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EX-chief to ISRO: Next, the universe

Dr. Kasturirangan said, ISRO should not miss opportunities for interplanetary studies

With Mangalyaan successfully reaching the neighbourhood of Mars, Isro must focus on sustained exploration of the solar system in order to establish its credentials and team up with other space-faring nations for frequent interplanetary voyages, says former chairman of Isro Dr. Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan.

Complimenting his former colleagues for demonstrating the capability to launch a probe to Mars on a shoe string budget, Dr. Kasturirangan said that Isro should not miss opportunities for interplanetary studies in future. He also added that Isro has developed technologies for communication over millions of kms, and built an orbiter which has withstood extremely high levels of radiation during its ten month journey to Mars.

“Isro should join global expeditions to explore the solar system because the organization has established a good infrastructure on the ground and trained scientists and engineers,” he added. The former space agency chief said such constant forays into outer space would be essential for the country which is on course to emerge as the third largest economic power by 2030.

“We have built advanced communication and rem-ote sensing satellites and used them for socio economic development and have demonstrated that we are doing science for the benefit of common man. So, we must try to solve mysteries about the solar system in future. Perhaps, asteroids must also be explored in future,” he added. Dr. Kasturirangan said more probes should follow. ‘Aditya’ likely to be launched in a couple of years to study the Sun’s corona.

( Source : dc )
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