Free Turning Points by A P J Abdul Kalam Page B

to the moon with at least one telemetry channel, with density or pressure measurement or tone ranging. This payload would enable us to gather data directly from the moon’s surface. The chairman promised to include this payload. This led to the birth of the Moon Impact Probe as a part of the Chandrayaan mission. To my delight, the probe landed on the moon’s surface on 14 November 2008 exactly in the pre-determined area. I congratulated the ISRO team for this fine achievement.
    These two highly technical initiatives took place at the instance of Rashtrapati Bhavan. I was very happy to be a partner in such promising ventures.

    When I was studying the global innovation report for the year 2011, I found that as per the Global Innovation Index Switzerland is ranked 1, Sweden 2, Singapore 3, Hong Kong 4, and India 62. There is a relationship between the innovation index and competitiveness. While India is 62 in the index, our ranking in Global Competitiveness Index was 56 in 2010-11. If India has to graduate from 56 and become equal to the developed nations (within the top 10), it is essential that we build indigenous design capability. The present growth has been achieved by the use of technologiesessentially developed elsewhere based on scientific discoveries and patents generated ten to fifteen years earlier. The latest technologies resulting from scientific advances are not available from developed countries to India at least for a decade. Hence, research is vital, particularly in basic sciences, to take up India’s global competitiveness to the desired level. I give below the result of one endeavour where India developed the required technology.

    We crossed a milestone recently. On 19 April 2012, the tension sharpened at the launch area at Wheeler Island on the Odisha coast as the massive, 50-tonne, 17.5-metre-high Agni V missile was elevated into the vertical launch position, and the pre-launch checks began. At 8.07 a.m. the countdown began and a giant ball of fire leaped out as the missile’s first stage ignited. As Agni V rose smoothly off the launch pad, scientists checked its systems audibly on the public address system, their voices calm, in contrast to the tension among the viewers. After 90 seconds, the first stage burnt out and separated. The missile was travelling at exactly the speed it should have been. Then, on schedule, the all-new composite second stage burnt out and separated.
    Within minutes, the missile was in space, streaking southwards for 2,000 km until it crossed the equator. Then, it hurtled along for another 3,000 km, re-entering the atmosphere over the Tropic of Capricorn and splashing down between the southern tip of Africa and Australia. From launch to splashdown it took just 20 minutes. Indiannaval vessels tracked the missile all along its course, including at the terminal stage. The missile hit the target within the pre-determined accuracy.
    The IGMDP was sanctioned at a cost of nearly Rs 400 crore in 1983. This programme envisaged development, production and deployment of four missile systems namely, a surface-to-surface missile (Prithvi); a medium-range surface-to-air missile (Akash); a short-range quick reaction surface-to-air missile (Trishul); and an anti-tank missile (Nag). In addition, a technology demonstration missile (Agni) was also a part of the programme, which was intended to show the re-entry characteristics of a long-range missile. This technology was first demonstrated on the Odisha coast in May 1989. Subsequently longer ranges of Agni I, II, III and IV were demonstrated during the last two decades with increasing range capabilities. And finally the scientists and engineers of DRDO facilitated the flight testing of Agni V, which is a 5,000 km range missile. All these missiles come under the category of MTCR (Missile Technology Control Regime) and other sanctions. Hence, neither the missile system, nor the technology needed for these systems will be available for purchase for a