Top scientists and technologists strongly favour manned mission into space by India.
BANGALORE: Top scientists and technologists here on Tuesday strongly favoured a proposal to undertake a manned mission into space that would catapult India into a select group of nations.
At a national consultative meeting convened by the Indian Space Research Organisation to “crystallize and converge" on the issue, participants "overwhelmingly and very positively" supported the proposal, Indian Space Research Organisation Chairman G Madhavan Nair said.
ISRO is in a position to undertake the manned mission in eight years. Nair said the estimated cost of such a mission would be Rs 10,000 crore to Rs 15,000 crore.
Nair made a presentation to a gathering of 80 scientists and technologists, including those from ISRO, HAL, NAL and others associated with space technologies.
"All of them were supportive of the idea," Nair said. "There was absolute unanimity on the issue. Everyone feels it's a logical step."
UR Rao, Roddam Narasimha and Yash Pal were amongst those who participated in the meeting. Those who could not attend, including MGK Menon, sent written comments.
Some key questions at the interaction centered on the safety of personnel making the flight, ISRO sources said, adding the space agency will respond to these queries.
Nair, also Space Commission Chairman and Secretary in the Department of Space, said ISRO will submit a report on the deliberations to the government by year-end.
He had made a presentation last month on the space department to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who suggested a national team of scientists look into the manned mission issue. Today's meeting was a result of the suggestion.
Earlier report: Destination Moon
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