Realise true potential, ISRO chief tells students

ISRO to launch satellite to study the sky in 2015, says Radhakrishnan

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman Dr K Radhakrishnan has said that the ISRO will launch a satellite to study the sky in the year 2015. 

Speaking to mediapersons on the sidelines of 32nd annual convocation of Mangalore University here on Monday, he said that the satellite will have six instruments. It will be launched on PSLV and the instruments are developed by different institutions like Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Indian Institute of Astrophysics and the ISRO. It will be a multi-wavelength astronomy mission. 

“The ISRO is moving towards enhanced launch capability through GSLV Mk-III launch vehicle by the end of May or beginning of June,” he said. 

“The ISRO is moving closer to launch its ambitious human space mission with the first experimental unmanned flight of the crew module on the newly developed Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV)-Mk-III. The GSLV-MK-III is being developed as a heavy-lift vehicle capable of placing satellites weighing up to 5,000 kg in geosynchronous orbit,” he said. 

“The experimental flight of GSLV Mk-III with a passive cryo stage will be flown to study the performance of the launch vehicle. This opportunity is used to study the re-entry characteristics of crew module. Currently, there are no programmes for the manned mission.” 

“ We are studying the critical new technologies for crew module, environment control and life support system for undertaking the manned mission,” he added. 

To a query on ISRO making its presence on social media, Dr Radhakrishnan said that it was to create awareness about its space programmes and other initiatives. The ISRO initiated an experimental social media campaign on Facebook for its Mars Orbiter Mission to spread awareness about the objectives, mission milestones and accomplishments. The page has nearly three lakh followers in a couple of months. It provided an opportunity to connect with the youth. The Facebook page on GSLV D-5 has about 50,000 followers. 

Earlier, while delivering convocation address, Dr Radhakrishnan said that space technology touches every humanlife in India. Indian Region Navigational Satellite System (IRNSS) is a constellation of seven navigation satellites to be completed by 2015. IRNSS will have civilian and strategic applications providing position information service to terrestrial, aerial and marine users.
 “The Mars Orbiter Spacecraft is on course for its arrival near Mars on September 24, 2014 after a voyage of nearly 68 crore kilometres. The whole mission has been a technology marvel,” he added. 

With the INSAT-3D, a dedicated meteorological satellite provides images with higher spatial resolution as compared to its predecessors INSAT-3A and Kalpana. 

It provides verticle profiles of temperature and humidity over the Indian ocean region. It helped the Indian Meteorology department on forecasting the track, intensity and land fall of the cyclone Phailin and helped in managing the rescue operation. 

He said that youth can contribute towards the much needed human capital to fulfill and sustain the nation’s vision and goals. The students should unlock the available knowledge and realise their true potential. 

As Chancellor and Governor of Karnataka H R Bharadwaj could not attend the convocation, Mangalore University Vice Chancellor Prof T C Shivashankaramurthy played the role of the Chancellor and gave away the degrees. 

Registrar Prof Yadapadithaya and Registrar (Evaluation) Dr B Narayana among others were present. 

The ISRO chairman inaugurated the management block, SVP Institute of Kannada Studies, second floor of humanity building, first floor of girls hostel, dining hall of girls hostel, Purse lab, cyber lab of library and seminar halls at the university premises in Mangalagangothri.