KOLKATA, APRIL 2:
Sunita Williams on Tuesday revived hopes of collaboration between the US’ National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in space exploration missions.
On her visit to Kolkata at the invitation of the National Council of Science Museums, the Indian-American astronaut said that she would not only meet with students, but would also like to show them the opportunities in space research and missions.
“…I think there was a question about potentially going down to ISRO and I didn’t have permission to go and visit people down there. But, now I know that people from ISRO and NASA are talking together. So, I see that that potential is growing and progressing,” Williams told reporters when asked about the two organisations’ plans to cooperate on the Moon and Mars missions in future.
She added that she noticed the relationship between India and the United States going in “a much more positive direction” when it came to space.
NASA is believed to have evinced interest in exploring future opportunities in working with ISRO following its participation in lunar mission Chandrayaan 1.
Experts feel that India’s Mars Mission, which is scheduled to be launched in November this year, may prove to be promising for NASA to work with ISRO.
INDIA’S PROSPECTS
Emphasising on the need for expediting the Indian space programmes, Williams said Indian students have lot of interest in space science.
“Obviously, there is capability in India to do lot more in space research. So far, (the country) is launching satellites and launching people. The kids here are interested in space because I have always got questions (like) how can we be part of international space station, how can we be astronauts (etc). The government should accelerate the space programmes,” she said.
No comments:
Post a Comment