Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre
VSSC is the lead Centre for development of satellite launch vehicles and associated technologies. The Centre pursues active research and development in a host of distinct technology domains like aeronautics, avionics, composites, etc with a view to achieve self-reliance in the high tech realm of launch vehicle technology.VSSC has its origin in the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS). TERLS became operational on November 21, 1963 with the successful launching of a two-stage sounding rocket, ‘Nike-Apache’. After the death of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, on December 30, 1971, the whole complex at Thiruvananthapuram was renamed as “Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre”.Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre is ISROs lead Centre for launch vehicles, with its expertise in design, development and realization of sounding rockets and launch vehicles.
VSSC has its own contributions in the continuing expansion of space applications programmes like village resources centres, tele-medicine, tele-education, disaster management support and outreach through direct-to-home television, Indias first mission to Moon- Chandrayaan-1, etc. Thus the Centre is agog with activities that continue to pursue successful goals on all fronts in meeting the larger objective: achieving self-reliance in space technology and its applications for national development. The Organisation of VSSC is structured in a matrix form comprising of Projects and Entities. The core project teams manage project activities. System level activities of the projects are carried out by system development agencies. Major programmes of VSSC include Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV), Rohini Sounding Rocket, Space Capsule Recovery Experiment, Reusable Launch Vehicles and Air Breathing Propulsion.
For more information, please visit http://www.vssc.gov.in