A Relook Into The Historical Progress And Philosophy Of Indian Space Exploration

Paper number

IAC-07-E4.3.01

Author

Prof. Mudambi Ananthasayanam, Indian Institute of Science, India

Year

2007

Abstract

The study of the historical development of any subject and in particular the exploration of space throws up very interesting insights. This is because history provides a description of the heritage and evolution of the philosophical concepts. This paper describes the Indian exploration of space commencing from 10000BC up to 2000AD in the three periods called for convenience as the mythological, medieval, and modern respectively,  

I.The ten millenniums from 10000BC to the  beginning of
  the CE, followed by a twilight period up to 900AD, 
II.The ten centuries from 900AD to 1900AD, and 
III.The ten decades from 1900AD to 2000AD. 

In each of the above the progress can be marked by respectively (i) the identification of the stars in different constellations (due to the precession of the equinoxes), (ii) naked eye astronomical observations and analysis by astronomers/mathematicians, and (iii) the study of the space/atmosphere generally by telescopes, balloons, and satellites. In every subdivision of the millennium, century, or decade as the case may be it is possible to identify some important discoveries, writings, innovations, or events thus providing a reference view of the progress. Such a description of the progress could provide a demarcation of the progress, which could change marginally, when further evidence from other sources becomes available. 

Historically up to about the middle of the second phase the Indian progress in space exploration is better or equals the ones from elsewhere in the world. But from the time of foreign invasion and occupation its contribution trailed and is improving after independence. One remarkable feature of its early contributors is they refined their models at various times to match the observations. They had fully realized that many operationally acceptable models with compulsive subjectivity are possible since they are all human constructs thus implying variability and/or uncertainty among the estimates. Thus they had fully understood the role of models, estimates, criterion, and correction, which are surprisingly similar to the present day Kalman filter. 

Abstract document

IAC-07-E4.3.01.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-07-E4.3.01.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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