Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, on Monday said India’s space programme is driven by a vision of service to humanity, not a desire of power.

New Delhi, June 30/Nationalturk – Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, on Monday said India’s space programme is driven by a vision of service to humanity, not a desire of power after witnessing the launch lift off of the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO’s) Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) C23 rocket carrying five foreign satellites.

PSLV  is carrying a French Earth observation satellite along with four other satellites from Singapore, Canada and Germany from the Sriharikota spaceport in southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. The countdown for the launch began on Saturday and the lift off was conducted shortly before 1000 hours today.

Indian PM  Narendra Modi witnessed the  launch of the PSLV and congratulated the scientists of the country.

In his congratulatory address at the Mission Control Centre, he called upon the space community to proactively engage with all stakeholders to maximize the use of space science in governance and development.

“India must fully harness this expertise in space technology in the developmental process for social change, economic development and resource conservation,” he said.

‘India has rich heritage of science and technology’

Referring to  India’s age-old ethos of the whole world being one family, Modi said, “India’s space programme is driven by a vision of service to humanity, not a desire of power.  India has a rich heritage of science and technology, including space.”

“The works of our ancestors, who included visionaries like Bhaskaracharya and Aryabhata, still continue to inspire generations of scientists. India must share the fruits of its advancement in space technology with the developing world, and neighbours in particular,” Indian PM said.

He called upon the space community to take up the challenge of developing a SAARC satellite that can be dedicated to our neighbourhood as a gift from India.

“We can be proud of the Indian space programme, which is fully indigenous, developed in the face of great international pressure and hurdles,” he said and described it as a domain “where we have pushed beyond mediocrity to achieve excellence.”

‘Space has critical role in realizing vision of Digital India’

Referring to benefits of space technology for  common man, Indian PM said it drives modern communication, empowers children in remote villages with quality education, and ensures quality healthcare to all, through telemedicine. “It has a critical role in realizing the vision of a Digital India – the power of 125 crore connected Indians”.

Citing use of tech in disaster management, he said, “Space technology has also evolved into an invaluable asset in disaster management. Accurate advanced warning, and tracking of Cyclone Phailin, saved countless lives recently.”

Stating that continued progress in space must remain a mission of high priority, Modi called for developing more advanced satellites and expanding our satellite footprint.

“India has the potential to be the launch service provider of the world and must work towards this goal,” he added.

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