‘Reduce import of satellite materials’

M. Mohan, Director of the ISRO’s Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC) which spearheads the Gaganyaan programme, has stressed the need for reducing the dependence on foreign suppliers for the import of materials, components and subsystems for launch vehicles and satellites, saying that the ISRO is collaborating with the industries more than ever before for meeting that goal.

Participating in a panel discussion on the theme Technology, Innovation and R&D organised by the CII, Andhra Pradesh Chapter as part of its annual meeting here on March 6 (Wednesday) Dr. Mohan said that India had strived to grow into a global spacefar

ISRO Human Space Flight Centre Director M. Mohan.

ing nation on par with those leading the pack.

He observed that space sector was an ‘unforgiving area’ where there was no room for error and the ISRO considered the socalled ‘failures’ of its missions as ‘anomalies’ to be rectified.

“Right from the days of the first rocket launch from Thumba near Thiruvananthapuram in 1960s to the success of Chandrayaan3, the ISRO has innovated at every step on the basis of its learnings, despite stumbling blocks like the denial of cryogenic engine technology at one stage, with due support from the Indian industry. We are looking at the Gaganyaan mission with the same spirit and hard work. We will make it a success,” he said.

Dr. Mohan said technology was never available to the ISRO on a platter and it had to develop its own cryogenic technology in the absence of foreign supplies that was driven by geopolitics.

But, the ISRO stuck to its mandate. With valuable manufacturing support from the Indian industries, it emerged as a close competitor to the world leaders in space technology. Companies such as L&T and Godrej have been a part of the ISRO’s endeavours for a long time. The ISRO is looking forward to greater involvement of industries from the design stage itself,” he said.

Director General of Naval Systems and Materials (DRDO) Y. Sreenivasa Rao, IITTirupati Director K.N. Satyanarayana and Efftronics Systems Pvt. Ltd.

CEO D. Ramakrishna shared their views on the likely impact of Artificial Intelligence AI and the importance of core engineering subjects and industryacademia partnerships among other topics. CIIAP Chairman M. Lakshmi Prasad moderated the session.