The Indian Space research Organisation (ISRO) launched the celebrations for the birth centenary of the father of the Indian space program Dr Vikram A Sarabhai (1919-1971) today on August 12, 2018. Despite this celebratory mood, there are many challenges for ISRO to overcome. Recently the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) failed and then suddenly a high-profile communications satellite GSAT 6A died in orbit. In addition, there has been turmoil in ISRO related to the sacking of Tapan Misra, the Director of the Space Application Centre in Ahmedabad which the ISRO Chairman Dr K Sivan said was not related to the so-called privatisation of ISRO assets. Dr Sivan also explains why there is a delay in the launch of the Chandrayaan-2 mission which just might give Israel an opportunity to edge past India to claim the fourth spot for soft landing on the moon. Recently Pakistan launched two Earth observation satellites which seem to have been launched to keep an eye on India, the ISRO chief explains why India needs to be worried by this effort by the neighbour. Next year, ISRO will launch what is described as the `baby PSLV' a small rocket that may help India's commercialisation efforts. India has developed critical technologies for launching Indians into space from India, an astronaut program awaits government approval.
