A tribute to ISRO and its vision, on the occasion of the successful launch of Chandrayaan-I. I have tried to chronicle ISRO's journey from humble beginnings as the underfunded space program of an impoverished nation to one of the premier space research organisations of the world. This particular presentation was created for school children, in order to inspire them to dream big and take pride in their nation's endeavours. - Rahul M

1. IndIa’s MIssIon To Moon
NOTE : THIS IS NOT AN OFFICIAL ISRO DOCUMENT

2. From Chand-Mama of our
childhood to the Chandrayaan
now, the moon continues to
fascinate and attract us.
Chandra-Dev

3. Man On The Moon
The Moon was naturally the first target once man
reached out for outer space in the 50’s and 60’s.
The two countries America and Soviet Russia
began a competition to reach the moon first.
The space-race ended with Neil Armstrong’s
Landing on the Moon in an Apollo-11 rocket.
Apollo-11
Rocket.

4. India’s Space Programme
At around the same time in 1962 India
started her Space Programme under the
able leadership of Prof. Vikram Sarabhai.
India was still a poor country then and
Could not afford the amount of money
foreign space powers spent on their
space programmes.
The Nation’s Space pioneers decided
Prof. Vikram Sarabhai. to create programmes that would help
The Father of India’s the common man of the country.
Space Programme.

5. India’s Space Programme:
The Early Years
This small Church at
Thumba housed the
first satellite centre of
India’s space
programme !

6. India’s Space Programme:
Humble Beginnings - I
Always running on a tight budget, the early space
scientists of our country created a space programme
on little else other than determination and hard-work !
Future President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam
(on right) working on a rocket payload
at Thumba in 1964.
It was so hot His co-worker
Prof. Aravamudan had to work with
His shirt off !
Anything for the country !

7. India’s Space Programme:
Humble Beginnings - II
Rocket parts being carried by Bullock carts !

8. India’s Space Programme:
Humble Beginnings - III
Cranes and specialised vehicles were
luxuries they could ill afford !
Scientists transporting a rocket Scientists use muscle power to
nose-cone on a bi-cycle ! lift a rocket to its launching pad !

9. What Is A Satellite ?
Just like the moon revolves
around the earth, satellites are
man-made objects that revolve
around the earth utilising its
Gravitational attraction.
India’s EduSat in its
orbit around the earth.

10. What Are Satellites Used For ?
Ans:- Communication !
Satellites are used for virtually
everything from mobile phone
services to live TV broadcasts.
Next time you watch the
India vs Australia cricket match,
remember it’s an Indian satellite
up in the sky making it possible !

11. What Are Satellites Used For ?
Ans:- Earth Observation !
Satellites are also used for
weather forecasting and carry
cameras for taking pictures
of earth.
With these pictures scientists
can predict floods, food
production and also find out
places where useful things
like water and valuable
minerals are available.
New Delhi From Indian
Satellite Cartosat-2A

12. RKM Asansol From The Sky !
Satellite Image.
Source : Wikimapia
Note : This image is old
and therefore recent
developments on the
campus are not shown.

13. How Are Satellites
Launched Into Space ?
To launch them into space,
Satellites are carried atop rockets.
The rocket carries the satellite inside
protective covering that protects it from
being burnt up by atmospheric friction.
On reaching outer space the protective
covering is blown away and the satellite
Is injected into its orbit.
It then starts going around the Earth under
the influence of gravity.

14. Chandrayaan :
Satellite Of The Moon ?
Just like earth-bound
satellites study the earth,
Chandrayaan-I will study
the Moon and will in effect
become a satellite of the
moon for 2 years !
Chandrayaan-I studying
the moon’s surface.

15. What Will The
Chandrayaan Study ?
Create a map of the Moon that will help us if man
finally builds a lunar base.
 It will search for water on the Moon, which would be
needed for human settlement there.
 Search for precious minerals which can be mined in the
future for the benefit of mankind. Minerals supplies on
earth are quickly coming to an end !
How a Lunar Base
might look like

16. Chandrayaan Carries The
Largest Number of Scientific
Instruments !
Chandrayan carries as many as ELEVEN scientific payloads
to study the Moon out of which FIVE are from India.
No other mooncraft in the past has had that many scientific
Instruments !
In an effort to boost co-operation among nations ISRO has
magnaminously allowed other countries like USA,UK, Germany
and other European nations to put their instruments
on the mooncraft at no extra cost !
Chandrayaan-I will add a lot to mankind’s knowledge
of the moon !

17. Chandrayaan Will Carry
The Indian Flag to Moon !
Indian Tri-Colour
will be carried in
the instrument
at the top, called
the moon-impact
probe (MIP) which
will impact on the
moon !
Proof of India’s
triumph over the
Moon !

18. What will carry the
Chandrayaan to moon ?
The Gigantic PSLV Rocket,
Chandrayaan’s bahan !
Seen here on the launch pad.

19. PSLV : How Heavy is it ?
PSLV
weighs As
much As
EIGHTY
elephants !

20. PSLV : How Tall is it ?
PSLV is as tall as a
15 storey building !
It’s a Giant compared
to an elephant or a man !

21. The PSLV Rocket :
Day Before Launch.
PSLV being
transported to its
launch pad in
Sriharikota island
in Andhra Pradesh.
The Bay of Bengal
is visible in the
Background.

22. Moving A Giant !
Note how small
people at the
Bottom and the
truck at bottom
right corner look !

23. Night Before The Exam:
Preparation Time !
PSLV on it’s launch pad.
Work goes on in the dead of night
to prepare for the launch
early next morning !
The Scientists and
Technicians toil 24 hours
a day, 7 days a
week in the run-up
to the launch !!

24. A Cloudy Morning.
The morning
greets ISRO
scientists with
poor weather.
There are
concerns all
around about if
they would be
able to launch.
Spectators gather to witness the historic moment.

25. LAUNCH !

26. One Billion Celebrate
As India Aims for the Moon !

27. Anxious Moments !
The Scientists
anxiously wait
for the first part
of the journey to
complete
successfully.

28. The Man Behind Chandrayaan
At the moment He may be one of
the leading Space Scientists of the
World but Prof. Annadurai spent His
childhood in a remote village in Tamil
Nadu without seeing a light bulb for
the first seven years of His life !
A very humble and down-to-earth
person, all His education has been in
India while His work is World-class !
M. Annadurai
Project Director, Chandrayaan - I

29. The Men Behind Chandrayaan
Prof. Annadurai
finds time out of
his busy schedule
for Chandrayaan
to perform puja on
Deepavali !
A real life Hero !

30. Preparation Time !

31. India’s Rockets : Over The Years

32. Chandrayaan’s Yatra :
From the Earth to the Moon