Border tension Former ISRO Chief pitches for ramping up India's space assets

Bengaluru, Sept 11 (PTI) Amid tension on the border with
China, veteran space scientist G Madhavan Nair on Friday said
India should ramp up its space assets and enhance coverage of
the region to keep pace with the changing times.
In an interview to PTI, he said in almost all areas of
security-related activities, the space -- earth observation,
communication and electronic intelligence, among other things
-- plays a very major role.
"The Chinese side, as far as I understand, have
multiplied the number of radar imaging satellites, earth
observation satellites and communication satellites several
fold so that they can have continuous coverage of the globe.
So, they will get all kinds of information from their
constellation (of satellites)", Nair said.
"Leave alone the global coverage, at least across the
border, India should have a plan to have continuous coverage",
the former Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation
(ISRO) said.
He noted that India has demonstrated its capability by
launching satellites in various fields.
"Now, there has to be a deployment plan for providing
continuous coverage. That is very much needed by the country.
Certainly there is a need for multiplying the number of
satellites, earth stations and so on. So this needs to be
attended to," the acclaimed scientist said.
Speaking in general terms, Nair, who had also served as
Secretary in the Department of Space and Chairman of Space
Commission, said space would play a significant role in future
wars.
"Whether it's earth observation, electronic intelligence,
communications, and also coordinating with various resources
like ships, aircraft, drones and all those things, the space
will play a very major role", he observed.
Protecting space assets is going to be a big challenge in
future.
Space technology-wise, India is on par with China, except
in the area of human space-flight, he said but noted --
referring to the 'Gaganyaan' venture -- that work on
undertaking such manned missions is already on in the country.
"But Chinese pump in lot of resources (in the area of
space). Their budget is nearly five times more than India's
annual space budget", Nair said.
"They (China) take an integrated view of civilian and
defence requirements," added Nair, during whose tenure of six
years (2003-2OO9) as Chairman, ISRO/Secretary, DOS, 25
successful missions were accomplished. PTI RS
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(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)