Chairman of Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), Dr K Sivan has assured that the Space Agency will pull all its experience, knowledge and technical prowess to set things right and demonstrate soft-landing of Chandrayaan in the near future. Addressing the 50th Convocation of Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi today, Dr Sivan said, Chandrayaan-2 is not the end of the story.
He said, ISRO’s plans on Aditya L1 solar mission, human spaceflight programme are on track and a large number of advance satellite launches are planned in the coming months. He added that Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) will make its maiden flight sometime in December and January and testing of 200 tonnes semi-cryo engine is expected to begin shortly. Dr Sivan said, work is on to provide Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System, NAVIC signals on mobile phones which will open the path to developing a large number of applications for societal needs.
The ISRO Chairman said, starting a Space Programme in a country like India in the 60’s was one big crazy idea. But, Dr. Vikram Sarabhai foresaw the potential of space technology in transforming India. He said, When the whole world was using space for military domination, Dr Sarabhai thought that for a country like India with its immense size and diversity, the space technology platform is the only suitable platform for fast-track development.
Dr Sivan said, India’s economy is seventh largest by nominal GDP and third-largest by purchasing power parity. However, despite the progress made over the last half a century, India still has unresolved issues like reducing poverty and hunger, providing good health services and sanitation, adequate supply of clean drinking water and providing quality education. He called upon the students to work wholeheartedly in solving the problems, which the country is facing. Quoting Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi, Dr Sivan said, local problems need local solutions.
On the occasion IIT, Delhi and ISRO signed an MoU to jointly set up Space Technology Cell at the campus of the institute. The cell will work for carrying out focused research projects in the space technology domain with specific deliverables. It is also proposed that IIT, Delhi as an Institute becomes the academic partner of ISRO in research areas, for example, Artificial Intelligence, Nano-technology, functional textiles, smart manufacturing or any area of joint interest.