The following is the text speech of the Prime Minister at the launch of PSLV-C23 on the morning of 30th June 2014
My congratulations to our brilliant space
scientists, and the Department of Space; for yet another successful
launch of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle! We have perfectly placed 5
satellites into their orbits 660 km above the Earth.
This fills every Indian’s heart with pride. And I can see it reflected in the joy and satisfaction on your faces.
Fascinated by Space Technology, I feel specially privileged to witness this event in person.
India’s advanced Space Program, puts her
in an elite global group of 5-6 countries today. This is one domain, in
which we are at the international cutting edge. A domain in which we
have pushed beyond mediocrity to achieve excellence.
We have launched satellites of advanced
nations. PSLV itself has launched 67 satellites; of which 40 have been
foreign satellites, coming from 19 countries. Even today’s satellites,
are all from developed nations – France, Canada, Germany and Singapore.
Truly, this is a global endorsement of India’s space capabilities.
Inspired by Atal ji’s vision, we have
sent a mission to the Moon. Another is on its way to Mars as we speak. I
personally follow it with great interest. We have also developed our
own satellite-based navigation system. I am told this will be fully
deployed by 2015.
Moreover, we can be proud that our space program is Indigenous. We have developed it despite international hurdles.
Generations of our space scientists have worked to make India a self-reliant space power. We owe them a big thank you.
Our journey into Space has come a long
way from its humble beginnings. It has been a journey of many
constraints and resource limitations. I have seen photographs of rocket
cones being transported on bicycles. Our first satellite, Aryabhatta,
was made in industrial sheds in Bangalore.
Even today, our program stands out as the
most cost effective in the world. The story of our Mars Mission costing
less than the Hollywood movie Gravity, had gone viral on social media
recently. Our scientists have shown the world, a new paradigm of Frugal
Engineering, and the power of Imagination. Friends, this success of ours
has deep historical roots.
India has a rich heritage of science and
technology, including in the field of space. An understanding of the
cosmos, and its relationship to Life and Science; is deeply rooted in
our ancient thought and knowledge. Our ancestors had conceived of ideas
like ‘Shunya’ and ‘flying objects’, long before others. The works of
visionaries like Bhaskaracharya and Aryabhata, continue to inspire
scientists.
Many misunderstand space technology to be
for the elite. That it has nothing to do with the common man. I however
believe, such technology is fundamentally connected with the common
man. As a change agent, it can empower and connect, to transform his
life. Technology opens up new opportunities of development. And gives us
new ways of addressing our challenges.
Space may seem distant, but is an
integral part of our daily life today. It drives our modern
communication, connecting even the remotest family to the mainstream. It
empowers the child in the farthest village with quality education,
through Long-distance Learning. It ensures quality healthcare to the
most distant person, through Tele-medicine. It enables the youth in a
small town, with various new job opportunities. Satellite technology has
made distance irrelevant. It effectively enables us to reach the
unreached. It helps us connect virtually, where physical connections are
difficult.
It has a critical role, in realizing the vision of a Digital India – the power of 125 crore connected Indians.
GIS technology has transformed policy
planning, and implementation. Space imaging enables modern management,
and conservation of water resources – through GIS-driven watershed
development. It has been deployed in our urban planning, to
scientifically manage our growing towns and cities. It has also become
an important tool, in better managing, and conserving our natural
resources. Whether it be the Himalayan glaciers, oceans and forests,
coastal resources or our mineral wealth. Space imagery is improving our
land management systems, bringing wasteland into productive use. Our
next frontier, should be to extend the same to land records, bringing in
accuracy and transparency for the common man.
Space technology has also evolved into an
invaluable asset in disaster management. Satellite communication
channels, often end up being the only mode of communication. Accurate
advanced warning, and tracking of Cyclone Phailin, saved countless lives
recently.
We must as a nation, fully harness this
expertise in space technology, in our developmental process. For social
change, economic development, and resource conservation. The
possibilities are limitless. The benefits enormous. I urge the
Department of Space, to proactively engage with all stakeholders, to
maximize the use of space science in Governance and Development.
Deepening of State involvement will be critical for the same.
Friends, India is rooted in our age-old
ethos of Vasudeiva Kutumbakam. Of the whole world being one family.
India’s Space program, is thus driven by a vision of service to
humanity. Not by a desire of power. For us, it is an important
instrument of our human progress.
We must therefore, share the fruits of
our technological advancement, with those who do not enjoy the same. The
developing world, and our neighbours in particular. We already share
Disaster Management data with over 30 countries. We provide benefits of
Tele medicine to Afghanistan and African countries. But we must do more!
Today, I ask our Space community, to take
up the challenge, of developing a SAARC Satellite – that we can
dedicated to our neighbourhood, as a gift from India. A satellite, that
provides a full range of applications and services, to all our
neighbours. I also ask you, to enlarge the footprint of our
satellite-based navigation system, to cover all of South Asia.
Friends, continued progress in space must
remain a national mission. We must keep enhancing our space
capabilities. We must develop more advanced satellites; with higher
computing, imaging and transmitting power. We must expand our satellite
footprint, in terms of frequency and quality. We must also strengthen
our international partnerships in all areas of Space technology.
India has the potential, to be the launch
service provider of the world. We must work towards this goal.
Construct the required new launch infrastructure. And extend our
launching capabilities to heavier satellites.
Development of human resources, will be
critical for our future success. I was very pleased to meet our young
scientists here. I admire their work and their achievements. Let us link
up with more universities and colleges, to develop our future leaders
in this area. We must also involve our youth at large, with Space.
You have already started putting a lot of
space-related data online, through your Bhuvan space portal. What steps
can we take to further increase access to data, by students and
researchers? Let us use Social Media to further engage with our youth.
Let us invite school and college children, to witness launches and visit
Space centres. Could we also think of developing, a state-of-the-art,
interactive, digital Space Museum?
In conclusion, I want to emphasize how
Technology is central to Development. It touches one and all, and is an
important instrument of our national progress.
India’s Space program is a perfect
example of my vision of Scale, Speed and Skill. Our Space scientists
have made us global leaders, in one of the most complex areas of modern
technology. This shows that we can be the best. If we apply ourselves,
we can meet the aspirations of our people.
Let us take inspiration from today’s mission. Dedicate ourselves to accelerate our nation’s progress. I am confident We Can!
I thank the Department of Space, for this
opportunity to witness the launch. I commend Dr. K. Radhakrishnan for
his leadership. I wish the team the very best, as you prepare to put our
spacecraft into the Mars Orbit, in a few months from now. I wish you
every success, as you strive to master new technologies, and conquer new
frontiers of Space. May all your endeavours meet with success!
Thank you!
June 30, 2014 Author: admin
