New Delhi, Sep 10: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday heaped praise on the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for its contribution to the country’s space journey, saying the global trust in the agency is the result of the dedication and hard work of generations of scientists, engineers and technicians.
The prime minister’s commendation of ISRO and its scientists came days after nine employee associations of the agency wrote to its chairman seeking an official clarification on the proposed transfer of its manufacturing and operational functions to private entities.
The associations, in the letter dated September 4, also raised questions about ISRO’s future role and the consequences for serving employees and future recruitment.
Virtually addressing the first International Space Summit, being held in Paris, PM Modi said ISRO, which stands at the heart of India’s space research journey, has earned global admiration for its excellence and cost-effective missions.
He said ISRO’s capabilities serve farmers and fishermen, weather forecasting, disaster management and navigation, and more than 430 satellites from 34 countries have travelled to space aboard Indian rockets.
“ISRO’s technologies and partnerships serve not only India, but the wider world.
Behind this global trust is the dedication and hard work of generations of Indian scientists, engineers and technicians. Working day and night, they have built ISRO’s global reputation mission by mission, success by success, and given India a place of pride among spacefaring nations,” he said.
Modi said Chandrayaan-3 made India the first nation to land near the lunar south pole and the Aditya-L1 is unlocking the secrets of the Sun.
“Last year, an Indian visited the International Space Station. Looking ahead, we aim to establish an Indian space station by 2035 and send an Indian to the Moon by 2040. In all these efforts, our guiding principle has been clear: their benefits must reach all humanity,” he said.
The prime minister also said that alongside ISRO, India’s private space sector is also surging in a big way.
“The energy of enterprise is joining the excellence of ISRO,” he said.
