Question

Write a short note on famous Indian scientist Dr. Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai.

Answer 1

Hint: Dr. Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai’s contributions are to be honored forever. And his contributions are not only limited to physics but also in commerce, business, statistics, and sports too.

Complete step by step solution:
Introduction:
Dr. Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai is a known Indian-physicist and popularly known as the “father of the Indian space program”. He initiated space research in India and also played an important part in developing the nuclear power field in India. For his immense role in science in India, he was honored with Padma Bhushan in 1966 and also awarded Padma Vibhushan in 1972 posthumously.
Earlier life:
Dr. Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai was born on 12 August 1919 in Ahmedabad, Bombay of British India. He studied Gujarat college in Ahmedabad and the University of Cambridge where he studied natural sciences. In 1945, he again returned to Cambridge University to pursue his doctorate and wrote this thesis on “cosmic ray investigations in tropical latitudes”. He always showed his interest in space science. The Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) known as the cradle of space sciences was founded by Vikram Sarabhai in 1947. Initially, this institute was involved in space sciences, later it was expanded to theoretical physics and radio sciences.
Contribution to physics:
Other than PRL, he also contributed to many other projects which have its significance forever. Fast breeder test reactor in Kalpakam, variable energy cyclotron project in Calcutta, Electronics corporations of India limited (ECIL) in Hyderabad, and Uranium Corporations of India Limited(UCIL) in Jaduguda, Jharkhand. Dr. Vikram Sarabhai initiated a project for the fabrication and launch of India’s first satellite, Aryabhata. Aryabhata was launched into orbit in 1975 by Russian cosmodrome. Hence, he is fondly called as the father of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
Honors:
The Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) which is the ISRO’s lead facility for launch vehicle development was located in Trivandrum, Kerala was named after him. Recently India’s moon mission Chandrayaan 2’s lander was named after him as ‘Vikram’. His birth centenary is celebrated in Google in the form of doodle on 12, August 2019.

Note:
A highly complex mission that represents a significant technological leap compared to the previous missions of ISRO is known as Chandrayaan 2. This mission is a unique mission that aims not only on the moon’s surface but also covers the exosphere and as well as the sub sphere of the moon.