In the vast expanse of the cosmos, where mysteries unfold and celestial wonders dance across the night sky, humanity's insatiable curiosity has propelled us to explore the final frontier. At the forefront of this exploration stands the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), a beacon of innovation, dedication, and scientific achievement. "100 Amazing ISRO Facts" is a tribute to the relentless spirit of discovery that has defined ISRO's journey since its inception. This eBook is a captivating chronicle of one hundred remarkable facts that illuminate the organization's profound impact on space exploration, technological advancement, and global cooperation. From its humble beginnings in 1969, when ISRO launched its maiden satellite Aryabhata, to the historic Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan) in 2013, and a successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the unexplorable South Pole of the moon, which marked India's first interplanetary endeavor, ISRO has captured the world's attention with its groundbreaking missions and pioneering technology. With each successful launch, ISRO has not only expanded our scientific understanding but also ignited the flames of inspiration for generations to come. This eBook takes you on a voyage through time and space, revealing the ingenuity behind the Chandrayaan missions that explored the moon's surface, the triumphs of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) that consistently delivered satellites into orbit, and the aspirations of the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) that propelled India into the league of spacefaring nations. Beyond the technological marvels, this collection of facts delves into the human stories that have shaped ISRO's trajectory. The dedication of its scientists, the unwavering support of the Indian government, and the collaborative efforts with international partners showcase the power of unity in the pursuit of scientific excellence. As you flip through these pages, prepare to be enthralled by ISRO's extraordinary achievements – from sending a record-breaking number of satellites in a single launch to enabling transformative applications in communication, remote sensing, and navigation. These achievements stand as a testament to ISRO's commitment to not only advancing space technology but also improving the lives of people on Earth. "100 Amazing ISRO Facts" is more than a compilation of information; it is a celebration of human ambition, resilience, and the boundless possibilities that await us beyond the stars. Whether you are a space enthusiast, a science aficionado, or simply a curious mind, this eBook invites you to embark on a journey of wonder and discovery. As we turn our gaze skyward and ponder the mysteries of the universe, let us be inspired by ISRO's indomitable spirit and its unwavering pursuit of the unknown. Zahid Ameer Author August 29, 2023

On 21 November 1963, the first rocket took off from Thumba, a fishing hamlet near Thiruvananthapuram, announcing the birth of India's space programme. The rocket, the payload, the radar, the computer, the helicopter - all that was required for the launch - came from outside the country. Fifty years later, on 5 November 2013, when ISRO launched its Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, all of it had been indigenously manufactured. Ten months after the launch, on 24 September 2014, India became the first country in the world to put a satellite around the Red Planet in the very first attempt. From Fishing Hamlet to Red Planet tracks this stupendous journey through articles, interviews and reminiscences with contributions from intellectual giants like Dr Vikram Sarabhai, Satish Dhawan, M.S. Swaminathan, Jacques Blamont, Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, U.R. Rao and Dr K. Kasturirangan, among others, this is the story of India's space journey from its modest beginnings to its rendezvous with Mars.

'We are convinced that if we are to play a meaningful role nationally, and in the community of nations, we must be second to none in the application of advanced technologies to the real problems of man and society, and the courage to leapfrog to state-of-the-art engineering and technology pursuits rather than step-by-step scientific developments.' These famous words of Dr Vikram Sarabhai propel every initiative of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). The Leapfroggers, too, is an outcome of the same spirit. Featured in the book is Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the first Project Director of SLV-3, India's most prestigious space project in the 1970s. Ved Prakash Sandlas was part of Kalam's core team and eventually took over from him after the first successful launch in 1980. Sandlas was one of the first engineers to join ISRO in its formative years in the 1960s. In this book, he reflects on the ISRO culture: the styles, values and characteristics of its people; their aspirations and ambitions; and their beliefs, prejudices, superstitions and limitations. Woven with interesting anecdotes and scientific detail, The Leapfroggers is the human story of ISRO's and India's technological advancement.

Now includes brand new information about CHANDRAYAAN-3, ADITYA L-1 and other upcoming ISRO missions! As we rocket into space on the back of several successful missions, this book examines India's glorious space trajectory starting from its first venture, the Aryabhata, to its most recent mission to the Moon, Chandrayaan-3. Presented through crisp stories and timelines accompanied by pictures from ISRO and other space agencies, this brilliantly designed, information-rich book will give you a complete update on India's unique place in the world of space exploration. It also looks at India's collaboration with space agencies such as NASA, ESA, Roscosmos and others on the world stage besides listing future projects that ISRO is set to launch in the coming years. This book also includes: Space trivia, timeline of the Indian space programme and milestones of other spacefaring nations Information on observatories and telescopes Valuable tips on space careers and scholarships for aspiring astronauts, space scientists and explorers Exciting activities by NASA such as building your own satellite and rocket and even making an edible asteroid! Pick up this book to explore India's incredible journey into space! More in the series: India at the Olympics; Incredible Indians

"Riveting."—Science A Forbes, Physics Today, Science News, and Science Friday Best Science Book Of 2018 Cosmologist and inventor of the BICEP (Background Imaging of Cosmic Extragalactic Polarization) experiment, Brian Keating tells the inside story of the mesmerizing quest to unlock cosmology’s biggest mysteries and the human drama that ensued. We follow along on a personal journey of revelation and discovery in the publish-or-perish world of modern science, and learn that the Nobel Prize might hamper—rather than advance—scientific progress. Fortunately, Keating offers practical solutions for reform, providing a vision of a scientific future in which cosmologists may finally be able to see all the way back to the very beginning.

This book describes the most complex machine ever sent to another planet: Curiosity. It is a one-ton robot with two brains, seventeen cameras, six wheels, nuclear power, and a laser beam on its head. No one human understands how all of its systems and instruments work. This essential reference to the Curiosity mission explains the engineering behind every system on the rover, from its rocket-powered jetpack to its radioisotope thermoelectric generator to its fiendishly complex sample handling system. Its lavishly illustrated text explains how all the instruments work -- its cameras, spectrometers, sample-cooking oven, and weather station -- and describes the instruments' abilities and limitations. It tells you how the systems have functioned on Mars, and how scientists and engineers have worked around problems developed on a faraway planet: holey wheels and broken focus lasers. And it explains the grueling mission operations schedule that keeps the rover working day in and day out.

Based on years of research conducted at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Low-Energy Lunar Trajectory Design provides high-level information to mission managers and detailed information to mission designers about low-energy transfers between Earth and the moon. The book answers high-level questions about the availability and performance of such transfers in any given month and year. Low-energy lunar transfers are compared with various other types of transfers, and placed within the context of historical missions. Using this book, designers may reconstruct any transfer described therein, as well as design similar transfers with particular design parameters. An Appendix, “Locating the Lagrange Points,” and a useful list of terms and constants completes this technical reference. Surveys thousands of possible trajectories that may be used to transfer spacecraft between Earth and the moon, including transfers to lunar libration orbits, low lunar orbits, and the lunar surface Provides information about the methods, models, and tools used to design low-energy lunar transfers Includes discussion about the variations of these transfers from one month to the next, and the important operational aspects of implementing a low-energy lunar transfer Additional discussions address navigation, station-keeping, and spacecraft systems issues