Thiruvananthapuram :
With the first rocket launch in Thumba, Kerala played a major role in the setting up the country’s space programme and the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro), said Kerala Governor and India’s former chief justice P Sathasivam.
“Scientists and engineers here play a lead role behind many successful space missions in the country, but they are the last to be honoured,” he added while honouring the scientists of Isro establishments here on Tuesday for the success of the experimental flight of GSLV Mark-III and Mangalyaan mission at a felicitation meet organized by the Space Engineers Association (SEA).
He stressed the need to focus on space science and satellite technological development in enhancing the applications in remote sensing, transportation, better cropping, communication and telemedicine. Quoting Vikram Sarabhai, the father of Indian space science, he said the fruits of technology should be utilised for the betterment of mankind.
He likened the Isro to Supreme Court judges’ assembly, both have representation from across the country. SEA, a 1,200 member association of space engineers, had aptly honoured the brains behind the various successful space missions, including GSLV with its indigenous cryogenic test, PSLV, LVM-3 and Mangalyaan, he said.
VSSC director M C Dathan, liquid propulsion systems centre (LPSC) director K Sivan, Isro inertial systems unit (IISU) director P P Mohanlal, Isro propulsion complex (IPRC) director D Karthikesan and VSSC former director S Ramakrishnan were among those who were felicitated.
The project directors and associate project directors of various launch vehicles and top scientists of various divisions of Isro establishments, including NRV Kartha, Unnikrishnan Nair, S Arunan, BK Venkatraman, R Umamaheswaran, P Vijayakumar, G Ayyappan, R Ramavarma, S Venkateswaran, Koshi M George, P Ratnakara Rao and C Joseph, were also honoured.
The felicitation programme took off with the screening of a documentary by VSSC’s technical documentation and archival division on the milestones achieved by the Isro establishments, including India’s proven PSLV launch vehicle, the maiden interplanetary mission to Mars ‘Mangalyaan’ and launch of India’s next generation launch vehicle GSLV Mk-III on December 18 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR, Sriharikota, etc. It also focused on further space flights of the next PSLV launches to place the remote sensing series satellite IRNSS 1D on March 9 this year, other PSLV launches and advanced GSLV Mark III with indigenous cryogenic engine.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Thiruvananthapuram / TNN / February 18th, 2015