BEYOND EARTH

Why Humans Have Always Studied the Sky Blog By Ravi Gopal Long before GPS, smartphones, or Google Maps, the sky was humanity’s first map, calendar, and compass. At modern launch sites like the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota (India), Kennedy Space Center in Florida (USA), Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, or Kourou in French Guiana, powerful rockets stand ready on the pad. Yet, the most important tool in these moments is still the same one our ancestors used for over 50,000 years the human eye looking up at the stars. Imagine a quiet night far from city lights. The sky opens up like a sparkling ocean of light. That bright, steady glow low in the west after sunset? Many people call it the “Evening Star,” but it is actually the planet Venus. It does not make its own light it simply reflects sunlight like a giant mirror. For our ancestors everywhere, the sky was not just pretty to look at. It was a survival tool. It helped them know when to plant crops, when to sail safely...

  From a Humble Coastal Hamlet to India's Gateway to Space I   Blog post by Ravi Gopal Few places in the world illustrate the remarkable convergence of scientific vision, unique geography, and human resilience as powerfully as Thumba, a serene coastal hamlet on the outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum), Kerala. Today, this once-unassuming settlement stands as the proud home of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) , ISRO’s premier facility for launch vehicle development, solid propulsion systems, and cutting-edge space technology. Yet, just six decades ago, Thumba was a quiet, palm-fringed community nestled along the Arabian Sea, characterized by swaying coconut groves, traditional fishing boats dotting the shoreline, modest thatched homes, and a historic church that had served the local community for centuries. The remarkable transformation of Thumba into the cradle of India’s space programme began in the early 1960s under the visionary leadership of  Dr. Vikra...