Former President and space scientist A.P.J. Abdul Kalam has called on Indian space research institutions to take the lead for an international collaborative project to harvest solar power from space to meet the global energy demand.
Addressing the third convocation of the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) here on Sunday, Mr. Kalam, who is the Chancellor of the institute, said the global mission could generate nearly unlimited clean energy, helping the world ward off a potential energy crisis in the 21st century and contribute to a sustainable and liveable Earth. He highlighted the prospect of harnessing solar energy from space round the clock, unlike terrestrial solar power projects that work only in daylight. Making the devastated Earth liveable again, even when supporting a population growing from seven to 11 billion by the turn of the century, was necessary to achieve prosperity and peace for mankind, he said.
Mr. Kalam mooted the idea of a world space knowledge platform to launch a feasibility study for space solar power, with partner nations providing seed funds for the $4-billion project. The continuous clean energy provided by the space solar mission would lead to an era of peace, prosperity, and abundance for all humanity. Scientists of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) were already studying the potential of using space mirrors to harness solar power, he said.
Delivering the convocation address, Department of Science and Technology Secretary Ashutosh Sharma reminded the graduates of the need for a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary approach, together with nifty teamwork, to address the real world challenges in health, water, energy, security, and environment sectors. In his address, ISRO chairman Kiran Kumar, who also chairs the board of management, IIST, called for a new and innovative approach to low-cost space travel.
Unlimited clean energy can help achieve peace and prosperity: Kalam
