Visakhapatnam: The Andhra Pradesh government would form a joint committee with the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) to explore the ways how the state-run universities and common man could utilise the data and technology available with the Isro in remote sensing, navigation and space exploration and technology. On Monday, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu chaired a meeting with scientists and officials from the Isro and Vice-Chancellors of all state-run universities here in Andhra University.
During the meet, the Isro officials as well as the state government landed at a primary understanding, which would likely turn into a memorandum understanding (MoU). Later, Mr. Naidu participated in the valedictory function of the Isro’s Space Week celebrations at the Dr. YVS Murthy Auditorium in AU. Mr. Naidu said they would set up Innovation Chapters at each university to encourage young talent in space research and explorations for the benefit of the common man.
“Space science has become more relevant these days given the array of benefits in surface water monitoring, identifying potential fishing zones in the sea, natural disaster prediction, identifying environmental changes and agriculture other than its core benefits,” added Mr. Naidu. He spoke on how the industrial revolution has metamorphosed over the years - right from the mechanisation of things in the first generation to Internet. “With the help of Isro’s transponders, we could run digital classes even in remote places,” Mr. Naidu said.
Isro chairman A.S. Kiran Kumar explained about the Space Week and its origin from the first artificial satellite Sputnik’s launch in 1957. He explained benefits of space technology and was all praise for Vikram Sarabhai, who is regarded as the father of Indian Space Science. “The space technology had been generating Rs 20,000 crore more revenue to the fishermen. Space is a new frontier and space tourism, space exploration and inter-planetary tourism would have great prospects in the future. India was the first country to establish evidence of water molecules on the lunar surface from its Chandrayaan. It had also launched the MoM through Mangalyaan,” Mr. Kumar added.
SHAR (Satish Dhawan Space Centre) director P. Kunhikrishnan stressed the need for universities’ partnership in space exploration. “The PSLV-C15 was built by a consortium of seven engineering colleges. Likewise, India’s first nano-satellite Jugnu was produced by IIT-Kanpur students.” The Space Week is aimed at fostering interest in students about space technology to make them explore unchartered territories, he added. HRD minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao, Panchayat Raj minister Ch. Ayyanna Patrudu, Vizag MP K. Haribababu, Shar Deputy Director R. Venkata Raman, AU VC Prof. Nageswara Rao and others were present.
