This is a presentation made by me on my idol, Dr Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai, also called father of Institutions.

1. Vikram
Ambalal
Sarabhai
Birth: 12th August 1919
Death: 30th December 1971
Father of Indian Space
Program!

2. Family
• He belonged to the industrialist Sarabhai
family.
• His father was Ambalal Sarabhai
• His mother being Sarla Devi
• He was one of eight children
• His wife was the classical dancer Mrinalini
• He fathered two children.
• His daughter, Malika was famous as an
activist.
• His son Kartikeya was actively involved in
science.

3. Educational
Background
• He did his schooling at Cambridge School
in Ahmedabad, Shahibaug.
• He then went on to study in Gujarat
College to study Natural Sciences.
• He later shifted to The University of
Cambridge in England where he got his
tripos in natural sciences in 1940.
• World War 2 forced him to return to
India, where he undertook research
in cosmic rays under physicist Sir
Chandrashekhar Venkata Raman at
the Indian Institute of Science Banglore.
• In 1945 he returned to Cambridge to
pursue a doctorate and wrote a thesis,
“Cosmic Ray Investigations in Tropical
Latitudes,” in 1947.

4. Academic Relationships
• With Dr. Homi J Bhabha
• He had a mentor-protégé relationship with Dr Bhabha as he
recognized the latent potential in Vikram and mentored him in the
field of Nuclear Physics while he was in IISc Banglore.
• They then work together on many projects like Cosmic Ray
research and the study of atmospheric ionization.
• Dr Sarabhai was inspired was inspired by his vision of using
space technology for India’s development. Bhabha also
encouraged Sarabhai to focus on space research and satellite
technology as a means of harnessing space for peaceful purposes.
• Sarabhai while playing a pivotal role in the establishment of
ISRO in 1969, made sure that the vision of Dr Bhabha in space
research was instrumental.
• Dr Bhabha was made the head of Incorporation of Space
research into Department of Atomic Energy (DAE)

5. Relation with Sir CV
Raman
• Also meet at IISc, Banglore.
• They collaborated on various scientific projects.
• Dr. Sarabhai was inspired by Dr Raman’s dedication
to scientific research and his contributions to
Indian Science.
• His guidance along with that of other scientists,
played a key role in the Establishment of Physical
Research Laboratory (PRL), in Ahmedabad .
• The PRL became a center of cutting-edge scientific
research in various fields, including physics and
space science.
• Sir C. V. Raman is famous for the Raman effect.

6. Relations with Dr APJ Abdul Kalam.
• They came in contact with each other at ISRO.
• Dr Sarabhai served as a guide and a mentor to Dr A.P.J.
Abdul Kalam during his early carrer. Sarabhai recognized
Kalam’s talent and enthusiasm for space research.
• Dr Kalam played a significant role in the IRSO program
under the leadership of DR Sarabhai, as he was involved
in the development of India’s first Indigenous Satellite
launch vehicle (SLV), and its first satellite, Rohini.
• Dr Kalam further went to contribute in SLV and SLV-3.
• Both Dr. Kalam and Dr Sarabhai shared a vision for the
peaceful use of space technology for India’s socio-
economic development. They worked together to
advance space research and applications in the country.

7. First Satellite Launch Vehicle Rohini (RS-1)

8. Cosmic Rays
Experiment
• It was a significant undertaking that aimed to study
cosmic rays, which are high-energy particles originating
from outer space.
• Cosmic rays are also called astro-particles that originate
from the sun or from outside the solar system in our
own galaxy or from other galaxies.
• The experiment took place in the early 1960’s in the
outskirts of Thumba, a coastal village located near
Thiruvanthapuram in Kerela.
• It was chosen due to its proximity with the
geomagnetic equator, which made it the ideal spot for
the study of cosmic rays and their interactions with the
earth’s atmosphere
• Cosmic rays were detected due to their ionising effect
on the atmosphere which made the atmosphere
conductive. This conduction could be measured by
devices like Elecetroscope.

9. Cosmic Rays experiment
• Objective:
• The Primary goal of this experiment was to
understand the nature, origin and behavior of
these mysterious rays as they interacted with the
Earth’s Atmosphere.
• Cosmic Rays: They are charged particles,
including protons and other atomic nuclei, which
originate from various sources in the universe.
• The picture shows the known interactions
between Cosmic rays and the atmosphere.
Source : NASA

10. Cosmic Rays
Experiment
• Equipment Used for Experiment:
• High Altitude Ballons
Scientific Instruments:
• Geiger-Muller Counter
• Scintillation detectors
• Ionization Chambers
• Photographic Plates
• Data recorders
• Environmental sensors
• Parachute or Recovery systems
• Power Supply
• Telemetry systems
• There instruments were designed to
measure the intensity and
characteristics of cosmic rays at
different altitudes.

11. Cosmic Rays
Experiment
• Experimental Procedure:
1. Ballon Launch:
• The High Altitude Ballon known
as the “Cosmic Ray Paylod”, was
launched into the upper
atmosphere from the Thumba
Equatorial Rocket Launching
Station (TERLS).
• The payload was carried up by
the Ballon which ascended to
significant altitudes. (30 km).

12. Cosmic Rays
Experiment
2. Data Collection:
 As the ballon ascends, the scientific instruments
on board began collecting data on the cosmic
rays. The instruments could detect and record
the passage of cosmic ray particles.
3. Altitude Profiling:
 The experiment aimed to profile the behaviour
of cosmic rays at different altitudes. By
measuring cosmic rays at varying heights in the
earth’s atmosphere the Earth’s Scientists could
better understand how cosmic rays interacted
with air molecules and how their intensity
changed with altitude.

13. Cosmic Rays
Experiment
4. Data Analysis:
The data collected during the
experiment was carefully
analysed to determine the
energy type and other
characteristics of the cosmic
rays.
This analysis helped scientists
gain insights into cosmic rays
phenomena.

14. India’s First
Rocket Launch
• At November 21, 1963.
• The concept of India’s first Rocket was
developed under the guidance of Dr.
Vikram Sarabhai and the Indian
National Committee for Space
Research (INCOSPAR)
• Dr Homi J. Bhabha, the father of
India’s Nuclear Program, played a
crucial role in facilitating the
cooperation with NASA for the rocket
launch.
• The establishment of the Thumba
Equatorial Rocket Launching Station
(TERLS) near Thumba, Kerela was
essential for the launch.
• The Nike-Apache sounding rocket was
selected for the mission.
Source: The Hindu

15. India’s First Rocket
Launch
 Rocket Selection:
 The Nike-Apache sounding rocket was selected for
the mission
 This American made rocket was chosen on the
basis of the availability of technology and the
cooperation of NASA.
 Scientific Objectives
 The scientific objectives of the mission included
studying the ionization of the Earth’s upper
atmosphere and the behaviour of cosmic rays.
Aimed to enhance our understanding of space and
the atmospheric phenomena.

16. India’s First Rocket
Launch
 Launch Procedure and Flight:
• The Nike-Apache sounding rocket was launched
vertically from TERLS on November 21, 1963.
• The rocket ascended into the Earth’s upper
atmosphere, reaching an altitude of
approximately 200 kilometers during it’s flight
• Data collected by the instruments transmitted
in real time to the ground station for analysis.
 Instruments in Rocket:
• Ionization Detectors, Cosmic Ray Detectors,
instruments for measuring atmospheric
conditions.

17. List of Organizations created by Dr Vikram
Sarabhai
Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad (known as the cradle of space science in India).
Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Ahmedabad.
Community Science Centre, Ahmedabad.
Darpan Academy of Performing Arts, Ahmedabad (along with his wife)
Vikram Sarabhai Space centre, Thiruvanthapuram.
Space Applications Centre, Ahmedabad (This institution came into life after merging six institutions/centres established by Sarabhai)
Faster Breeder Test Reactor, Kalpakkam.
Variable Energy Cyclotron Project, Calcutta.
Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL), Hyderabad.
Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL), Jaduguda, Bihar.

18. Positions and honors
President of the Physics
Section, Indian Science
Congress (1962).
Vice-President, Fourth
U.N. Conference on
‘Peaceful uses of Atomic
Energy’ (1971).
President of the General
Conference of the
I.A.E.A., Vienna (1970).
The Vikram Sarabhai
space Centre, (VSSC)
which conducts
research in the field of
rocket propellants in
Thiruvanthapuram is
named after him.
A crater on the moon
‘BESSEL A’ has been
named the Sarabhai
Crater by the
International
Astronomical Union in
1973.

19. Awards Won
• Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar
Award (1962)
• Padma Bhushan (1966),
• Padma Vibhushan,
posthumous (after-death)
(1972).

20. Lessons we learn from Sarabhai
Time
management
Handling difficult
situations.
To be patient
To work tirelessly
towards your
goal.
To give our best
in any situation.
To try to create
value.
To be
determined,
strong willed.
To deicate ones
vision towards
their dream.

21. Presented by
• Enrollment No: 212060290054, Shaiv A. Joshi
• Enrollment No: 212060290050, Harshit S. Jain
• Enrollment No: 212060290069, Dev J. Patel.
• Enrollment No: 212060290052 Rushiraj H.
Ghadvi
• Enrollment No: 212060290058 Chintan N.
Chaudhari

22. Sources Used
• NASA
• ISRO
• Wikipedia
• Britannica
• The Hindu newspaper.
• Vox Media.