SPACE CLUB

A Book On Space, Worth Reading.


I have the honor to introduce a book on various achievements in the field of Space Research as part of this year’s Space Week celebrations. The book is “SPACE TODAY” written by Mr. Mohan Sundara Rajan. The illustrator is Pabithra Ghosh and the book is published by National Book Trust, India. This article is not a Book Review, but just envisages introducing a book that is worth reading. In fact I could not read this book completely but only had an over all glance as it is so elaborate as much as a reference book. This book is fore worded by U.R.Rao, the former chairman of the ISRO, when he was a member of the Space Commission at Bangalore in 1994.

The book is arranged in 9 parts. They are:

PART 1-THE ORIGINS
PART 2-THE ORBITS
PART 3-REACHING THE ORBITS
PART 4-THE ATMOSPHERE: A DELICATE SHIELD
PART 5-THE COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
PART 6-REMOTE SENSING FROM SPACE
PART 7-MONITORING THE WEATHER
PART 8-MICROGRAVITY: A NEW FRONTIER
PART 9-COSMIC PUZZLES

The Part 1 is about origins of space discoveries. In this part, the author quotes Aryabhata (5th century A.D) who said, “the earth is a sphere rotating on its axis and going round the sun. A day of Brahma lasts 4,320 million years!”

This part is divided into 2 chapters. They are:
1. Liberating the Mind: Theories.
2. Jumping off the Cradle: Experiments.

The chapter 1, Liberating the Mind, is about the ancient and medieval scientists, their theories and discoveries. Jumping off the Cradle is about how people started to think that they could go to the space. But one problem is left i.e., how they could go to the space? The experiments were held to solve this problem. And at last they found the way to the space.
Part 2 is about the natural orbits & artificial orbits. In this part the author writes a quote of Arthur .C. Clarke.
“When a distinguished but elderly scientist states that something is possible, he is almost certainly right. When he states that something is impossible, he is very probably wrong.”
This part is divided into 4 chapters. They are:
1. A Pear-shaped Earth
2. The Sun synchronous Orbit
3. The Geosynchronous Orbit
4. LEO,MEO & HEO
The 1st chapter of this part is about the shape of the Earth, the 2nd chapter is about the sun synchronous orbits and the 3rd chapter is about the geosynchronous orbit. There is a short note about GTO, Apogee Motor etc. And the 4th chapter is about LEO, HEO, MEO and ICO
The part 3 is about the satellites reaching their orbits. In this part the author quotes Vikram Sarabhai:
“The question is not whether developing countries can afford space technology; the point is whether they can afford to ignore it.”
This part is divided into 4 chapters. They are:
1. The Pull of Gravity
2. Rocket Technology in India
3. Other Satellite Launch Vehicles
4. Tomorrow’s Rockets
The 1st chapter of this part is about the orbital velocity, escape velocity, Newton’s third law, structure of Liquid Propulsion System etc. The 2nd chapter is about the rocket technologies developed by India i.e., sounding rockets, Rohini – 75, SLV & ASLV programmes, PSLV missions, GSLV & Cryogenic Propulsion. The 3rd chapter is about other satellite launch vehicles in that, US Rockets, Russian Rockets, and China’s Long March Rockets & Japanese Rockets. And the 4th chapter is about the future rockets.
The part 4 is about the atmosphere. In this part the author writes a quote of Fred Hoyle, 1948 (27 years before the first satellite picture of the Earth was taken)
“Once a photograph of the Earth taken from outside is available- once the sheer isolation of the Earth becomes plain, an idea as powerful as any in history will be let loose.”
This part is divided into 3 chapters. They are:
1. Layers and Windows
2. Observation from Space
3. The Magnetic Envelope
The 1st chapter is about the atmospheric layers. The 2nd chapter is about observing the Earth from space and the 3rd chapter is about the magnetic field of the Earth.
The part 5 is about the communication networks. In this part is written a quote of Gordon Moore, 1965 (co-founder of INTEL)
“Prediction: Transistor density on the microprocessor wills double every two years.”
This part is divided into 6 chapters. They are:
1. The INSAT system
2. Other National Satellites
3. Global L inks and INTELSAT
4. Mobile L inks and INMARSAT
5. The Next Revolution
6. A Crowded Orbit
The 1st chapter is about INSAT series, APPLE, and their uses. The 2nd chapter is about other national satellites. The 3rd chapter is about the global internet connection and role of INTELSAT and the 4th chapter is about the mobile links and role of INMARSAT. The 5th chapter is about the next revolution in space exploration. The 6th chapter is about the lack of space in the orbits due to increase in the number of satellites.

Part 6 is about the remote sensing from space. In this part is written a quote of Wilber Wright
“It is not really necessary to look too far into the future; we see enough already to be certain it will be magnificent. Only let us hurry and open the roads.”
This part is divided into 5 chapters. They are:
1. Signatures and Sensors
2. Indian Remote Sensing Satellites
3. A Worldwide Effort
4. Radar : A New Window
5. Spy Satellites
From this part onwards I couldn’t complete reading this book. So I am writing only a short note of the topics.
1. Global Weather Watch
2. Services from INSAT
3. Navigation and Rescue
4. On Board Orbital Stations
5. Retrieval and Reboost Missions
6. Rediscovering the Human Body
7. New Materials and Processes

Part 9 is about the cosmic puzzles. This part is divided into 11 chapters.
1. The Radio Window
2. Quasars and Pulsars
3. The X-ray Universe
4. Dust and Violence in Infrared
5. Gamma Ray Probes
6. The Mystery of Cosmic Rays
7. Ultraviolet Explorers
8. Hubble’s Discoveries
9. Darkness at Night
10. A Day of Brahma: Big bang or Mini Bangs?
11. The Emergence of Life

From these chapters you can understand the cosmic problems.
At last Glossary is there. The price of this book is Rs.74.

Prepared by,
Simon Thomas Kulathakal,

Science Club Secretary