SHILLONG: Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) Chairman, Dr Sridhar Panikkar Somanath, on Friday, said that steps are afoot to infuse technology across various state departments to enhance operational efficiency.
Speaking to the press after a meeting of the North East Space Application Centre (NESA) in Shillong, Dr Somanath expressed satisfaction with the inroad technology has made in fields such as agriculture, disaster management, forestry, flood control, and horticulture in the Northeastern states.
“Now, we are looking at how to expand drone applications in various fields to support various activities. One of the goals is to incorporate technology into more and more departments to enhance operations,” said Dr. Somanath.
Highlighting the collaborative efforts of representatives from Northeastern states, he mentioned that specific goals have been set, and NESA aims to achieve them in the coming years.
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“NESA, designed to meet the geo-spatial technology needs of Northeastern states, will work closely with Chief Ministers and Chief Secretaries to implement these goals,” he further added.
Looking ahead to ISRO’s plans for 2024, Dr. Somanath described it as a “packed year”, with significant milestones, including the preparations for India’s manned mission to the Moon -Gaganyaan.
“Preparations for the Gaganyaan project will be in full swing this year. We are planning to launch it by the end of 2025. Apart from that, we will be launching a bunch of climate satellites and other missions scheduled for this year. In short, it’s a packed calendar,” he announced.
With a budget of Rs 90 billion, the Gaganyaan project aims to transport astronauts into a 400km (248 miles) orbit, ensuring a three-day mission.
The undertaking underscores India’s ongoing progress in both space exploration and technological advancements.
“It will be ready for human launch by the end of 2025. For now, we planning to send four astronauts in it,” he added.
