Make in India Awards 2017: ISRO's human space mission possible in 6-7 years, says former chief Radhakrishnan
Former ISRO chairman Dr Radhakrishnan today said that the space agency needs more investment to become the world leader.
Former chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Dr K Radhakrishnan today said that the premier space agency could send a human mission to space in six to seven years.
He said, "In six to seven years, ISRO will be able to send humans to space where he/she can stay for a few weeks. But, that is the decision that the government has to take."
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has been scaling new heights with every passing week. While Chinese agencies struggle to keep date with its future strategy, ISRO seems to be bettering its own record.
Putting things in perspective, former chairman of ISRO Dr K Radhakrishnan today said, "ISRO seems to be an island of excellence."
But, Dr Radhakrishnan was quick to remind people that success of ISRO has not been a "cakewalk but a difficult path."
THE ISRO SUCCESS MANTRA
Talking about the success of Moon Mission and Mars Mission, Radhakrishnan said, "It was not a cakewalk. It was a difficult path."
Explaining it further the former ISRO chief said, "If rocket's fabrication is faulty in one dimension by even one micron, the rocket will fail. If satellites fail, everything will come to a halt. The ATM will not work. Our phones will not work. It is a difficult job to do."
Speaking at the second India Today Make in India Emerging Entrepreneurs Awards event held in Delhi today, Radhakrishnan underscored the need to increase investment in science and technology infrastructure in the country.
He said, "Technology evolves at a very fast speed. If you can't keep pace with it, you will lag far behind very soon."
Radhakrishnan said that India currently ranked seven of the countries working on space technologies after the US, Russia, European Space Agency, Japan and China.
However, comparing the investment in space technology by different countries, Radhakrishnan said, "The NASA gets an investment of USD 18-19 billion every year while ISRO works with about USD 1 billion a year. European Agency uses much more fund."
"Space programmes are credible examples of Make in India, Low Cost High Ambition (the theme of his discussion at the India Today Make in India Awards 2017)," Radhakrishnan said.
- Talking about the future of India's space programmes, Radhakrishnan said, "We have great human capital. We require infrastructure for basic engineering. In terms of ratio of input to output, ISRO is at number two in the world among the space agencies."
- Explaining the task at hand before launch of rocket or a space mission, Radhakrishnan said, "Moon is about 4 lakh km from earth. Mars could be around 40 crore km from earth. To place a mission there successfully, we should be able to predict the timing of landing on their surface accurately at least 300 days in advance. Other countries' experience was 60 per cent failure. We did it in first attempt."
- "First and foremost, we learnt from the failures of others - the failures of the US, Russia and Japan. We studied what were the reasons for their failure. Second learning was from our own failures in launching GSLVs," Radhakrishnan said, adding, "In difficult times, one needs to take bold decisions."
- "Cryogenic engine testing had ended in failure in April 2010. Mars Mission was announced August 2015. Questions were asked, do we have to spend Rs 450 crore for Mars Mission? Do we have the capability? We are spending public money. We are accountable to such question. We took in to consideration the criticism," Radhakrishnan said at the Make in India Awards 2017.
- Explaining the success mantra of ISRO, Radhakrishnan said, "There is a way of doing things in ISRO. ISRO is 50 plus years old... ISRO founders Vikram Sarabhai and Satish Dhawan created that way of doing things at ISRO. We align with the national priority. We look at the problems of the country and work accordingly."
- "Before we begin to work on a project, we write down the difficulties that may arise. We write down the standard operating procedures... If you prepare for 50 problems and if 51st comes up, you are ready for it," former ISRO chief said.
- "There is no hierarchy (in working) at ISRO. Everyone is equal. Before clearance is given to any project, even a new person can raise his/her doubt. Only after clearing the doubt clearance is given," Radhakrishnan said.
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