RAMESWARAM, India – Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman S. Somanath made a significant announcement on Sunday, highlighting the growing recognition of India’s space prowess.
ISRO Chairman S. Somanath made a significant announcement today, revealing that experts involved in developing complex rocket missions in the United States expressed interest in collaborating with India after witnessing the success and developmental activities of the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft.
Somanath emphasized the transformation of India’s capabilities, stating, “Times have changed, and India is capable of building the best devices and rockets.”
He attributed this progress to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to open the space sector to private players, a move that has sparked significant developments in the field.
This revelation came during an event held in Rameswaram, where the ISRO Chairman shared insights into India’s rapidly advancing space technology.
Experts from the United States, closely involved in the development of complex rocket missions, were thoroughly impressed by the advancements in India’s space technology, particularly in the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft project.
Speaking at an event organized by the Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam Foundation to commemorate the 92nd birth anniversary of the late former President, Somanath emphasized the shift in India’s space capabilities.
He noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to open the space sector to private players has marked a pivotal change in the country’s approach to space exploration.
“Our country is a very powerful nation. Do you understand that? Our knowledge and intelligence level in the country is one of the best in the world,” Somanath stated, emphasizing India’s potential in the space domain.
The ISRO Chief explained that during the development of Chandrayaan-3, experts from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), a renowned research and development laboratory funded by NASA and managed by the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), were invited to India. They witnessed the extensive design and development work behind Chandrayaan-3.
Somanath recounted their visit, saying, “About 5-6 people from NASA-JPL came to ISRO headquarters, and we explained to them about Chandrayaan-3. That was before the soft landing took place on August 23. We explained how we designed it and how our engineers made it… and how we are going to land on the Moon’s surface, and they just said, ‘no comments. Everything is going to be good.'”
The experts from NASA-JPL were notably impressed by the cost-effectiveness and quality of the scientific instruments used in Chandrayaan-3, prompting them to inquire about the possibility of India sharing this technology with the United States.
Somanath underscored the pivotal shift in the Indian space sector, with the successful Chandrayaan-3 mission landing near the south pole of the lunar surface on August 23. India became the fourth country in the world, after the US, China, and the former Soviet Union, to achieve a lunar landing.
Furthermore, Somanath encouraged the younger generation to embrace the ideology of Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, India’s revered former President, by dreaming big. He shared the aspiration of sending an Indian astronaut to the Moon in the upcoming Chandrayaan-10 mission and suggested that the astronaut could be a girl child, to the applause of the students in attendance.
In conclusion, India’s growing capabilities in space technology and its willingness to share expertise with international counterparts are indicative of a promising future for the nation’s space exploration endeavors. With the space sector now open to private players, India is set to make significant strides in this field.
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