Dr Kasturirangan, an astrophysicist and honorary advisor for ISRO, was awarded the Shri Hari Om Ashram Prerit Senior Scientist Award 2016
India is pushing the frontiers in space technology and we need to be leaders in it, said Dr K Kasturirangan at the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) in Ahmedabad on Saturday.
Dr Kasturirangan, an astrophysicist and honorary advisor for ISRO, was awarded the Shri Hari Om Ashram Prerit Senior Scientist Award 2016.
Speaking at the award lecture on 'Vistas of Astrophysics and Planetary Science Research- The Indian Perspective', he reminisced about his first meeting with Dr Vikram Sarabhai, father of the Indian space Programme.
"At that time I never thought I would find myself in a room with Dr Sarabhai as he interviewed me. In fact, Dr Sarabhai tried to dissuade me from joining PRL despite my earnestness. But I managed to convince him," said Dr Kasturirangan.
He said in a decade of association with Dr Sarabhai, the visionary encouraged him at PRL. "Today what I am is all because of Dr Sarabhai," said Dr Kasturirangan.
He said the space programme has achieved for India what Dr Sarabhai had envisioned it would do for the country. "We have fulfilled his expectations," said Dr Kasturirangan.
The scientist also said while deciding on space programmes it was also important to keep in mind the interest of the public and what can inspire a country and this was one of the thoughts behind the planetary mission programmes.
Giving details about the planetary missions, he said those like Chandrayan - 1 and Mangalayan 1 have been achieved with reasonable time and cost and this helps India partner other complex missions.
Chandrayan 2 is likely to be launched in 2018, while Aditya L-1 Mission, the first Indian mission to the sun, is likely to be launched in 2020.
The other missions India is working on are Mars orbit mission and Venus orbit mission.
He further joked that if ever people on earth reach a point where they relocate to other solar systems, Indians will never lag behind for lack of contribution to understanding it.
IUCAA SCIENTIST WINS BUTI AWARD
Young scientist Dr Durgesh Tripathi of the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune was given the PRL's Buti Foundation Award for the year 2017. The award recognises innovation and outstanding research work in the field of plasma science and technology. Dr Tripathi won the award for his contribution to solar plasma physics.
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