JOIN USISRO chief Radhakrishnan calls for international collaboration
Calling for a wider collaboration between different countries venturing into space research, Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) chairman K Radhakrishnan said that such a collaboration could bring benefits to wider sections of the global population.
He was speaking at the inauguration of the 39th assembly of Cospar (Committee on Space Research) held at Infosys here on Monday.
Radhakrishnan advocated the importance of international synergy in space missions to reduce cost of access to space resources and exploring the inter-planetary solar system.
He said developments in areas of space science played a major role in improving the quality of human kind on the planet and also acts as a major part in cultural and socio-economic development.
He said space research had led to revolutionisation of communication, broadcasting and navigation. More importantly it served observation of the planet globally.
In order to take this forward, he said international cooperation is essential.
He said, “It is clear that space programmes need a larger vision. We have to have several visions where the scientific fraternity across the world could work together.
Cospar can be the ideal platform to foster the global collaboration of future space mission and its implementations to all the agencies and institutions.”
Awards
Janet Luhmann of USA was awarded the Cospar Space Science Award at the 39th Cospar Assembly for outstanding contributions to space science in the fields covered by the committee on space research here on Monday.
At a glittering inauguration ceremony held at Infosys campus, Cospar International Cooperation Medal was presented to Roger-Maurice Bonnet of France for significant contributions to the promotion of international scientific cooperation in the field of space research.
Herbert Fisher of Germany was presented the Cospar William Nordberg Medal for distinguished contributions to the applications of space science in a field covered by Cospar.
Neil Gehrels of USA was given the Cospar Harrie Massey Award for outstanding contribution to the development of space research, in which a leadership role is of particular importance. The Cospar distinguished service medal for extraordinary services rendeered to Cospar over many years was presented to Peter Willmore of United Kingdom.
Vikram Sarabhai Medal for outstanding contributions to space research in developing countries awarded jointly with Isro was awarded to Rafael Navarro-Gonzalez of Mexico.
The Jeoujang Jaw Award was presented to Robert P Lin of USA for distinguished pioneering contributions to promoting space research, establishing new space science research branches and founding new exploration programmes, which is awarded jointly with the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Yakov Zeldovich medals for excellence and achievement by young scientists awarded jointly with the Russian Academy of Sciences was awarded to Jadunandan Dash of India, Bethany L Ehlmann of USA, Tatsuhiro Yokoyama of Japan, Jonathan P Eastwood of UK, Makoto Uemura of Japan, Chiara La Tessa of Italy, Michael Lukasser of Austria and Peter J Wass of UK.