After
detailed analysis of the available options, Kalam selected fibre glass motor casing. He
also decided to take additional safety measures by incorporating a diaphragm – which
would rupture if the chamber pressure exceeded twice the operating pressure. The release
of a 10-year profile for space research in India, prepared by Dr Sarabhai was the first
work on RATO. This profile was a theme paper meant for open discussions, to be later
transformed into a program.
The second development
during the work on RATO was the formation of a missile panel in the Ministry of Defense.
Both Kalam and Narayanan were inducted as members. They were very excited with the idea of
making missiles on their own. Kalam had a new, young colleague, Jaya Chandra Babu, very
positive in attitude and articulate too. At that time, Defense R&D, was heavily
dependent on imported equipment. Kalam asked Jaya to find a way to be self-reliant. He
said that the RATO system can be developed without imports, but its inherent inelasticity
in the approach of the organization towards procurement and sub-contracting, which would
be the two major thrust areas, had to be avoided. He asked for seven liberties including
financial approval by a single person instead of an entire hierarchy. Air travel for all
on work irrespective of their entitlement, accountability to only one person, lifting of
goods by air-cargo, sub-contracting to the private sector, placement of orders on the
basis of technical comparison, and expeditious accounting procedures. Though, such
procedures remained unheard in government establishments, Dr Sarabhai approved them
without second thought.
| Babu, with his uncommon sense in financial dealings, highlighted the importance of business acumen in developmental work with high stakes. They opted for a composite structure for the RATO motor casing using filament fibre glass. They had also gone in high energy composite propellant and an event based ignition and jettisoning system. On the 12th month of project initiation, they conducted the first static test of RATO. |
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Project Leader For SLV
In 1968, the Indian Rocket Society was formed. The INCOSPAR was reconstituted as an
advisory body under the Indian National Science Academy (INSA) and the Indian Space
Research Organization (ISRO) was created under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) to
conduct space research in the country. Kalam was selected as project leader in Dr
Sarabhai’s dream project of an Indian Space Launch Vehicle (SLV). Kalam was assigned
the responsibility of designing fourth stage of the SLV, while Dr VR Gowarikar, Kurup and
AE Muthunayagam were assigned the tasks of designing the other three stages. The fourth
stage was to be a composite structure and called for a large number of innovations in
fabrication technology. He always considered the price of perfection prohibitive and
allowed mistakes as part of the learning process.
 
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