Sri Sathya Sai, Oct 6 (FN Agency) Andhra Pradesh Governor Biswabhusan Harichandan emphasised the need to clean up space debris to ensure there is no threat to future missions.In his inaugural address at the three-day ’ World Space Week (WSW)- 2022 celebrations, being organized by Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (SSSIHL) in association with Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR ( Sriharikota), ISRO, Department of Space, here on Wednesday evening, Biswabhusan said India’s space debris monitoring project NETRA is a domestic surveillance system that will support all sustainability initiatives of ISRO by providing the required data.He said Dr. Vikram Sarabhai is considered the founding father of the Indian Space Programme and Prof Satish Dhawan is known as the architect who converted the dreams and vision of Sarabhai into reality. Speaking about the importance of sustainability in space, he said the orbital area around the earth is a finite resource and its use will define its sustainability in the long run.Speaking on the increasing role of the private sector, especially start-ups, the Governor said they should be encouraged with a set of sustainability guidelines to ensure optimum utilization of resources that will improve the productivity of space missions. The theme for this year’s celebrations worldwide is ‘Space and Sustainability’.Speaking on the occasion, A Rajarajan, distinguished Scientist and Director, SDSC, said that from the days of the first sounding rockets from Thumba to the GSLV, the Indian Space Programme has come a very long way and the credit goes to Dr. Vikram Sarabhai for the vision he had and the strong foundation he laid and to Prof Satish Dhawan for making Sarabhai’s vision a reality. He said that in the 1970s when scientists around the globe were focused on proving their might in space, Sarabhai was working on using space applications to carry information to remote places that can benefit the common man, a technology commonly known today as DTH. Rajarajan shared the various areas of benefits that satellites provide to humanity and saluted SSSIHL’s holistic approach to education and for producing model citizens and said he was proud of this association.
SSSIHL Vice-Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) C B Sanjeevi , in his address said he was highly positive about a collaboration soon to support the SSSIHL team in the building of a satellite that he hoped will be called ‘Sai Satellite’. R J Rathnakar, Managing Trustee, SSSCT , in his address expressed his gratitude to the team of SDSC SHAR, ISRO for partnering with SSSIHL and holding the celebration in Prasanthi Nilayam.He said it is a proud moment for SSSIHL fraternity to be associated with India’s most prestigious institution. In welcome address, WSW Chairman C Muralidhar, outlined the importance of making space cleaner and using it more responsibly which he said was the thought behind this year’s global theme “Space and Sustainability”.Speaking on the occasion, R Senthil Kumar, Deputy Director, MSA, SDSC SHAR, stated that the objective of the event will be met if it can inspire at least ten students toward space science and technology. On the occasion, the 2022 World Space Week teaser video was t released by the Governor, which gave the audience an understanding of the theme ‘Space and Sustainability’ and the gamut of activities SDSC SHAR is conducting through the World Space Week Celebration programs organised at seven locations in Cuttack, Karaikal, Chennai, Vellore, Vizianagaram, Guntur, and Puttaparthi, other than Sriharikota. The students and staff of Sri Sathya Sai Higher Secondary School, Primary School, Smt. Easwaramma High School and all the four campuses of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, senior members of the SSSIHL administration along with other members of the Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust (SSSCT) were present at the event. As a prelude to the celebrations, the students held a Space Walk (Walkathon) on October 4, through the town of Puttaparthi to create awareness about space science and our space programs with the society.