In 1969 I was studying in 3rd year of “Civil Engineering” degree course in College of Engineering at Pune, India. I was staying in the college hostel.
The moon landing on 20 July 1969 was a great turning point of my life.
I am a very spiritual person right from my childhood and always involved in spiritual aptitude and studies. In 1969 I had grown a beard and used to wear saffron clothes (Hindu saints use these type clothes) while meditating in the room. I was interested in “discovery of universe through spirituality”. I was about to leave my engineering studies and run away to Himalayas for tranquility and ascetic life but my destiny had something different.
Shirode 1969, 3rd Year at College of Engineering, Pune
The students were listening to the running commentary of Apollo 11 mission on radio Ceylon in the hostel dining hall (in 1969 there was no TV in Pune). It was early morning in India when the great moment of Neil Armstrong landed on the moon. There was a great excitement and joy, celebration, and dance.
I was totally moved by the incidence of the greatest achievement of a human being landing on the moon. While walking from the dining hall to my hostel room (in about 7 minutes) I decided myself to discover the Universe through Space technology and not through spirituality by running away to Himalayas. It totally changed my life.
Next day I talked to my professor about my goal of life to work in space technology. First, He started laughing and said that it is not possible to study space technology (aeronautics/aerospace) for a civil engineering student. I was adamant and determined for my goal of life. He then suggested me to opt for engineering mechanics and mathematics elective subjects in 4th year. I selected all these subjects and passed out with Bachelor of Engineering degree in Civil Engineering. Immediately I got an employment in government irrigation department near my home town itself. But I had decided my goal and instead of joining the employment offer, which was in fact very much necessary for me to support my family, I applied for Master’s program. I got admission in Indian Institute of Science, IISc Bangalore, India but that too in Civil Engineering Department and not in Aeronautics which I had applied for. However, my professor in IISc advised me that I can study all aeronautics subjects in Structural engineering specialization in the same department. I selected all those subjects and also selected my dissertation (thesis) topic related to aeronautics.
Probably destiny read my mind and helped me to achieve my goal of life of a dream to work in space technology. At the end of my third semester (total 4 semesters) One fine morning my professor called me and said that some gentleman wants to discuss with me about my studies, my thesis etc. I didn’t know who he was but at the end of our discussion he said, “Mr. Shirode, complete your 4th semester and after final exams, join Indian Space Research Organization, ISRO”. He was the Head of Aerospace Structures division of ISRO. (that time ISRO used to tap students studying in relevant areas of it’s program). I was shocked. That was the most ecstatic moment of my life. I was going to fulfill my dream, my ambition, my goal of life. After the final exams I went to my village and kept waiting for the ISRO appointment letter. He was going to send me an appointment letter after my final exams.
Destiny again played little mischief. Even after my final exams I did not get any appointment letter from ISRO as promised by the Head of the division. In a village my friends and relatives started teasing me that I was lying about my appointment in ISRO. In frustration, I applied and joined Ph. D. research program in “Biomechanics” in Indian Institute of Technology IIT Bombay. It was a demanding course in aerospace field that time. After 3 months in IIT one fine morning I received an appointment letter from ISRO to join as “Aerospace Structural Analysis Engineer” . Within an hour I left IIT and went to join ISRO in Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre at Trivandrum, India.
After serving in VSSC, ISRO for 2 years I got an opportunity to join a NASA related research program in USA. Destiny again played mischief. I was supposed to leave my country but my parents were totally against of my leaving the country. My mother and father were both illiterate and I come from a poor family from a very small village without any educational background in the family. They emotionally blackmailed me and in total anguish and anger I resigned from ISRO in 1974 and came back to my village to stay with my family without doing any work. I worked in agricultural farm in the village.
After a year or so, I got a job in a sugar factory and after 3 years in 1977 I started my own consultancy profession in structural engineering office in Nashik, India. I did pretty well in my professional practice which was not directly related to Space technology but in building structures. After 35 years of very successful professional practice and considering “Enough is enough” I self-retired and I closed my practice in 2010 and got involved in techno-social activities. My passion for space technology did not allow me to rest and in 2016 I started in Nashik an international chapter of USA based National Space Society. I am actively involved in awareness and outreach programs for students for their career opportunities, particularly for rural and tribal area students. I am also a NSS certified Space Ambassador in 2018, first in India.
Destiny gave me an lifetime opportunity to felicitate Buzz Aldrin, second human being to land on the moon, in a typical Indian cultural style at ISDC 2018 and Jim Bridenstine, NASA Administrator at ISDC 2019.
With Buzz Aldrin, 35 minutes at Los Angeles
With Jim Bridenstine NASA Administrator at ISDC-2019 at Arlington
Felicitation of Buzz Aldrin at ISDC-2018 at Los Angeles
Kirby lkin
NASA Scientist LA