IANS
24 September 2007
Hyderabad: The chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) G. Madhavan Nair believes that the organisation is entering the second phase of space vision with components of advanced technologies for low cost access to space planetary exploration and manned mission initiatives in the next few decades.
Addressing the inaugural session of the 58th International Astronautical Congress (IAC) 2007, Nair said the proposed launch of the mission to the moon, Chandrayaan-I, is part of this second vision.
'I am glad that we are able to garner cooperation and support from various space agencies in developing the Chandrayaan mission,' he added.
Nair said India has always viewed international cooperation as an essential means to achieve tangible progress as well as in sharing scientific and technological advances among space scientists. 'The emphasis on societal applications will continue with vigour even as we embark on the second vision,' he said.
The ISRO chairman said the Indian space application programmes such as tele-medicine, tele-education and village resource centres could become role models for the global community, especially in developing countries.
He said space technologies and space-based systems had become globally important for solving problems and enriching quality of life. 'The space-based systems play a vital role in solving the problems of the common man in India.'
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