India has done a lot to utilise space applications, the DRDO has the technology, but somehow this is not available to the soldier on the field, Prof. MGK Menon DRDO Chair at RCI Hyderabad Prem Shanker Goel said.
We as engineers have not done enough for the security of the country. Take the example of the terrorist attack on Mumbai, our best commando forces did not have the gadgets while the terrorists had satellite phones and were happily monitoring our television to get the latest update, the result is history, we lost some fine officers, Mr. Goel said.
During his long career, Mr. Goel was involved in developing key elements for satellite control systems and also served as secretary Ministry of Earth Sciences. He was delivering the fourth Dr. V Bhujanga Rao Endowment Lecture organised by the GITAM University and Condition Monitoring Society of India here on Tuesday.
"We have developed high resolution navigation systems – Gagan – which is being used for a number of civilian and defence applications. This could be available on a tab or a handheld device that could be provided to the soldier on the field for efficient navigation in unknown and treacherous terrain like in Kargil. We had developed and deployed a satellite exclusively for defence purposes, it had a life of seven years. We have the expertise, but for various reasons it is not being translated into gadgets and gear for the users", he noted.
In the first generation of space exploration we have developed a lot of applications for farmers and the common man. We have to focus again on utilising space for the benefit of the common man, he said.
Director General Naval Systems and Materials V. Bhujanga Rao, Director Naval Science and Technology Laboratory C. Durga Malleswar, GITAM University vice chancellor G. Subrahmanyam, principal GITAM Institute of Technology K. Lakshmi Prasad, senior officials of NSTL, members CMSI, teachers and students of GITAM were present.
