Chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), and Secretary, Department of Space (Govt. of India), Shri S. Somanath visited Lovely Professional University, today, where he inaugurated its second International Conference on Small Satellites (ICSS-2022) at Shanti Devi Mittal Auditorium. The top 30 space scientists of India are participating in this conference from different related sectors of the country.
Addressing LPU students, Chairman ISRO invoked them to work on various opportunities available in the space sector at present. The order of the day is for various applications, businesses, and diverse benefits from this sector. He emphasized to have focus on applications with the ability to manufacture. Here, he took the example of vast communications development through mobiles utilization in India but not its manufacturing.
Continuing, ISRO Chairman said, “Now, we want to build our own space sector for autonomy and a big economy in the sector.” Invitingly, he asked LPU students to come forward, work hard; make a mark, and build India strong in the space sector; ISRO is with you. Each one of you has potential to be a top person in the world, just decide “I can, I will”. Here, he made an open call to all to be a great space scientist by bringing forth innovative ideas to work upon. “It is time to develop space entrepreneurship in India, and conferences like this can boost this all. ISRO is with you as a firm supporter for providing knowledge, facilities and equipment to further work upon your valuable ideas.”
Lamenting the weak budget in comparison to developed countries in the Indian space sector, he expressed the need of the private sector in the field. At this juncture, the possibility of any of the next space centres was guessed to be at the LPU campus.
During the un-ribboning ceremony of the CD of the conference proceedings, ISRO Chairman was accompanied by LPU Chancellor Dr Ashok Mittal; Pro-Chancellor Mrs Rashmi Mittal; Former Scientific Secretary (ISRO) and President of the Society for Small Satellite Systems Dr. V. Koteswara Rao; Director, Directorate of Special Projects, DRDO (Hyderabad), Dr P S R Srinivasa Sastry; and, Adjunct Professor and Advisor Centre for Space Research at LPU, Prof. DVA Raghava Murthy, who is the Former Director, Earth Observations System, ISRO HQ.
Prior to this, Chancellor Dr Ashok Mittal thanked ISRO Chairman for his commitment to visit LPU and applauded ISRO for covering herculean tasks in the space sector to earn a name of the country in the world. Mr Mittal also expressed his intent to join hands with ISRO for innovative space works. On this occasion, a large number of LPU space scientists were also awarded with Rs 1.51 Crores awards.
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Dr. V. Koteswara Rao asked students to learn much at the conference and become the leader in the field. Dr PSR Srinivasa Sastry informed that such conferences are to let students know about the regularly growing utilities of the space sector.
In fact, ISRO performs tasks related to space based applications, space exploration and development of related technologies. It is one of six government space agencies in the world. Whereas, the Society for Small Satellite Systems is a focused forum to promote, motivate, support and encourage projects, innovations, research in the area of small satellite systems and applications.