Kalam suggests "Space Vision" for good of mankind

New Delhi, June 5 (UNI) President A P J Abdul Kalam today called upon the world space community to evolve a Space Vision that would help mankind meet the challenges of the 21st century.

He was speaking from Rashtrapati Bhavan through video conferencing to the 'International Conference on Space-A conceptual challenge to defence,' organised by the Centre of Aerospace Strategic Studies in India and the National Centre for Space Studies of France in Paris.

Dr Kalam said the 'World Space Vision-2050' should have three components : Space exploration and current application missions, comprehensive space security and large scale social missions and low cost access to space.

"This would enhance the quality of human life, inspire the spirit of space exploration, expand the hrizons of knowledge and ensure space security for all nations," he said.

He also suggested to the space community to evolve a World Space Council to formulate and implement the proposed vision. "Such a unitified approach will enable the world to see a quantum jump in the progress of space, science and technology," he added.

Pointing out that Space technology had helped the development process of nations, he said the greatest asset of space research was that in many cases, the technology used in space had gone on to have applications in every day life.

Dr Kalam briefly touched on the history of the Indian Space programme from the vision of Prof Vikram Sarabhai in the 1970s to its present capabilities.

In this context, he said he foresaw that India would make an important contribution to low cost access to space and missions to the Moon and Mars.

UNI