New Delhi, Oct 18: “India stands for international Space collaborations for the larger benefit of mankind. It is our solemn commitment that Outer Space is used only for peaceful purposes and kept free of conflict,” said Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh on Wednesday.
He was delivering a keynote address at the two-day conference on ‘Space – The final frontier for China in its quest for global leadership’, organised by the Centre for Contemporary China Studies, MEA, at Sushma Swaraj Bhavan here.
The minister said, “We have consistently adhered to the principles of transparency, accountability and peaceful uses of Space. Therefore we urge every other nation including China to engage in open dialogue with others so that we share each other’s missions, and ventures without being secretive or suspicious and also ensure that we preserve a secure, safe and stable environment,” he said.
Underlining that India’s Space programme is not only globally competitive but also excelling, Dr Singh reiterated that India’s Space programme is entirely peaceful and that ISRO is collaborating with the world’s leading Space agencies to bring ease of living for the common citizen.
“Even though the USA and the then Soviet Union had started their Space journey long before us and America also landed a human being on the surface of the Moon in 1969, it was nevertheless our Chandrayaan that brought home the evidence of water on the surface of Moon,” he said, adding that the NASA has offered a Joint Space Mission to the International Space Station during the historic visit to PM Modi to the United States this year.
The union minister said India’s space missions are designed to be cost-effective, building upon human resources and skills.
“The Russian moon mission, which was unsuccessful, cost Rs.16,000 crore, and our (Chandrayaan-3) mission cost just around Rs.600 crore,” he said.
Referring to applications of Space Technology to different sectors like SVAMITVA, PM Gati Shakti, Infrastructure such as Railways, Highways & Smart Cities, Agriculture, Water Mapping, Telemedicine and Robotic Surgery, Dr Jitendra Singh said this ‘Whole of Nation’ approach has brought about ‘Ease of Living’ for the common man.
Dr Jitendra gave full credit to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for enabling India’s Space scientists to vindicate the dream of their founding father Vikram Sarabhai by “unlocking” India’s Space sector and providing an enabling milieu in which India’s huge potential and talent could find an outlet and prove itself to the rest of the world.
“Prime Minister Modi has broken these taboos of the past. Starting from just 4 Space Startups in 2014, within just 3-4 years we have more than 150 Startups,” he said.
Stating that the “Anusandhan National Research Foundation” will pave the way for a greater Public Private Partnership (PPP) model in scientific research, Dr Jitendra Singh said the NRF will catapult us to the league of a handful of developed nations pioneering new research in new frontiers.
He said ISRO has launched more than 380 foreign satellites, earning more than 220 Million Euros and over 170 Million US Dollars by launching American satellites.
“India’s Space economy today stands at about $8 billion, which I agree is not a very relaxing figure, but our own projection is that by 2040 we will be $40 billion. But more interesting is that according to some international observers, for example, a few weeks back the ADL (Arthur D Little) Report mentions that we could have the potential of $100 Billion by 2040,” he said.
