This refers to the editorial, “Remarkable space feat” (February 16). The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) has created history by successfully launching 104 satellites into the space in a single fire on a single day, breaking Russia’s world record of launching 37 satellites in 2014. last time India had launched 20 satellites at a time in 2015. Remarkably, out of the 104 satellites, 96 were of the US and one each of Israel, the UAE, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Kazakhstan, besides India’s own satellites.
India has thus become a world leader in satellite launch technology and most trusted and sought after global satellite launching pad. It is time to pay tribute to former President APJ Abdul Kalam, popularly known as the ‘missile man of India’, who, as the head of Satellite launch Vehicle project of Isro, developed ballistic missiles from the technology of the SlV programme. Reportedly, secret funds were provided by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi through her discretionary powers, as the Union Cabinet was against these projects.