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| Rohini rocket series | |
|---|---|
| Name | Rohini rocket series |
| Caption | Rohini sounding rockets at a launch site |
| Country | India |
| Status | Retired/Active |
| First launch | 1967 |
| Last launch | 2009 |
| Manufacturer | ISRO |
| Height | Variable |
| Diameter | Variable |
| Payload capacity | Variable |
Rohini rocket series The Rohini rocket series is a family of Indian sounding rockets developed and operated by the Indian Space Research Organisation for atmospheric research, space science, and technology demonstration. Originating in the 1960s through collaborations involving the Indian National Committee for Space Research and institutions such as the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre and Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station, the series contributed to India's early rocket and satellite development programs.
The development and history of the Rohini series began in the 1960s with initiatives led by Vikram Sarabhai, Satish Dhawan, and organizations including the Indian National Committee for Space Research and the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station, drawing technical exchange with groups like NASA and laboratories such as the Laboratoire de Physique des Plasmas. Early trials informed later programs connected to the Satellite Instructional Television Experiment and the Aryabhata (satellite), while institutional evolution involved the Indian Space Research Organisation and the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre.
Design and technical specifications of Rohini vehicles varied by variant and included solid-propellant motors, staging architectures, and telemetry suites derived from research at Indian Institute of Science, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, and facilities like the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station. Airframe, propulsion, guidance, and recovery systems reflected engineering input from ISRO, collaborations with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and materials research at the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research laboratories, while instrumentation payload interfaces followed standards used by programs such as Chandrayaan instrumentation development and atmospheric studies linked to the National Atmospheric Research Laboratory.
Launches and mission record entries for Rohini vehicles spanned decades with flights from sites including Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station, Sriharikota Range, and occasional coastal ranges used in collaboration with agencies such as Indian Navy logistics and support units. Missions supported campaigns associated with the International Geophysical Year legacy, monsoon studies connected to the India Meteorological Department, and coordinated experiments with the National Remote Sensing Centre and university centers like the Indian Institute of Technology Madras.
Payloads and applications for Rohini rockets encompassed atmospheric probes, ionospheric sensors, microgravity experiments, and technology demonstrations developed by laboratories and institutions such as the Physical Research Laboratory, National Physical Laboratory (India), Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, and academic teams from University of Pune and Banaras Hindu University. Data supported research areas tied to the Indian Meteorological Department operations, environmental monitoring projects coordinated with the Ministry of Earth Sciences (India), and payload validation for larger launch vehicles like those used in the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle program.
Ground infrastructure and launch sites for the Rohini program included the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station near Thiruvananthapuram, the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota, telemetry and tracking networks operated by ISRO Tracking and Data Network, and logistics support from entities such as the Indian Coast Guard and regional agencies in Kerala and Andhra Pradesh. Range instrumentation, radars, and telemetry stations were integrated with facilities at the National Remote Sensing Centre and research centers like the Indian Institute of Astrophysics.
Program organization and timeline for the Rohini series involved coordination among the Indian Space Research Organisation, the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre, and academic partners including the Indian Institutes of Technology and the Indian Institute of Science. Key milestones paralleled national efforts such as the launch of indigenous satellites including Aryabhata (satellite), the establishment of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, and later integration into technology development paths that contributed to programs like Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle and Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle.
Category:Indian rockets Category:Sounding rockets Category:Indian Space Research Organisation