India Moves to Rev Up Space Science

April 27 (EIRNS); Having announced unmanned moon and mars mission within the next five years, Indian space research authorities are now gearing up to develop an adequate number of personnel to carry out future programs. India has also launched for the first time a commercial Italian satellite this week to join the group of five other nations which have developed this capability. India has already been contracted for launching of two more commercial satellites.

In light of this broadened space program, Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Das Munshi approved Rs 400 million for setting up of an Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST). The IIST will be set up along the lines of the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs)-- India's top of the line engineering colleges-- and will provide high-quality undergraduate and post graduate education in space technology and science.

Das Munshi said the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is experiencing a severe shortage of qualified graduate and post-graduate scientists and researchers and the shortage has already affected the Indian space program in taking up the challenges of research and development in the space area.

The first of the IIST facilities will come up within 24 months and will be located close to the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre and Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre in Thruvananthapuram, located in the southwestern coast of the state of Kerala. The institute will have 150-200 students each year and the ISRO will bear all costs by providing the students with scholarships.