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OCEANSAT-2 getting ready: Nair
Staff Reporter
ASTROSAT, the space observation system, may be launched in 2008-09
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`GSLV Mark-III can put satellites of up to five tonnes in orbit'
`Innovative technology should be within everyone's reach'
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PROUD ACHIEVEMENTS: ISRO Chairman G. Madhavan Nair going round the exhibition on `Strides in Indian Science and Technology,' before the valedictory function of the two-day media workshop organised jointly by ISRO and DAVP in Bangalore on Friday. 51; Photo: K. Murali Kumar
Bangalore: Before the end of this financial year, OCEANSAT-2, a new satellite to study oceans, will replace OCEANSAT-1, which is nearly at the end of its lifespan. "The next one will be more powerful and will be equipped with a scatterometer to study the sea surface," said G. Madhavan Nair, Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The applications of this satellite include identifying fishing zones and weather forecasting.
Mr. Nair was speaking to presspersons on the concluding day of a workshop on "Communication strategies and delivery systems to promote science and technology among rural people" here on Friday.
He said that ASTROSAT, a satellite that will serve as a "space observation system", is ready for launch in 2008-09. "It will have the capabilities to observe and study various celestial phenomena such as the supernova and black holes, through the use of multiple wavelengths, such as ultraviolet, x-rays and gamma rays," he said.
Commercial launches
As for future commercial launches, Mr. Nair said after the success of its Agile mission, ISRO would be undertaking three more commercial launches within the next two years. "The three contracts are much in their final stages, and we hope they come through soon," Mr. Nair said.
On ISRO's move towards "total self-reliance", Mr. Nair said its Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) Mark-III would be operational by 2009. While the present GSLV could launch a payload capacity of 2.5 tonnes into the geosynchronous transfer orbit, with Mark-III, the capacity would go up to four or five tonnes. As for GSLV Mark-II, Mr. Nair said that ISRO was still developing its indigenous cryogenic stage and the test launch would take place in a few months.
Delivering his valedictory address, Mr. Nair said: "We have very pressing problems, from access to food and water to inefficiencies in health care and education. We do not necessarily need technology that is so sophisticated as to serve only 5 per cent of our population, but should focus on innovative technologies that are within everyone's reach."
He cited the example of desalinisation mechanisms developed by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, which had the capacity to provide a litre of drinking water for 5 paise.
Satellite technology had catalysed the communication revolution that India had witnessed in the last 30 years. "However, the dramatic changes taking place in our metros is not enough to realise dreams of reaching our development potential by 2020 since 70 per cent of India lives in villages," he said.
On the responsibility of the media, Mr. Nair said: "Television and newspapers seem to begin their news with accidents, move on to advertisements and end in obituaries. What are we trying to convey to people? We have had some important achievements such as launch of the BrahMos missile, one of the most sophisticated missiles developed in India. But it hardly received any attention."
Without a scientific temper, there would be no progress in the country, said A.P. Frank Noronha, Deputy Director-General, Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity (DAVP). He added that a relationship between scientific institutes and the media must be forged, and that the developments in science should disseminated through a creative use of multi-media in rural areas.
Staff Reporter
ASTROSAT, the space observation system, may be launched in 2008-09
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
`GSLV Mark-III can put satellites of up to five tonnes in orbit'
`Innovative technology should be within everyone's reach'
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PROUD ACHIEVEMENTS: ISRO Chairman G. Madhavan Nair going round the exhibition on `Strides in Indian Science and Technology,' before the valedictory function of the two-day media workshop organised jointly by ISRO and DAVP in Bangalore on Friday. 51; Photo: K. Murali Kumar
Bangalore: Before the end of this financial year, OCEANSAT-2, a new satellite to study oceans, will replace OCEANSAT-1, which is nearly at the end of its lifespan. "The next one will be more powerful and will be equipped with a scatterometer to study the sea surface," said G. Madhavan Nair, Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The applications of this satellite include identifying fishing zones and weather forecasting.
Mr. Nair was speaking to presspersons on the concluding day of a workshop on "Communication strategies and delivery systems to promote science and technology among rural people" here on Friday.
He said that ASTROSAT, a satellite that will serve as a "space observation system", is ready for launch in 2008-09. "It will have the capabilities to observe and study various celestial phenomena such as the supernova and black holes, through the use of multiple wavelengths, such as ultraviolet, x-rays and gamma rays," he said.
Commercial launches
As for future commercial launches, Mr. Nair said after the success of its Agile mission, ISRO would be undertaking three more commercial launches within the next two years. "The three contracts are much in their final stages, and we hope they come through soon," Mr. Nair said.
On ISRO's move towards "total self-reliance", Mr. Nair said its Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) Mark-III would be operational by 2009. While the present GSLV could launch a payload capacity of 2.5 tonnes into the geosynchronous transfer orbit, with Mark-III, the capacity would go up to four or five tonnes. As for GSLV Mark-II, Mr. Nair said that ISRO was still developing its indigenous cryogenic stage and the test launch would take place in a few months.
Delivering his valedictory address, Mr. Nair said: "We have very pressing problems, from access to food and water to inefficiencies in health care and education. We do not necessarily need technology that is so sophisticated as to serve only 5 per cent of our population, but should focus on innovative technologies that are within everyone's reach."
He cited the example of desalinisation mechanisms developed by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, which had the capacity to provide a litre of drinking water for 5 paise.
Satellite technology had catalysed the communication revolution that India had witnessed in the last 30 years. "However, the dramatic changes taking place in our metros is not enough to realise dreams of reaching our development potential by 2020 since 70 per cent of India lives in villages," he said.
On the responsibility of the media, Mr. Nair said: "Television and newspapers seem to begin their news with accidents, move on to advertisements and end in obituaries. What are we trying to convey to people? We have had some important achievements such as launch of the BrahMos missile, one of the most sophisticated missiles developed in India. But it hardly received any attention."
Without a scientific temper, there would be no progress in the country, said A.P. Frank Noronha, Deputy Director-General, Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity (DAVP). He added that a relationship between scientific institutes and the media must be forged, and that the developments in science should disseminated through a creative use of multi-media in rural areas.
dual use onlee.
