ACHIEVEMENTS IN SPACE RESEARCH

The major achievements in space research during the last three years (April 2007-March 2010) are as below:

• Successful launching of India’s first Lunar Mission Chandrayaan-I and detection of traces of water, ice and hydroxyl molecules on the lunar surface based on the scientific data obtained from Chandrayaan-I which is a major discovery in planetary science having tremendous implications in planning future long term lunar and planetary explorations.




• Successful launching of TEN satellites in a single mission of PSLV C9 – Cartosat-2A satellite (an advanced cartographic satellite); IMS-I satellite (for natural resource management applications) and eight nano satellites from Universities of Canada, Europe and Japan.
• Successful launch and operationlisation of RISAT-2, a Radar Imaging Satellite with the capability to take images of the earth during day and night as well as cloudy conditions and ANUSAT, first experimental communication satellite built by an Indian University onboard India’s PSLV C 12.
• Successful launch and operationalilsation of OCEANSAT-2 satellite onboard PSLV C 14, for Ocean and Coastal studies.
• Application of space technology for societal benefits in the areas of rural development, Health-care, Education, Agriculture, Natural Resources Management and Communication infrastructure through programmes of Tele-education, Tele-medicine, Village ResourceCentres, location of potential zones of drinking water based on satellite data, advisories of fishermen on potential fishing zones, Disaster Management Support programme etc.,

The Government have drawn-up a long-term plan ‘Vision 2025’ for Space Research Programmeidentifying the goals, Programme  Directions and technology requirements upto 2025.  The Programmeencompasses development of advanced launch vehicle systems including critical technologies for re-usable launch vehicles and Human Space Flight Programme; developing capabilities in Space communications towards meeting the developmental needs in the areas of education and literacy, health-care, rural development and disaster management support, Introduction of Satellite Navigation based positioning services, Augmenting earth observation systems with enhanced imaging capabilities for natural resource management applications and undertake front ranking research in the areas of Space science, Astronomy and Planetary exploration.

The amount allotted and spent for space research during the last three years is as below:

(Rs. in crores)

This was stated by Shri Prithviraj Chavan, the Minister of State (I/C) for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences in the Rajya Sabha