TERLS - VSSC - Trivandrum Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (Thiruvananthapuram)

India / Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram
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A part of Vikram sarabhai Space Center (VSSC) under the department of Space Govt of India. This is the TERLS (Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station) from which Indias fist step to rocket technology was developed. First sounding rocket, Nike-Apache, was launched rocket on 21 Nov 1963.

Apart from Indian payload, sounding rockets from many other countries (including USA, Russia, Japan, France, Germany) were also launched from Thumba, as part of mutual international collaboration. TERLS developed infrastructure for all aspects of rocketry, ranging from rocket design, rocket propellant, rocket motor casting, integration, payload-assembly, testing, evaluation besides building subsystems like payload housing and jettisonable nose cone. Fiber Reinforced Plastics composite materials for nosecone were used in early programs at TERLS.
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thumba
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Coordinates:   8°31'56"N   76°52'17"E

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  • Vikram Sarabhai Space Center (VSSC) is the main research and development establishment of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). It was named in honour of the late Professor Vikram A. Sarabhai (1919-1971), founder of the Indian Space Program. This national establishment is working on the development of sounding rockets: Rohini and Menaka, and launchers: ASLV, PSLV and GSLV, along with the solid motor program. The facility is situated near the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS), about 16 km north of Thiruvananthapuram in Thiruvananthapuram District, Kerala. VSSC also possesses an Ammonium Perchlorate Experimental Plant at Aluva. Liquid Propulsion Systems Center (LPSC) at Valiamala, renowned for developing the indigenous cryogenic engine, is a part of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Center. VIKRAM AMBALAL SARABHAI: Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai was born on 12 August 1919 at Ahmedabad. His primary education was in the family school managed by his parents. After passing from Gujarat College in Ahmedabad, he joined St. John's College Cambridge. In 1939, he took his honors examinations in natural sciences. During the World War-II, Vikram returned to India and started research in ‘Cosmic-Rays’ under the guidance of the Nobel Laureate Sir Chandrashekhara Venkata Raman in the Indian Institute of Science at Bangalore. He was awarded PhD degree by Cambridge University in 1947. After that Dr.Sarabhai founded the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) in November 1947 at Ahmedabad and continued his scientific activities. In the same year Dr. Sarabhai founded Ahmedabad Textile Industries Research Association (ATIRA). Between 1950 and 1966, he was instrumental in establishing a chain of industries in {116110Vadodara. In 1957, Vikram started Ahmedabad Management Association (AMA). Realizing the need for professional management education, he founded Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in 1962 and directed it until 1965. In 1962, he was selected as the Chairman of Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR). He founded the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS) at Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) and started a program to manufacture French Centaur sounding rockets in India. In 1966, he was appointed as the Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission. In 1962 Dr. Sarabhai was awarded the Shanti Swaroop Bhatnagar Award for Physics and was honored with Padma Bhushan in 1966. Dr. Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai passed away in 1971. Padma Vibhushan was awarded to him after his death.
  • This is a little revealed belief among the people who knew Sarabhai closely before he passed away - he had gone to Trivandrum from PRL and stayed at the Kovalam hotel with no health issues. He was found dead the next morning and the conspiracy belief is that he was murdered by western countries or powerblocs because of his visionary planning for India and his knowledge of secret info about space, moon etc... he did receive a moon rock at that time- was it the knowledge of something related? Or the Atomic research center he oversaw? The fishermen around Kovalam have at times come across westerners in deep diving suit and gear surfacing at the beach. The mother ship would be far away. Sounds like a James Bond movie but Indians are so naive to understand what a national treasure that he was- to be given protection. Too late but may his legacy and vision live on.
  • Protecting individuals or keeping secrets is not feasible in India and for Indians, but if the selection and growth are transparent and generate fair competition, and if the country provides good access to secret services of all foreign countries to do illegal espionage, then the country could be kept safe.
This article was last modified 12 years ago