We will go to Mars in the next 20 years: U.R. Rao

January 08, 2015 01:11 pm | Updated 02:17 pm IST - MANGALURU:

Prof. U.R. Rao speaking after inaugurating the workshop on 'Science in Action' at St. Agnes College in Mangaluru. Photo: H.S.Manjunath.

Prof. U.R. Rao speaking after inaugurating the workshop on 'Science in Action' at St. Agnes College in Mangaluru. Photo: H.S.Manjunath.

Former Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), U.R. Rao said here on Thursday that in the next 15 years or 20 years “we will certainly go to Mars”.

Speaking on ‘Science in action – Role of academicians and industries’ at the inauguration of a three-day workshop on ‘Science in Action’ at St. Agnes College he said that the moon could provide resources required for power generation.

Stating that science should serve the needs of people, he said that advancements in space research and other areas of science should be used for green revolution.

Mr. Rao said that though India claims to have made advancements in science, it has not been able to manufacture even a single aircraft domestically. The cost of purchasing an aircraft from abroad was huge ranging up to Rs. 500 crore which was enough to go to the Mars.

He mentioned that even the machinery and equipment needed for defence forces were being imported. Stressing on the need to stop relying on imports and start producing and manufacturing indigenously, he said that it would also help the value of Indian rupee to go up. If the country continued to rely more on imports the rupee will not be able to recover, he said.

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