'India can send spaceship to the moon in few years'
Sept 13, 2006
Former Indian Space Research
Organisation Chairman K Kasthurirangan has said that India will be in a position
to send its own spaceship to the moon in a few years time.
Kasthurirangan, Director of
the National Institute of Advanced Studies, was delivering his special lecture
on "Space Research Programme of India" at the Alagappa University in Karaikudi
on Monday evening.
He said Indian space research
scientists had reached greater heights with "a little budget," unlike NASA
scientists where huge amounts were spent on space research programmes.
India was one of the four
countries, which had the capacity to launch satellites into space. Many
developed and developing countries were seeking India's help for launching their
satellites. He also explained the role of INSAT I and II "in bringing up the
Indian economy and promotion of education in every nook and corner of the
country."
He underlined the importance
of satellites in identifying ground water level, ideal fish catching zone,
prediction of monsoon, disaster management, and bringing many Television
programmes to the rural areas.
He said the knowledge of Mathematics and Physics was very much essential for space research programme, and donated Rs 86 lakh from the MP's Local Area Development fund for building the Ramanujam Centre for Higher Mathematics at the University.
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