SLV 3 Project

Prof.,Sarabhai hand picked a team to give form to the dream of an Indian SLV.Klam was the project manager.It has 4 stages.Dr.V.R.Gowarikar,Mr.Kurup,AE Muthunayagram,Kalam were given the talk of designing the 4 stages of SLV respectively.
Kalam always allowed mistakes as a part of the learning process.He prefer a dash and Persistence to perfection.At first Kalam was unable to manage time.He learned time management.Then Dr.Curien,a French visitor,President of CNES came to their work center.He was impressed by the work of Kalam's team.Kalam used to write notes to colleagues on engineering and design,requesting definite action within 5 or 10 days.he conducted meetings weekly once at least.With three deaths in the family in as many years.Kalam needed total commitment to the work in order to keep performing.He wanted to throw all his being into creating the SLV.

The primary goals of the mission were to realize were to realize a fully integrated a launch vehicle and to evaluate on-board system as well as the ground system.The 23 meter-long,4 stage SLV rocket,weighing 17 tones,finally took off elegantly at 0758 hrs and started following its programmed trajectory.Stage 1 performed to perfection.Stage 2 went out of control.The flight was terminated after 317 seconds and the vehicle with other 2 stages crashed into the seas.Kalam recollected all his past failures and went asleep.A gentle touch on his shoulder woke him up.He was Dr Brahma Prakash who had waited for him to have launch with him.He made a light conversation with Kalam carefully avoiding the topic of SLV3.He gave him vital emotional support and guidance.

The post flight review was attended by more than 70 scientists all of whom were keen to pin point the reasons for the malfunctioning of the vehicle.At the time of enquiry Kalam stood up and took the entire responsibility of the mission failure.Dr.Brahma Prakash was retired in November 1979.His belief in team spirit had inspired the management pattern of SLV3,which latter became the blue print for all the scientific projects in the country.he had always been a sheet-anchor.he not only reinforced the traits which Kalam had acquired from Prof.Sarabhai,but also helped him give them new dimensions.he said "The importance of the peak lies only in the fact that it defines the sides."

On July 1980,India's first satellite launch vehicle,SLV3 lifted off from SHAR.All stages performed to the mission requirements.The fourth stage apogee motor had given the required velocity to put Rohini satellite into orbit.It was the culmination of a national dream and the beginning of a very important phase in the nation's history.



  "SLV-3 on the launch pad. This gave us many anxious moments!"-Kalam.





"A presentation by a member of my SLV-3 team. In an unusual move, I made each of them present their portion of the work -my idea of project management"-Kalam.