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Kalam moots ‘World Space Vision’

Photo: S. Gopakumar

Proud moment: The former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, ISRO chairman G. Madhavan Nair and Director of VSSC K. Radhakrishnan at a function organised jointly by Asianet News and ISRO to honour space scientists, in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday. -

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam has urged the world space community to evolve a ‘World Space Vision’ targeting “large scale societal missions and low cost access to space.”

Mr. Kalam was addressing a function organised by Malayalam television channel Asianet to honour the team of scientists behind the recent success of the PSLV-C9 mission of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

He said the vision should be to reduce the cost of sending one kg payload into the orbit to $2,000 from the present level of $20,000. The mission should also address the question of comprehensive space security.

“A World Space Vision would enhance the quality of human life, inspire the spirit of space exploration, expand the horizons of knowledge and ensure space security for all nations of the world. It is also essential to create [a] World Space Council, which could oversee the planning and implementation of large scale societal missions like energy from space, space security and deep space exploration,” Mr. Kalam said.

Describing the PSLV-C9 mission (which placed 10 satellites, including eight for international customers into the orbit) as a proud achievement, he called upon ISRO to “aggressively market the commercial potential of PSLV and our satellite products.” He attributed the nation’s highly successful space programme to visionary scientists and political leaders, teamwork and determination.

ISRO Chairman G. Madhavan Nair, who too addressed the function, said ISRO had got ready the detailed project report for the nation’s first manned mission into space. He said it would soon be submitted to the Union government.

He said it would be possible for the country to send its first man into space within the next six or seven years.

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