November 21, 1963 is marked in history as the day when India launched the first rocket from its soil. 'Nike Apache' was launched from a sleepy fishing hamlet at Thumba near Thiruvananthapuram.

Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station, which began operations under the leadership of Vikram A Sarabhai and is now known as Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, is all set to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the launch.

A Rohini 200, two-stage rocket with meteorological payload will be launched at 1530 IST on November 21 to commemorate the milestone in India's tryst with space.

TERLS was then located at a site where the ancient Saint Mary's Magdalene church stood, which the parishioners of the fishing hamlet graciously dedicated at the altar of science.

There has been no looking back after November 21, 1963 as India  progressed from the 6.9 kg Indian-made Rohini 75 rocket launched in 1967 to the 420 tonne GSLV shot off recently.

The eventful period has witnessed dedicated contributions to the VSSC from an array of space scientists, including the
late Homi J Bhabha and President A P J Abdul Kalam.

VSSC Director V N Suresh told reporters on Wednesday that the first rocket launch would be re-enacted on November 21 to mark the occasion. Technical sessions and a flashback exhibition has also been arranged.