A.P.J Abdul Kalam Last Speech IIM Shillong & Death

Summary

This script recounts a pivotal moment in the 1979 SL3 Satellite Launch Vehicle mission, where the Project Director made a critical decision to proceed with a launch despite technical issues. The mission ultimately failed, but the chairman of the Indian Space Program, 'D,' took full responsibility for the setback, supporting his team and reassuring the public. This act of leadership instilled confidence, and the following year, the team succeeded. The narrative emphasizes the importance of taking responsibility in failure and giving credit to the team during success, showcasing true leadership and teamwork.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker was the Project Director and Mission Director for the 1979 SL3 satellite launch mission.
• 😀 The mission aimed to put a satellite into orbit, and thousands of people worked on it over nearly 10 years.
• 😀 During the countdown to launch, the computer put the system on hold 40 seconds before launch due to a detected issue in the control system.
• 😀 Despite expert recommendations that there was no major issue, the speaker, as the mission director, bypassed the computer and proceeded with the launch.
• 😀 The rocket malfunctioned, and instead of placing the satellite into orbit, it ended up in the Bay of Bengal, marking a failure.
• 😀 The speaker experienced failure for the first time in their career, but they learned how to handle it.
• 😀 A great leader, identified as 'D,' took responsibility for the failure during a press conference, offering support to the team and promising future success.
• 😀 The leader emphasized that failure was a part of the process and that they would continue to support their scientists, technologists, and staff for future success.
• 😀 Despite the media's criticism of the failed launch, the leader remained optimistic, reassuring that the team would succeed in the following year.
• 😀 In 1980, the team succeeded with a successful launch, and the leader allowed the mission director to lead the press conference, acknowledging the team's collective effort.
• 😀 The leader’s actions demonstrated a strong sense of responsibility in taking the blame for failure and giving credit to the team for success.

Q & A

What was the role of the speaker in the 1979 SL3 satellite launch?

The speaker was the Project Director and Mission Director for the 1979 SL3 satellite launch, overseeing the mission and the launch process.

What was the critical decision that the speaker had to make during the launch countdown?

The speaker had to decide whether to proceed with the launch despite a warning from the computer system about a potential issue with the control system.

Why did the speaker bypass the computer's warning to stop the launch?

The speaker believed that the experts' analysis indicated that there was sufficient fuel and oxidizer to proceed, and the control system was still able to manage the rocket’s attitude.

What happened after the speaker decided to launch the satellite?

Despite the decision to proceed, the rocket failed during the second stage, veering off course and putting the satellite in the Bay of Bengal instead of placing it into orbit.

How did the speaker feel after the failure of the satellite launch?

The speaker felt exhausted and fearful, as they believed they would be blamed for the failure since they had made the final decision to proceed with the launch.

How did the leader, referred to as 'D,' handle the failure publicly?

D took full responsibility for the failure in front of the press, stating that it was the first time they had experienced such a setback, but assured the public that the team would succeed in the future.

What was the reaction of the media after the failure?

The media criticized the failure, with one reporter specifically asking about the satellite's crash into the Bay of Bengal, but D remained calm and focused on the team's future success.

How did D's leadership differ in handling failure and success?

D showed humility by accepting responsibility for the failure and shielding the team from blame, but when the mission succeeded in 1980, D credited the entire team for their hard work and success.

What lesson did the speaker learn from the experience?

The speaker learned the importance of leadership in both failure and success, emphasizing the need for leaders to take responsibility in failure and give credit to the team during successes.

What happened during the successful mission in 1980?

In 1980, the mission succeeded, and D, the leader, sent the speaker to conduct the press conference, demonstrating the shift from taking responsibility for failure to celebrating the team's success.