Episode 66: Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre

November 21st 2013, was the 50th anniversary of a rocket launched
from India into space. The launch itself was an all-Indian affair,
but with significant international support. The rocket was
American, carried a French Sodium Vapour payload, and was assisted
by a computer and a helicopter from the Soviet Union. From this
meagre beginning, India has become a key player not only in
building and launching rockets but also in designing, building, and
deploying satellites. This episode was recorded on the site of that
first launch. Then  known as the Thumba Equatorial Rocket
Launch Station and is today known as the Vikram Sarabhai Space
Centre.  Sundaram Ramakrishnan, the current director of
the  Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), talks about his
4-decade-long career with the Indian Space Research Organisation.
He has played a central role throughout the development of India's
most reliable launcher - the  Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle
(PSLV). http://youtu.be/o8C0TvUXvOo