Chennai varsity to set up country's first space tech centre

Chennai, Nov 15 (UNI) The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has agreed to assist the self-financing Sathyabama University here to establish a Space Technology Centre, the first of its kind in the country, its Chancellor Jeppiaar announced today.

ISRO Chief G Madhavan Nair, who inaugurated the three-day International Conference on ''Emerging Scenarios in Space Technology and Applications'', organised by the University here on November 13, agreed to provide all assistance to establish the Centre, he said, addressing the valedictory function of the conference.

Mr Jeppiaar appealed to former ISRO Chief K Kasturirangan, who addressed the valedictory function, to help the University to successfuly run the centre.

He said the centre, a long cherished dream of the University, would help students, who desired to take up research in space technology. The centre would be established before the end of this year.

The main objective of the centre would be to develop a nano or micro satellite for the purpose of education, he said and appealed to ISRO to give permission for developing the satellite.

He said ISRO should change its policy and accord permission to private educational institutions to develop satellites.

''ISRO need not give any financial assistance. It would be enough if it shares the technical know how. We are willing to invest our own money and develop the satellite'', he said.

In foreign countries, private institions are allowed to develop satellites for educational purposes, he pointed out.

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