<p>For, 30 years since the US championed re-usable vehicle technology through its “space shuttle,” India, one of the leading countries in space technology, is yet to test a proper technology demonstrator of re-usable vehicle.<br /><br />Although India is making advances in this technology through Isro’s ground work, the challenges faced, especially due to a lack of specific funding for the project, would mean that it will a long time for us to boast of such a technology.<br /><br />And if Isro Chairman K Radhakrishnan’s words are to be deciphered for deeper meaning, we might not have such a technology at all.<br />Answering a specific question on re-usable technology in Hassan recently, he said: <br /><br />“Our strength lies in expendable vehicles although we are working on a technology demonstrator of a re-usable vehicle. We have to see what our future direction is!”<br /><br />He did not commit on the space agency’s stand on the issue. The re-useable technology, along with a “fool-proof” GSLV launch vehicle will prove critical for the country’s ambitious “human space flight” programme, which has got a clearance with Rs 145-crore earmarked for it.<br /><br />Such a project cannot be executed indigenously without this technology, as it is essential to have a vehicle that can bring the cosmonauts back, just like the US space shuttle did. Advances are being made in the design and development of a technology demonstrator of a re-usable launch vehicle at Isro’s Vikram Sarabai Space Centre (VSSC) in Thiruvananthapuram.<br /><br />But senior scientists at Isro explained to Deccan Herald: “There is a long way to go in terms of re-usable technology. We are found wanting for some critical technology needed to make such a mission successful, and also, we have not got a project cleared completely.”<br /><br />Also, on the argument that such a technology, once mastered, could reduce considerably the costs involved in Isro’s other future projects, Radhakrishnan said: “In some sense it does. But look at Russia, they dropped this programme about 20 years ago but they continue to excel in space technology.”<br /><br />Radhakrishnan was hinting at working with our strengths and waiting for what may shape up in the future in terms of requirement.<br /></p>
<p>For, 30 years since the US championed re-usable vehicle technology through its “space shuttle,” India, one of the leading countries in space technology, is yet to test a proper technology demonstrator of re-usable vehicle.<br /><br />Although India is making advances in this technology through Isro’s ground work, the challenges faced, especially due to a lack of specific funding for the project, would mean that it will a long time for us to boast of such a technology.<br /><br />And if Isro Chairman K Radhakrishnan’s words are to be deciphered for deeper meaning, we might not have such a technology at all.<br />Answering a specific question on re-usable technology in Hassan recently, he said: <br /><br />“Our strength lies in expendable vehicles although we are working on a technology demonstrator of a re-usable vehicle. We have to see what our future direction is!”<br /><br />He did not commit on the space agency’s stand on the issue. The re-useable technology, along with a “fool-proof” GSLV launch vehicle will prove critical for the country’s ambitious “human space flight” programme, which has got a clearance with Rs 145-crore earmarked for it.<br /><br />Such a project cannot be executed indigenously without this technology, as it is essential to have a vehicle that can bring the cosmonauts back, just like the US space shuttle did. Advances are being made in the design and development of a technology demonstrator of a re-usable launch vehicle at Isro’s Vikram Sarabai Space Centre (VSSC) in Thiruvananthapuram.<br /><br />But senior scientists at Isro explained to Deccan Herald: “There is a long way to go in terms of re-usable technology. We are found wanting for some critical technology needed to make such a mission successful, and also, we have not got a project cleared completely.”<br /><br />Also, on the argument that such a technology, once mastered, could reduce considerably the costs involved in Isro’s other future projects, Radhakrishnan said: “In some sense it does. But look at Russia, they dropped this programme about 20 years ago but they continue to excel in space technology.”<br /><br />Radhakrishnan was hinting at working with our strengths and waiting for what may shape up in the future in terms of requirement.<br /></p>
