilted upwards to be placed in its final vertical position, quite Soyuz-esque. Now-a-days, at its latest Launch Pad, ISRO assembles the PSLV & GSLV vertically in the Vehicle Assembly Building [VAB], followed by transportation to the Umbilical Tower for launch.

Wonder who're the people being interviewed in the clip. Could positively identify Prof. Yashpal, though. The lady in the 1st scene, ISRO P.R. rep?

Godspeed

Also Read: [Answered] Can you identify these 2 individuals? - India's Space programme [Pop Quiz]

* Following the launches by U.S.S.R, U.S.A, U.K., P.R.C, France & Japan