Wings of Fire
Chapters 13-161. Write briefly about Wernher von Braun’s achievements. (OR)
2. What does the author have to say about ‘flow’ while working?
After returning from France, Kalam was informed that Wernhor von Braun was visiting Thumba. Everybody working in rocketing knew von Braun, who made the lethal V-2 missiles that destroyed London in World War-II. As a tribute to his genius, von Braun was given a top position in the rocketry programme at NASA. He produced the landmark Jupiter missile while working for US Army.
The V-2 missile was a greatest single achievement of von Braun. In August 1942, it became the first missile to exceed the speed of sound. Von Braun was a scientist, designer, production engineer, administrator and technology manger all rolled in one.
As he was taking to him, he knew he had met another Prof. Vikram Sarabhai. His words left a lasting impression on Kalam.
“Do not make rocketry your profession or your livelihood- make it your religion, your mission”.
With the three deaths in his family, he decided to plunge into the creation of SLV-3. Kalam believed that he must have single-minded devotion to reach the goal. Individuals like him are often called as workaholics.
The desire to work at optimum capacity leaves hardly any room for anything else. Kalam was always scoffed at for working 40 hours a week, but he knew people who worked 60, 80, and even 100hours a week, because they found their work exciting and rewarding. Total commitment is the common denominator among all successful men and women.
Once you have total commitment to your work- you also need good health and boundless energy.
Abdul Kalam felt the ‘flow’ of work as an overwhelming and joyous experience while working. It is a sensational experience when we act with total commitment.
When we are totally committed, action follows action according to an internal logic. There is no hurry and there are no disturbing demands on one’s attention. The distinction between the self and the activity disappears.
All of them working on SLV were experiencing flow. With this flow, they were able to achieve difficult target they had set.
As the work progressed he felt a tremendous surge of confidence- he was in complete control over himself and over the SLV-3 project.
The first requirement to get into flow is to work hard as you can at something that presents a challenge. Though it may not be an overwhelming challenge, it must make you feel that you are performing a task better today then yesterday.
“Another requirement for in flow is the availability of a significant span of uninterrupted time.” Kalam felt this was difficult as he was unable to concentrate fully without being disturbed.
He has been in laboratory for many days without knowing the time. Some days, the team members and Kalam were so involved in the work that the lunch hour slipped by without even being conscious that they were hungry.
3. What happened at the launch of SLV-3 on 10 August 1979? How did the author react?
The first experimental flight trail of SLV-3 was scheduled on 10th August 1979. The primary goals of the mission were to realize a fully integrated launch vehicle and to evaluate on board system as well as the ground system. The four stage SLV, 23 meter long, weighing 17 tonnes. It took of elegantly at 0708hours and immediately started following its programmed trajectory.
Stage I and Stage II was performed to perfection. But suddenly at the end of Stage II, the vehicle went out of control, the vehicle crashed into sea 560 km off Sriharikota.
Abdul Kalam and his teammates were disappointed, angry and frustrated. Over the years, Kalam had learnt carry on with the disappointments. It was a day of misery. Completely drained both mentally and physically, Kalam went straight into his room and slumped into the bed.
Dr. Brahm Prakash woke hip up in the evening and asked about going to lunch. Kalam was touched by his affection and concern. During the meal, he carefully avoided the topic of SLV-3 later on he explained that the whole team was behind him in this moment of misery.
A post flight review was held, which was attended by more than seventy scientists. They were eager to pin point the mistakes. It was established that the mishap had occurred in the failure of Stage II’s control system. No control system was available at this stage and hence the vehicle got out of control.
The findings were presented to Prof. Dhawan at a meeting. Kalam took the full responsibility of the failure and offered to resign by Prof. Dhawan left the place saying that he would like to put Kalam into orbit.
Early in November 1979, Brahm Prakash retired. He had always been his sheet-anchor. He believed in team spirit and had inspired the management pattern for the SLV project, which later became the blue print for all scientific projects in the country.
4. What were some of VSSC’s goals after the successful launch of SLV-3?
The SLV-3 launch was on 17th July, 1980. The newspapers were filled with all kinds of predictions.
Many newspapers clearly explained the history of SLV-3 and how the rocket nosedived into the sea. This launch was important in its own way. It was the future of the Indian Space Programme.
In the early hours of 18th July, 1980 at 0830 hours to be precise, India’s first satellite launch vehicle lifted off from SHAR.
As the vehicle took off the staffs were jubilant. The whole nation was excited. India had entered the small group of nations that had possessed satellite launch capabilities. It was both the culmination of a national dream and the beginning of a very important phase in our nation’s history.
The credit for the successful SLV-3 flight goes to the pillars of Indian space programme - Prof. Sarabhai in particular and hundred of VSSC Scientists and to Prof. Dhawan and Prof. Brahm Prakash.
Abdul Kalam was very happy at this success but was sad because he did not have his parents, brother-in-law and Prof. Sarabhai to share the success with him.
After a month, the Nehru Space Center arranged his meeting with Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. A meeting of the parliamentary panel on science and technology, chaired by the Prime Minister, was scheduled. Prof. M G K Menon and Dr. Nag Chaudhari were also present.
The Prime Minister congratulated the team and asked Kalam to speak a few words. He spoke about the rocket system and about its speed. There was a thunderous applause and the entire room spread with happiness.
After the successful completion, VSSC had to re-organise its resources and redefine its goals. Kalam was relieved of project activities. He took up the position of Director, Aerospace Dynamics and Design Group. New sites were identified at Vaattiyoorkavu and Valaimala where the activities of VSSC were expanded. Fresh planning and analysis, especially of facilities, started. Soon it paved way for new formula and of Re-entry experiment (REX), which, after wards became Agni.
5. How did the success of SLV-3 change the equilibrium in the author’s position in ISRO?
The next SLV-3 flight SLV3-D1 took off on 31st May, 1981. Kalam had the opportunity of witnessing the launch from the gallery. He had become the focus of media attention and it had aroused the envy of his senior colleagues.
Abdul Kalam’s life was not that of a ruthless achiever. The SLV-3 was made through a collective effort. He felt bad about this sense of envy and bitterness.
In January 1981, he was invited by Dr. Bhagiratha Rao of High Altitude laboratory in Dehradun to give a lecture on SLV-3.
The renowned nuclear scientist, Prof. Raja Ramanna, presided over the gathering. He spoke of India’s efforts at generating nuclear energy and the challenge in conducting the first nuclear test for peaceful purposes.
Prof. Ramanna was genuinely pleased at meeting Kalam. Then he came to the point.
The Devil missile programme had been shelved in spite of tremendous achievements made by Narayanan and his team at DRDL. Prof. Ramanna asked if Kalam would be interested to join DRDL and shoulder the responsibility of shaping their guided missile development programme.
Abdul Kalam felt honoured with such a proposal. Prof. Ramanna had been the guiding spirit behind the Pokhran nuclear test (in 1974). Kalam met Prof. Dhawan and told him of Prof. Ramanna’s request. Kalam had nearly worked for eighteen years at ISRO and now he was sad to leave it.
Meanwhile Abdul Kalam was awarded Padma Bhushan in 1981. This brought about mixed feelings at VSSC. Some were envious while some unduly singled out for recognition.
No comments:
Post a Comment