ISRO's priority reusable launch vehicles, manned mission

Chennai, Feb 13 (UNI) The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has drawn the roadmap for the next generation programmes like developing reusable launch vehicles, manned mission to the moon and exploration in planet surface to take India to a leadership position.

ISRO Chief G Madhavan Nair said this tonight in an interactive session with the students of the Velammal Matriculation Higher Secondary School after presenting cash awards to the tune of Rs 2.64 lakh to the winners of the third State Level Science Talent Research examination.

Observing that the ISRO had more or less fulfilled the visions of visionary Vikram Sarabhai, he said India had become self reliant in space technology and was entering the next generation mission.

''I am happy to draw an outline for the next generation missions like developing reusable launch vehicles, manned mission to the moon and exploration of the planet''.

Though India's space programme lagged about 20 years behind superpowers like United States and Russia, the country was now on par with these countries.

''What we lag now is manned mission to the moon. That will be our next goal'', he added.

''I have drawn the outline (for moon mission) and the details has to be filled in by youngsters like you (students) by taking the initiative to work towards it'', Dr Nair said.

On the future space programmes, he said ''apart from the the prestigious Chandraayan-I moon mission, creating an orbital platform to observe the galaxy, creating a moonlanding to explore and pick up particles from the surface, robotic expedition are the future programes'.

''The road map has been drawn for the next 20 years and the Space community offers various opportunites and innovative technologies'', he said.

More than 65,000 students from 370 schools across Tamil Nadu participated in the talent examination conducted by the Velammal school, with 3000 competing in the final round for the laurels.

UNI