K.S. Dasgupta, Director of Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram, has said that the application potentials of satellite communication have enormously contributed to rural development.
Addressing the National Technology Day, organised at the CSIR-Central Electrochemical Research Institute (CECRI), here on Friday, he said, “Leapfrogging developments have been made in tele-education, science literacy, telemedicine, satellite navigation, remote sensing, geo-positioning, television broadcasting, space-based disaster management, and tele-ophthalmology mobile van systems of village resource centres.”
He urged the youth to pursue a career in the basic sciences, in general, and space science, in particular. Recalling the farsightedness of the philanthropist RM. Alagappa Chettiar in establishing CECRI as a national laboratory under CSIR, he hailed Dr. Vikram Sarabhai’s contributions to Indian space technology.
“India had come a long way from its first successful launch of a satellite on December 18, 1958. Today, we are among a handful of nations that use satellite communication for education and social development.”
Among the notable contributions of Indian Space Research Organisation were Satellite Instructional Television Experiment (SITE), its first societal space project, under which over 40,000 teachers were trained through video-telecasting. ISRO has also launched 45 space vehicles, 74 spacecraft missions, Kheda Communication project, Gramsat networks and Jhabua development communication project, Mr. Dasgupta added.
The National Technology Day, commemorating the Pokhran nuclear test of May 11, 1998, was celebrated at CECRI, Mr. Vijayamohanan K Pillai, Director of CECRI, said. CECRI technologies relating to ammonium perchlorate, gold plating and composite corrosion protection have revolutionised the Indian technological landscape, he said.
The National Technology Day, commemorating the Pokhran nuclear test in 1998, was celebrated at CECRI
