Work hard to enable India to take humans to moon by 2040: Former ISRO Chief tells youth

Former ISRO Chief and Space Commission member A.S. Kiran Kumar on Sunday asked youth to work hard to make India a space capable nation and enable the country to take humans to moon by 2040.
Speaking on the topic 'Igniting the future: ISRO's legacy and beyond', at the Ramakrishna Mutt in Mangaluru on Sunday, Mr. Kumar said the nation, which is moving towards becoming world's largest economy, cannot ignore space economy. The space economy is a trillion dollar economy. Space tourism and space adventure provided tremendous opportunity.
Mr. Kumar said, 'Unless our capability in space mission is demonstrated other nations will not take note of India. Youngsters should become leaders and showcase our capability in space science.'
Works are on towards having country's own space station by 2035. 'By 2040 we have to take humans to moon and bring them back,' the former ISRO chief said. The government is allowing more people to work in space science. Private entities and consortium of firms are being allowed to launch their satellites.
Since the start of the space programme for non-military purpose in October 1957, ISRO has leapfrogged in space technology to indigenously develop different launch pads and launch a number of satellites, he said.
'NavIC, the country's own satellite-based navigation system developed by ISRO, is helping fishermen to navigate through sea in a safe way and find fish. With the feed from satellites and other information, there is advance information about cyclones, which has helped government to evacuate and save lives of people from places that are likely to be affected,' he said. The feed from satellites is also helping forecast crop yield. The use of satellites in hitting precise targets in enemy nation was demonstrated in the recent Operation Sindoor, he said.
The youth, he said, are left with lot of problems to solve. 'You have tremendous capability. Rise and lead the country to regain the glory as the place of harmony and peace,' he said.

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