Mars mission to boost India's global credentials: krishnaswamy Kasturirangan
Planning Commission Member Kasturirangan, who was also former Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation, said while the mission is indeed a logical extension of the country planetary exploration programme, it more than just a "technical bonanza."
He saw the event is as an attempt by India to upgrade and up-rate established capabilities (in the space sector) and demonstrating in a scale in which its affordable, noting that the cost of the unmanned orbiter venture is no more than Rs 450 crore.
"Once you show an affordable scale of the activity, then you qualify yourself to be a partner of international programme. So, when future manned missions or even future important missions to Mars take pace, India would be part of the global community because you have already demonstrated that you have reached the place (Mars)," Kasturirangan he said.
The mission, therefore, has several dimensions objective of conducting scientific experiments, demonstrating technological capabilities and creating necessary credentials to be a part of any future international space missions, he felt.
According to ISRO officials, the proposed mission to demonstrate India¿s capability to reach Martian orbit is planned to be completed by 2015-2016. The Mars orbiter is planned for launch using India¿s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-XL) from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. It will be placed
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