On Tuesday, Dr. S. Somnath, Chairman of ISRO, highlighted the significant societal benefits of investments in the Indian space program. He emphasized that these investments have created numerous employment opportunities, both directly and indirectly, and have had a broad impact on various sectors.
Dr. Somnath noted that the benefits of the space program are often underappreciated. To better understand and quantify these impacts, ISRO has commissioned a study with consultants. The study aims to measure the exact societal benefits of their space investments. He pointed out that the space program has not only provided job opportunities but also supported sectors such as fishing, agriculture, crop forecasting, natural resource planning, and disaster management. The impact of milestones like Chandrayaan’s lunar landing exemplifies the program’s broad influence.
Recently, ISRO launched the Earth Observation Satellite (EOS)-08 aboard the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV)-D3 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar praised ISRO for this successful launch, noting its potential to open new avenues for cost-effective space missions and enhance international collaboration.
The EOS-08 mission aims to advance satellite technology, including the development of a microsatellite, payload instruments, and new technologies for future operational satellites. A key innovation is the Integrated Avionics System, known as the Communication, Baseband, Storage, and Positioning (CBSP) Package, which integrates multiple functions into a single efficient unit. This system, built with commercial off-the-shelf components, supports up to 400 GB of data storage.
In celebration of the Chandrayaan-3 Mission’s successful landing of the Vikram Lander and deployment of the Pragyaan rover on the lunar surface, the Union Government has designated August 23 as “National Space Day.” This day aims to commemorate the mission’s success and inspire the younger generation in the fields of space science and technology.
