There is a need to multiply the number of satellites, earth stations, etc., said the former head of ISRO.
Bangalore:
Amid tension with China on the Royal Line of Control, veteran space scientist G Madhavan Nair said on Friday that India should increase its space assets and improve coverage of the region to keep up with changing times.
In an interview with the Press Trust of India news agency, he said that in almost all areas of security-related activities, space (Earth observation, electronic communication and intelligence, among other things) plays a very important role.
“The Chinese side, as I understand it, has multiplied the number of radar imaging satellites, Earth observation satellites, and communication satellites several times so that they can have continuous coverage of the world. Therefore, they will get all kinds of information from their constellations (of satellites), “said Mr. Nair.
“Let’s leave global coverage alone, at least across the border, India should have a plan to have continuous coverage,” said the former president of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).
He noted that India has demonstrated its capabilities by launching satellites in various fields.
“Now, there has to be a deployment plan to provide continuous coverage. That is very necessary for the country.
Certainly, there is a need to multiply the number of satellites, earth stations, etc. So this must be taken care of, “said the acclaimed scientist.
Generally speaking, Nair, who had also served as Secretary in the Space Department and Chairman of the Space Commission, said that space would play an important role in future wars.
“Be it earth observation, electronic intelligence, communications and also coordination with various resources like ships, planes, drones and all those things, space will play a very important role,” he observed.
Protecting space assets will be a great challenge in the future.
In terms of space technology, India is on par with China except in the area of manned spaceflight, he said, but noted, referring to the ‘Gaganyaan’ company, that work to carry out such manned missions is already launched in the country.
“But the Chinese provide a lot of resources (in the area of space). Their budget is almost five times more than India’s annual space budget,” Nair said.
“They (China) take an integrated view of defense and civil requirements,” added Mr. Nair, during whose six-year term (2003-2OO9) as President, ISRO / Secretary, DOS, 25 successful missions were completed.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is posted from a syndicated feed.)
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