{"id":2665,"date":"2020-11-01T01:01:00","date_gmt":"2020-11-01T01:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/library.iiap.res.in\/collaborate\/?p=2665"},"modified":"2025-06-09T07:05:32","modified_gmt":"2025-06-09T07:05:32","slug":"glimpses-of-memories-at-iao-hanle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/library.iiap.res.in\/collaborate\/?p=2665","title":{"rendered":"Glimpses of memories at IAO-Hanle (Part-II)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Indian Astronomical Observatory: 25 Years <\/p>\n\n\n\n

B C Bhatt, Dorje Angchuk & Man Singh<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Azimuth part of 2-m Telescope at EOST Inc. workshop in Tucson, USA<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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2-m mirror with support assembly at EOST Inc. workshop in Tucson, USA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Ladakh, there are only two seasons. One is winter (October to April), and the other is Summer (May to September). That’s why business activities start as soon as the surface transport opens in May, and all resources reach Ladakh in the first two months. By July, all activities in construction, tourism, business, and others come to a peak. Hence in my previous story in July, I shared my memories at IAO-Hanle from 1995 to 1999. In the present part, I shall share the significant works at IAO during the year 2000 for the shipment of the 2m telescope consignment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The contract for fabricating the 2m optical telescope for IAO-Hanle was awarded to EOS Technologies, Australia, as per the configurations\/specifications of IIA. EOS Technologies took the fabrication work to its facility at Tucson, Arizona, USA. In March 2000, the telescope management committee members, Prof. Yashpal and Prof. B. V. Sreekantan, with other IIA scientists, visited Tucson for the pre-shipment acceptance test. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Back home, it was discussed and planned that the complete consignment of the telescope would be shipped to an Indian Port, and then it would be transported to Chandigarh by surface. Indian Air Force transport plane IL76 would be used between Chandigarh and Leh. That’s why with Air Force Station-Leh’s permission, our team at Leh visited the airport area personally to discuss this shipment and assess the cargo area inside the IL76 plane and other; and unloading facilities available in Leh with the Air Force and the Army. Further help from the Indian Army was planned to transport the consignment to Hanle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Telescope acceptance by the team at EOST
Inc. workshop in Tucson, USA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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2-m Telescope: complete assembled view at EOST Inc.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I was also a part of the pre-shipment group from IIA and visited the Tucson facility at the end of March. I had training on telescope working and operations\/maintenance, etc. I took part in the final aluminizing of the 2m mirror at Arizona University.  Shipment details were also discussed as per our experience back home with the Air Force IL76 Transport plane. Accordingly, the size and weight of packing boxes could be accommodated and handled inside IL76 and other vehicles at Leh for Hanle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 2m telescope consignment was dispatched from the USA to India by Cargo Ship and further by road to Air Force Chandigarh. Prof. R. C. Kapoor organized this part of transportation. From Chandigarh, the telescope consignment was airlifted to Leh by  IL76 on two trips during the first week of August 2000. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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convoy of vehicles with IIA pilot van on the way to Hanle<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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 Lorries on the way to climb Hanle top<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Air Force 21 Wing at Leh and the Indian Army 14 Corp. helped IIA to handle and download the big bulky and over-sized boxes of telescope and accessories. All took proper care of the mirror boxes and stored in a safe area of the airfield for some time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The transportation of this load to Hanle was planned by the Indian Army and Border Road Organization (BRO, BRTF-GREF wing) with their high altitude rugged lorries. When we had requested the agency, Army Supply Core (ASC) did not even give a second thought and immediately chopped their lorries’ upper bodies and made the flatbed for easy loading and unloading of the material boxes. For mirror transportation, BRTF-GREF gave a perfect high-performance vehicle with an excellent suspension to move on jerks and bumps in the sandy path along the Leh-Hanle route.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

IIA worked on the feasibility of road width and bridge capacity along the Leh-Hanle route to move lorries with over-sized boxes since the beginning of the project. We surveyed this 260 km road between Leh and Hanle many times and conveyed it to the road agency, BRO HQ Project HIMANK, in Leh. BRO helped us a lot and improved many bottle-necks and other points along this road and strengthened the bridges coming on the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At Leh airfield, once we got the complete consignment on August 1-2, we loaded these on the lorries, specially re-fabricated by Army ASC Core for our purpose. The mirror boxes were loaded onto the BRTF special vehicle and tied the loads with MS fixtures for safety. When we had received the 2m consignment at Leh, we were unable to move due to intermittent rain and road closure.  We were allowed to park all loaded vehicles inside the air-field in the Air Force area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After the road opened, we did a complete recce of the road carefully between Leh and Hanle, keeping in mind the present load we intended to transport now. We requested the Army and BRTF to provide recovery and workforce at points of concern along the road, and they did it successfully. The convoy of vehicles (approximately 9-10 Army trucks + BRFT Vehicle with the mirror boxes + other transport team) started from Leh on 17th August, with an IIA pilot vehicle. At the end of the first day, all vehicles continued up to a place named Kiary (140 KM from Leh). At Kiary, we parked all vehicles in Brigade HQ of the Indian Army. The Army provided lodging\/boarding and other logistics for that night to all crew members of this transport team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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 Leaders with the convey on the way to Hanle<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Prof. Kapoor on the way to Chandigarh with crew and vehicles loaded with containers having 2-M Telescope consignment<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

On 18th August, this transport team’s convoy started in the morning from Kiary to Hanle with care and safety. The last 60 KM patch of the route from Rongo to Hanle top was very rough and deserted without any population. This part had no real road formation, an untarred pathway with sands and stones, making it difficult to drive. The Army had deputed many recovery vehicles and other logistics at many points along this part of the road, which helped safe and secure transportation of the trucks loaded with telescope consignment boxes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By the evening, all loaded lorries reached the Hanle top successfully. IIA officials accompanied the vehicles for safety purposes. Once it arrived at IOA in the late evening, a jubilant atmosphere and happiness filled everywhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Army drivers preparing to move in front of our Leh office<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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BRTF Vehicle loaded with 2-M Mirror and the small mirrors on the way to Hanle<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    \n
  1. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    \"\"<\/figure>
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    About the author <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    B C Bhatt<\/strong> joined IIA in 1994 and was part of the first team of IIA that did the site-testing and characterization of Hanle, Ladakh in November 1994. He was the Project Officer for setting up the 2 meter HCT at Leh\/Hanle. Currently he is a professor at IIA and Scientist-in-ChaCREST campus, Hoskotte.
    Dorje Angchuk<\/strong> was the first person from Ladakh to join IAO as a Trainee Engineer during its initial phase. He contributed to the installation and commissioning of the 2 meter HCT, later getting a permanent position there. Presently he is Engineer-in-Charge, IAO.
    Man Singh<\/strong> joined as Cook\/Caretaker at IIA\u2019s transit guest house, and was later posted as Caretaker, IAO, Leh. During this time, he supported the guest houses at Leh and Hanle including office related work. He is currently a UDC at Raman Science Centre, IAO, Leh.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Indian Astronomical Observatory: 25 Years B C Bhatt, Dorje Angchuk & Man Singh In Ladakh, there are only two seasons. One is winter (October to April), and the other is Summer (May to September). That’s why business activities start as soon as the surface transport opens in May, and all resources reach Ladakh in the…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":2733,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false},"categories":[24,18],"tags":[95,91,111,44,33],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/library.iiap.res.in\/collaborate\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2665"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/library.iiap.res.in\/collaborate\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/library.iiap.res.in\/collaborate\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/library.iiap.res.in\/collaborate\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/library.iiap.res.in\/collaborate\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2665"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/library.iiap.res.in\/collaborate\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2665\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3202,"href":"https:\/\/library.iiap.res.in\/collaborate\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2665\/revisions\/3202"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/library.iiap.res.in\/collaborate\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2733"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/library.iiap.res.in\/collaborate\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2665"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/library.iiap.res.in\/collaborate\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2665"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/library.iiap.res.in\/collaborate\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2665"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}