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Space-faring nations wary of India’s progress: ISRO chief

Special Correspondent

Scientists are overcoming challenges to Chandrayaan-II

“Other nations not sharing expertise with us”
Need to rope in more young people stressed

BANGALORE: After the successful launch of Chandrayaan-I in October 2008, India’s first moon mission, many space-faring nations have become wary of India’s rapid advances in space technology and have refused to share their knowledge, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman G. Madhavan Nair has said.

Speaking at the ninth convocation of the International Institute of Information Technology, Bangalore, (IIIT-B) here on Sunday, Dr. Nair said ISRO scientists and engineers worked in a “hostile environment,” with other countries sharing little information and expertise.

However, he claimed that ISRO engineers and scientists were overcoming challenges posed against Chandrayaan-II despite external limitations.

“Our scientists had to begin from the basics. Today we have data on the moon that no other country can boast of, and that too with minimum expenditure,” he said.

Dr. Nair also felt that space research in India required more manpower.

Although space research so far had progressed well, he said the need for roping in more youngsters had led to the setting up of the Indian Institute of Space Technology (IIST) at Thiruvananthapuram.

“We are trying to get youngsters interested in this field. The IIST has been set up for this and is working in that direction,” he said.

‘Be committed’

Dr. Nair emphasised the need for graduates to be committed and hardworking, which he felt were crucial factors in determining the quality of their work.

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