Two Significant Landmarks In The Colonial Space Science

Abstract

The beauty and the regularity of the heavenly bodies have fascinated the mankind from time immemorial. Perceptions of space and celestial bodies in ancient India derive from mainly two sources, which often overlap, namely mythological/religious explanations of the origins of the universe and the contributions of ancient scholars to astronomy. The Vedic astronomy and other related literature and works of astronomy and astrology are known for its vastness and richness.  However, the modern astronomy came in to the existence after the arrival of Europeans. Even though Europeans were responsible for the introduction of modern space science, we cannot set aside our indigenous efforts in understanding space. This article makes an attempt to highlight the role of Europeans in the introduction of modern astronomy and India’s indigenous efforts, particularly the role of Tippu Sultan in rocket technology.