Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Only space technology can take India to a great height' that was published in Newsband

Only space technology can take India to a great height

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said, ''Our space scientists have made us global leaders in one of the most complex areas of modern technology.'' He was all praise for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). He had also said that  India must share “the fruits of our technological advancement with those who do not enjoy the same.” He called for the development of a “SAARC [South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation] satellite” that would provide useful applications and services to neighbouring countries.

Today, India is able to build and launch satellites for meteorology, earth observation and communications. Modi had paid a tribute to the vision with which the space programme was established, pointing out how modern communications, space imaging and disaster management capabilities provided by Indian satellites had benefited the common man and transformed policy planning and implementation.

The SAARC satellite proposal made by Modi is the best way to defend China’s bullying on India and to maintain healthy relationship with our other neighbouring countries. More satellites need to be launched to keep an edge over China.

ISRO has done well so far but let us not sit on our laurels. India has to make many further leaps in space technology to be in the same league as the US. The gaps in achievements are significant and need to be closed. India must develop space science for people's benefit ad apply space technology to defend the nation. In future wars, who dominates space, dominates information and thus wins wars. Anti-satellite weapons (Missiles with space reach) should also form part of the strategy.

Just the benefits to weather prediction and its human implications should be enough to justify the Indian space program, even without taking into account other benefits such as communications and educational applications. Such "innovation" is not a "joke". This is the kind of innovation which limited casualties in the last cyclone in Odhisa to less than 20 from thousands just a decade and a half ago. Saving thousands of life is anything but a "joke".

ISRO has time and again proved its capability to expand its capabilities. Space technology as a diplomatic outreach is a very good thought and needs to be commended. Many of the SAARC countries are disaster-prone and we could help them harness the space technology for disaster mitigation. Space technology is making people's lives better and safe.