'ISRO to set up space training centre at Trivandrum'

Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 15: A space training centre to mould generations of space scientists will be set up here by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), is Chairman G Madhavan Nair said today.

Talking to newspersons at the airport on his arrival here from Bangalore after the successful launch of PSLV C-7, Mr Nair said such a training facility already existed at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) here on a small scale.

''But we need more scientists in the coming years for accomplishing our future missions, he said, adding that the ISRO was facing a shortage of Human Resources especially after the emergence of the Information Technology industry.

He said no decision was taken yet on the question of whether the training centre should have the status of deemed university.

According to sources, Thiruvananthapuram was selected for setting up the training centre in view of its proximity to major ISRO installations where advanced training for fresh entrants were already on.

UNI