Edevelop
ELITE MEMBER
- Joined
- Feb 2, 2007
- Messages
- 14,735
- Reaction score
- 23
- Country
- Location
The total absence of space sciences from the curriculum, if not addressed, will continue to impede the progress of Pakistan’s space programme through dearth of quality human resource.
Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) Chairman Major General (retd) Ahmed Bilal shared this concern in an exclusive interview with The News. “Fascination with outer space starts at an early age which needs to be tapped through education and translated into learned professionals,” he said. Lack of funding was another reason, he cited as a drag-force in rapid progress in Pakistani space sciences.
He was of the view that Pakistan had lost its way somewhere in the middle after getting to a rather accelerated start. When it comes to space sciences, Pakistan’s initial learning curve was very steep as Suparco had its roots in the evolution phase of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) of the United States, he said.
There is so much that you’d want to know from a man who holds the position as Suparco chairman and the questions race your mind. The chairman, however, was “reluctant” to answer some questions. One couldn’t help but think that he isn’t sharing some really interesting and high-tech information. When asked where Pakistan stands in the defense satellite technology as compared with India and if Pakistan was working on a military satellite, he meticulously answered around it saying that there was nothing that Pakistan needed to worry about in the context.
Instead of saying much about the defence satellite he spoke more of the Remote Sensing Satellite which he believed Suparco will be able to launch by the next three years. Talking about the tremendous scope of the technology, he said that it would practically prove as a new world regarding the way we approach our geology, agriculture, topography, hydrology and other areas.
He termed the recent project of the Student Satellite initiated by Suparco as a heartening step in the right direction which would indulge and engage the youth in space sciences and do wonders for the country.
He was of the view that the satellite would be complete and launched most probably before the Remote Sensing Satellite.
He was very excited about the fact that the nine complete-assemblies manufactured completely by S Suparco professionals for the PakSat-1R were working perfectly till now which proved its capacity and expertise.
He stressed laying down a precise national space-vision along which all efforts would be targeted. Identifying 1999 as the year when Suparco was once again recognised as a national asset, he said it had come a long way over the past years and 90 Pakistani space scientists were currently involved in a KHTT’ (Know How Training and. Transfer) programme with China.
The chairman praised the President of Pakistan for his support and project-friendly approach and believed that provided the same approach and harnessing of technology and human resource, Suparco would soon reach the heights it aims for.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-5-136140-Pakistan-falters-after-quick-start-in-space-sciences
Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) Chairman Major General (retd) Ahmed Bilal shared this concern in an exclusive interview with The News. “Fascination with outer space starts at an early age which needs to be tapped through education and translated into learned professionals,” he said. Lack of funding was another reason, he cited as a drag-force in rapid progress in Pakistani space sciences.
He was of the view that Pakistan had lost its way somewhere in the middle after getting to a rather accelerated start. When it comes to space sciences, Pakistan’s initial learning curve was very steep as Suparco had its roots in the evolution phase of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) of the United States, he said.
There is so much that you’d want to know from a man who holds the position as Suparco chairman and the questions race your mind. The chairman, however, was “reluctant” to answer some questions. One couldn’t help but think that he isn’t sharing some really interesting and high-tech information. When asked where Pakistan stands in the defense satellite technology as compared with India and if Pakistan was working on a military satellite, he meticulously answered around it saying that there was nothing that Pakistan needed to worry about in the context.
Instead of saying much about the defence satellite he spoke more of the Remote Sensing Satellite which he believed Suparco will be able to launch by the next three years. Talking about the tremendous scope of the technology, he said that it would practically prove as a new world regarding the way we approach our geology, agriculture, topography, hydrology and other areas.
He termed the recent project of the Student Satellite initiated by Suparco as a heartening step in the right direction which would indulge and engage the youth in space sciences and do wonders for the country.
He was of the view that the satellite would be complete and launched most probably before the Remote Sensing Satellite.
He was very excited about the fact that the nine complete-assemblies manufactured completely by S Suparco professionals for the PakSat-1R were working perfectly till now which proved its capacity and expertise.
He stressed laying down a precise national space-vision along which all efforts would be targeted. Identifying 1999 as the year when Suparco was once again recognised as a national asset, he said it had come a long way over the past years and 90 Pakistani space scientists were currently involved in a KHTT’ (Know How Training and. Transfer) programme with China.
The chairman praised the President of Pakistan for his support and project-friendly approach and believed that provided the same approach and harnessing of technology and human resource, Suparco would soon reach the heights it aims for.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-5-136140-Pakistan-falters-after-quick-start-in-space-sciences
