Astronautics needs support: Chauhan

Ahmedabad, Aug 5 (UNI) Prithviraj Chauhan, Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), today called for a compendium of facilities and infrastructure for carrying out research and development as well as testing in the area of astronautics.

Addressing the audience at the annual awards ceremony function of the Astronautical Society of India (ASI) here, Mr Chauhan said: ''This will help in complementing and supplementing the facilities available in various research establishments and units in this country.'' He lauded the ASI's efforts saying a non-government professional body was taking initiative for the development of astronautics in the country by bringing together vast amount of expertise available in this field.

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman G Madhavan Nair, who is also president of ASI, said that Rs 1500 crore have been allocated for the navigational satellite, a new initiative, which would be spent in the next six to seven years.

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