This article delves into the contrasting journeys of India’s ISRO and Pakistan’s SUPARCO, highlighting how the US-Soviet space race influenced their beginnings and how ISRO’s focus on scientific research and development led to its success while SUPARCO’s downfall was attributed to a lack of focus on fundamental sciences and a preference for military technology. The story also reflects the different ways in which both countries treated their visionary scientists, Vikram Sarabhai and Abdus Salam, highlighting the impact of political decisions on scientific progress.
