From HT Archives: India successfully launches Rohini on indigenous rocket

India successfully launched its own satellite, the Rohini satellite (RS-1), into orbit using its indigenously developed SLV-3 rocket on July 18, 1980. This marked India’s entry into the group of nations with satellite launching capability. The satellite will have a 100-day lifespan and will be used for various purposes such as communications, meteorology, TV, and resource mapping. The SLV-3 rocket, which weighed 17 tonnes, had four stages and all performed excellently during the launch. This success is the culmination of a decade-long effort by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to perfect its own launch vehicle.