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History: India’s experience in rocketery began in ancient times when fireworks were first used in the country, a technology invented in neighbouring China, and which had an extensive two-way exchange of ideas and goods with India, connected by the Silk Road. Military use of rockets by Indians during the Mysore War against the British inspired William Congreve to invent the Congreve rocket, predecessor of modem artillery rockets, in 1804. After India gained Independence from British occupation in 1947, Indian scientists and politicians recognised the potential of rocket technology in both defence applications, and for research development. Recognising the fact that a country as demographically large as India would require its own independent space capabilities, and recognising the early potential of satellites in the fields of remote sensing and communication, these visionaries set about establishing a space research organisation.