Space Policy to be announced soon: ISRO Chairman

Staff Reporter

“India is all set to announce its ambitious Space Policy with a long-term vision and an eye on future. We have prepared a draft and handed it over to the Government. It may be announced any time soon,” said Dr S Somanath, Chairman of ISRO and Secretary, Department of Space, while interacting with mediapersons on the sidelines of the 108th Indian Science Congress in progress at RTMNU campus here on Wednesday.

Replying to a question, Dr S Somanath said that the policy would incorporate several aspects that the Government would provide details while announcing it. It will focus on developing private sector ecosystem in space sector. Also, thought has been given to liability convention applicability and other dimensions. Already, India’s space programme has taken big strides through collaborations and tie-ups with various countries.

Through the Ministry of External Affairs, Mexican Space Agency chief sought India’s support in building and launching a remote sensing satellite for Mexico. ISRO will work on this proposal. A new ecosystem is building up, he said. The space applications will be more driven in private sector and less in Government sector.

About various missions of ISRO, Dr S Somanath told mediapersons that though the ‘Gaganyaan’ mission was getting delayed due to certain problems, efforts were on to find solutions.

“It is not like sending satellite to orbit. We cannot take chances when it comes to human beings. So, we are being cautious and careful. Worldwide, such missions take 10 years. We had set the target of four years. But, we realised that some technologies were not easily available. Environmental control and life support systems are costly and not easily available. Hence, we are developing it. Further, we are conducting four additional test abort missions, of which some are manned and some are unmanned. The unmanned mission may be conducted by year-end,” explained the ISRO Chairman.

As far as Chandrayaan-3 is concerned, the ISRO chief said that it was ‘fully ready’. The orbiter, lander, and rover are ready. We are waiting for the right slot, which may be June-July. Replying to a question in this regard, he said that expectations from Chandrayaan-2 adn Chandrayaan-3 were the same. “The prime focus for us is to ensure safe-landing and rover coming out, because without them other objectives cannot be achieved. Drawing lessons from the previous mission, new sensors have been incorporated in the Chandrayaan-3 mission and certain corrective measures have been taken,” he added.

To another question, Dr Somanath said that the Mars-2 mission was on ‘announcement table’.

The Venus mission is still at the level of definition, said the Secretary of Department of Space. According to him, once the definition stage was over, the scientific questions will be reviewed by a committee. Another committee will then work out mission cost and other related factors. After that, ISRO will seek funding from the Government.

Regarding the ISRO’s roadmap for ‘Amritkaal’ (2022-2047), the ISRO Chairman informed the mediapersons that there were several aspects including building a future reusable rocket, developing a flexible satellite that will address the complex communication issues and spectrum etc, to continue with explorations including human missions, to focus on key emerging areas etc.

Asked about budget constraints, he replied that it was there as compared to other countries. “Still, it is good money. For, we invest only in projects having utility and with defined goals, and not in show-off kind of things. We work on low-cost models. ISRO has been working successfully in good science with minimum money,” he elaborated.

When his attention was drawn towards the issue of space debris, the eminent scientist said that the situation was grave but work to find out solutions was in progress. In 1960s, there were no space debris. However, today, there are few lakhs of them. Eighty per cent of satellites in the orbit are not functioning, they will take hundreds of years to disappear. “So, we must observe the situation. We must study whether they will create hurdles for new exploration missions. Space debris are like bullets. In such a situation, human space travel may be dangerous. Thankfully, various ideas are being discussed -- how to bring back satellites, how to ‘deorbit’ them, or how to take them to ‘graveyard orbit’ etc. Private companies are into it,” he explained.

Considering that the geo-political dynamics on Earth are having a bearing on outer space also, how is ISRO navigating India through the situation? To this question, he said that ISRO’s goal has been to make India stronger. “We are observing a lot of things and studying their implications. Tie-ups and collaborations, and engagements on merit with other countries while not compromising on our stand are guiding our efforts,” he said.

Asked if it meant following the path of ‘strategic autonomy’ in space sector, he replied that it was for the Government to speak upon. As far as India assuming G20 Presidency and its impact on India’s space prrogramme is concerned, Dr S Somanath said that G20 had one component on Space Economy wherein a precursor event would be held in Shillong and another event in Bengaluru. “Secondary economy can benefit from space technology. Upto that extent only, ISRO is associated,” he added.

To a question regarding development of technologies for Methane observation, he said that Methane observation was a major tool to study global warming. “If scientific community comes forward in this regard, ISRO will be ready to develop tools and help,” he observed.

Dr Somanath informed mediapersons that land acquisition was in progress for the second launching station in Tamil Nadu. Once the land acquisition process is complete, construction of the station will begin, he concluded.