By the early sixties the use of satellites for exploring the Earth's environment had become quite common. It was foreseen by Dr. Sarabhai that the satellite technology  could play a seminal role in the advancement of education, agriculture, meteorology, defence and remote sensing of the Earth's resources. This led to the creation of the Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR) in the Department of Atomic  Energy in 1962 with Dr. Sarabhai as the Chairman and eleven other scientific members which included several PRL scientists. Furthermore a rocket launching station at Thumba,  very close to the magnetic equator, was established. On the evening of 21 November 1963, the first scientific rocket went up from Thumba releasing sodium vapour and showing  up the winds and turbulence above 90 km. With nearly  all of the early rocket payloads having been fabricated here, PRL, rapidly became the centre for developing and building scientific payloads for use in rockets. In February 1968, the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS) was dedicated by the then Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi to the UN as the International Equatorial  Rocket Launching Station.

A satellite telemetry station was installed at PRL in 1961 with NASA's  collaboration. Recordings of the Faraday  rotation at 20, 40 and 41 MHz transmitted by the US satellites BE-B and BE-C were regularly recorded from 1964 onwards. In 1965 an Experimental Satellite Communication Earth Station (ESCES) was established with UNDP assistance.

In 1969 Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) was created, with Dr. Sarabhai as its Chairman, under the Department of Atomic Energy to carry on national programmes of  Space Research and its applications to the social economic development of the country. With this in view, Dr. Sarabhai  initiated the Remote Sensing Programme with Prof. P.R. Pisharoty as its head. This later  became a major activity of the Space Applications Centre. 

While he was in the midst of a very bold and vigorous  formulation of the space programme of the country including that of PRL, Dr. Sarabhai passed away rather  suddenly on December 30, 1971. He had combined in him the Directorship of PRL, the Directorship of the then Space Science and Technology Centre (SSTC) besides the Chairmanship of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Atomic  Energy Commission (AEC). However, for him PRL was his base, while PRL and its   scientists played a crucial role in the evolution of  the country's space programme.

After the sad demise of Dr. Sarabhai, Prof. M.G.K. Menon, Director, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research and Chairman, Electronic Commission, served as the  Director of the laboratory for ten months. He continued to be associated with the laboratory, first as a member and then as the Chairman of its Council of Management till January 1990.

The year 1972 was a landmark in the national space programme. In June 1972, the Space Commission and the Department of Space was created to develop the national space effort with Prof. M.G.K. Menon taking over the Chairmanship of the Space Commission. To develop and implement the ten year profile for space research as envisioned by Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, a  National Seminar on the Indian Programme for Space Research and Applications was held in Ahmedabad from 7-12 August, 1972. PRL served as the cradle of this programme.

Prof. Devendra Lal joined as the  Director, PRL in November 1972. Two new areas of research, which were his fields of interest, were added to the laboratory's scientific activities; (i) the studies of moon rocks and meteorites and (ii) the Earth Sciences. The moon and meteorite research was aimed at understanding the formation of solar system objects. The studies in Earth Sciences were focussed on the application of environmental isotopes to study surface processes such as the evolution of the Indian sub-continent, ocean circulation, groundwater movement and the palaeoclimate.

Prof. Lal was the Director of PRL during November 1972 - March 1983. During this period Professor Lal contributed immensely to the growth of PRL. Several new programmes in the fields of plasma physics, astronomy, atmospheric physics and earth sciences were initiated and nurtured during his tenure.

A new activity, namely the plasma physics activity which was initiated in 1968 developed rather vigorously during the seventies. This had twin objectives : (i) to provide a theoretical and laboratory support to the existing ionospheric and space research activities at PRL and (ii) to initiate a high temperature plasma research activity which may form the basis in the future of fusion-oriented research and development programme. The second part of the activity having been nucleated at PRL has since been separated from PRL as the institute for Plasma Research at Bhat, Gandhinagar.

Furthermore, having realized the important role that atomic and molecular reactions play in atmospheric  chemistry and astrophysics, another activity  on the studies of atomic and molecular reactions was initiated in the early seventies. This also has evolved considerably over the years.

Two major disciplines were initiated at PRL around  1975. They were (i) the infra-red astronomy and (ii) the interplanetary scintillation (IPS) studies. The major aim of the  infra-red astronomy group is to study the stars, the galaxies and molecular clouds and to understand the star formation processes as well as energy production and emission processes from active galaxies. Towards this a variety of sophisticated back-end instruments to be used with telescopes were fabricated. An infra-red observatory was also planned to be set up at Gurushikhar with a 1.2 metre mirror-telescope with both Cassegrain and Coude foci.

Past studies of the radio emissions from the Sun as well as from solar flares and bursts have yielded important information regarding the  plasma processes in the Sun's atmosphere. These studies later culminated into the development  of the exciting programme of setting up three radio telescopes at Thaltej (near Ahmedabad), Rajkot and Surat. The main objective  of this 3-station telescope was to estimate the solar wind velocity by simultaneous measurements of scintillations of the radio sources with the three radio telescopes. The scintillations are produced by the interplanetary medium  through which flows the solar wind.

On August 12, 1974, the fiftyfifth  birthday of Dr. Vikram A. Sarabhai, the Hari Om Ashram instituted at PRL a set of four awards named as "Shri Hari Om Ashram Prerit Award" to outstading Indian scientists. The awards are given biennially  to outstanding Indian scientists for their contribution in the fields of Space Sciences; Space Applications; Electronics, Informatics, Telematics and Automation; and System  Analysis or Management. The awards are given to the distinguished recipients on August 12, the birthday of Dr. Sarabhai.

The Vikram Sarabhai Professorship was instituted at PRL in 1977 to provide a continuing stimulus to the young researchers at PRL and to expose them to the latest developments in the various areas of research through interaction with distinguished researchers around the world. The Institution of this professorship was made possible mainly through the funds provided by the Sarabhai Foundation, Karmakshetra Charity Trust (No. 2) and the Kasturbhai Lalbhai Charity Trust. This scheme provides for  inviting distinguished  scientists to spend  some time at PRL in delivering lectures, on topics of high current interest and participating in research programmes of the laboratory if possible. Under this scheme fourteen Vikram Professors have so far visited PRL.

In December 1981, the Department of Space took over the Udaipur Solar Observatory and entrusted its administration to PRL. The observatory was established in 1975 by the Vedshala Trust, Ahmedabad, in an island in Fatehsagar Lake, Udaipur. This site was chosen for its extremely good solar 'seeing' over long uninterrupted periods. Since its inception the solar observatory has been  engaged in exciting and 'front line' researches pertaining to the Sun.

On March 30, 1983 Prof. Devendra Lal stepped down from the Directorship and continued to be at PRL as a Senior Professor till his retirement. At present he is Honorary Fellow of PRL. On April 1, 1983 Prof. S.P. Pandya took over the Directorship of PRL. Some of the exciting programmes like the Plasma Physics Programme, the Infra-red and the Interplanetary  Scintillations matured during this period. 

The mid-eighties has been an important period in the history of  PRL. The building of the Gurukshikhar Observatory was completed around this period. The year 1985 - 86 was also the period of Comet Halley and the observations on halley by out scientists marked the beginning of the astronomical observations from Gurukshikhar Observatory using the 14" Celestron Telescope. Final assembling and testing  of the 1.2m IR telescope is in progress and is expected to be completed soon.

During the year 1986 - 87, the three radio telescopes at Thaltej, Rajkot and Surat, which constituted the interplanetary scintillation network, became operational.

The K.R. Ramanathan Memorial Lecture was instituted at PRL in 1987 in honour of Professor  K.R. Ramanathan. This lectureship provides for inviting distinguished meteorologists to deliver lectures related to  meteorology and climate. The lectureship was instituted with funds provided by his son Dr. K. Ramanathan and supplemented by PRL.

Prof. S.P. Pandya laid down the office of the Directorship of PRL on May 31, 1987 and Prof. R.K. Varma took over. Prof. Pandya continues to be at PRL as an INSA (Indian National Science Academy) Senior Scientist.

As it stands today, PRL has a number of disciplines under investigations. Recently, programmes which have common goals have been grouped together and the activities of the laboratory have been reorganised into four divisions (i) astronomy and astrophysics, (ii) theoretical physics (iii) planetary atmospheres and aeronomy and (iv) earth sciences and solar system studies. These areas onto which the future PRL activities are projected, are in fact the frontline areas of future scientific activity all over the world and each one of these  areas has the potential of growing in future into centres devoted to these studies.

PRL is planning to go vigorously into the astronomical studies of active galactic nuclei (AGN), star formation etc. using ground based optical techniques and ion microprobe, earth's middle and upper atmosphere using rockets and satellites and also earth-system processes using various dating techniques.

The intellectually rich past of the laboratory  owes its being on the one hand to the vision and scientific contribution of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai and Prof. K.R. Ramanathan, and on the other to a number of PRL scientists who grew with the laboratory, and worked in it with great devotion and untiring spirits. As we, reminisce over the past forty years, we pay our homage to our founder, to our founder director and to all those dedicated scientists who shaped the destiny of PRL.


