Space Tourism … and Much More
ISRO PRESS RELEASE
Dr K Radhakrishnan, Member, Space Commission and Director, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, assumed the office of Chairman,Dr.K Radhakrishnan Space Commission, Secretary, Department of Space and Chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) today (October 31, 2009).
Continue reading ‘K Radhakrishnan Takes Over as ISRO Chairman’
Accused spy Stewart David Nozette in India.
More pieces of the Stewart David Nozette spy case are falling into place, and they’re revealing a twisted and disturbing picture. The Washington Post reports that Nozette:
Continue reading ‘Nozette Guilty of Defrauding Government, Had Threatened to Flee to India’
Well, it looks like someone in the Indian media asked G. Madhavan Nair why he’s retiring as chairman of ISRO later this week:
When asked about his retirement from Indian Space Research Organisation, Madhavan Nair said, a scientist is never finished off with his work. Madhavan Nair who will step down from ISRO would soon take over as president of the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) at its general assembly in South Korea.
This is half correct. And it raises a question or two.
Continue reading ‘Nair’s Retirement Clarified…Somewhat’
The Indian government on Saturday appointed a new chairman of ISRO. G. Madhavan Nair, who has served in the role for six years, will be retiring next week:
K. Radhakrishnan, director of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in Thiruvananthapuram, was Saturday named the next chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
Armed with a fax copy of his appointment Radhakrishnan, who takes over from G. Madhavan Nair, visited the famed Sree Krishna Temple Guruvayoor here Saturday evening.
Radhakrishnan said he was told of his appointment by phone from New Delhi. He then gave the number of the temple board office here where his appointment copy was faxed.
Continue reading ‘Nair Departure Confirmed; New ISRO Chairman Informed by Phone, Fax’
This is interesting:
ISRO chief G Madhavan Nair, who is to retire by this month-end after an illustrious career at the space agency, bemoans that the country’s higher education system is not up to the mark, churning out graduates only for routine jobs….
Appointed as chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation in 2003, Nair’s tenure saw realisation of 27 space missions, of which 25 were successful, with India’s maiden moon mission Chandrayaan-1 being the pinnacle of glory for the country’s space agency.
Nair got two extensions in 2005 and 2007.
What? Nair’s retiring next week?
Continue reading ‘Nair Set to Retire as ISRO Chairman’
India’s rocket man
The Times of India
And the question all scientists are asked: Is he a man of god? There is a lot of science in him, but is there spirituality? “I think there is a spirit embedded in everyone,” he says. “The feeling is that everything in a given situation can’t be explained by a physical or chemical process, that there is something beyond our comprehension despite doing everything humanly possible. That arena is what we call destiny – sacred forces that define your destiny. At least that’s how I can explain and understand the turning points of my life.”
Continue reading ‘Nair: A Spirtual Man of Science’
Stung by criticism of ISRO’s opaque operating style and misleading statements about its Chandrayaan-1 mission, Chairman G. Madhavan Nair lashed out at the media in an interview with Forbes India:
Forbes India: Critics say ISRO needs to be more transparent.
Madhavan Nair: You take any other organisation in the country and compare it to ISRO and show me one which is more transparent than us. In fact, I think our problem is we talk too much. But we will not put out half-cooked data. I must also complain about the media. The media wants only sensation; they want only failures.
Uh….I hate to interrupt any tirade. But, I think its time for a reality check…
Continue reading ‘Nair Defends ISRO Candor, Lashes Out at Media for Wanting “Only Failures”’
The Press Trust of India reports:
ISRO Chairman G Madhavan Nair is all set to become the first non-American to head the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA).
The formal announcement was made today by IAA secretary general J M Contant during an international conference on low cost planetary mission here.
“Its a great honour. All these years Americans chaired the post, first time a non-American, that too an Indian, is elected is a matter of great honour,” Nair told PTI after the announcement.
Read the full story.
The Times of India has an update on that nation’s planetary exploration plans:
India’s mission to Mars will take place between 2013-2015, Indian Space Research Organisation chief G Madhavan Nair said on Monday.
Rajiv Gandhi Awards Presented
The Hindu
Circles formed by multicoloured spotlights swirled on the stage of the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) here on Wednesday as luminaries of different societal hues stepped into them to receive the Rajiv Gandhi awards. The awards are an annual tribute to the former Prime Minister by Charan Singh Sapra, a member of the Maharashtra Legislative Council and vice-president of the Mumbai Congress.
The award in the super achiever category went to Indian Space Research Organisation Chairman G. Madhavan Nair. Reminiscing about an occasion when Rajiv Gandhi attended a rocket launch that failed, Mr. Nair quoted the former Prime Minister as having said: “We have fumbled but not fallen flat.” Mr. Nair said India had come a long way since then, with even space tourism looking like a viable enterprise a few years from now.
India’s space research stands on the pillars of its education, and the award in this category went to Planning Commission member Narendra Jadhav. The man, who moved away from his childhood ambition of becoming a gangster to obtain B.Sc., M.A. and Ph.D degrees, said, “Education is the only thing that can change an entire generation.”
Read the full story.
Sky is the limit for space research: Nair
Press Trust of India
Lamenting the lack of interest among students in opting for space research, Chairman of the Space Commission G Madhavan Nair, exhorted them to venture into this field in view of the immense potential it had to offer towards development of society. It was sad that still not many students were attracted towards space research. “More and more students should, in fact, opt for it as there is tremendous potential in the field to contribute towards development of society,” he said addressing the ninth convocation of International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT).
Read the full story.
Space research needs more manpower, Nair Tells IIIT-B grads
The Times of India
India strides to space, eyes $120 mln/year business
Reuters India
India’s space agency plans to double its revenues to $120 million a year by increasing satellite launches to claim a bigger chunk of the global space business, the head of its space agency said on Friday…
Continue reading ‘ISRO Aims to Capture Larger Share of Launcher Market’
‘Space travel an integral part of ISRO’s future programmes’
Zeenews.com
Space travel would be an integral part of the Indian Space Research
Organisation (ISRO)’s future mission programmes, including sending man to the Moon, the agency’s Chairman G Madhavan Nair on Friday said.
Continue reading ‘Nair: Moon Mission Only the Beginning of India’s Conquest of Space’
India confident of manned space programme: ISRO
The Hindu
Recent successes in India’s space programme have given the country the technological base to confidently approach the challenge of sending man to outer space, Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation G. Madhavan Nair has said.
Continue reading ‘Nair: India Ready to Send Humans into Space’
New Mexico Spaceport Authority Seeks Deputy Director
NMSA PRESS RELEASE
The New Mexico Spaceport Authority (NMSA) is accepting applications for a Deputy Director to oversee the daily operations of Spaceport America, the world’s first purpose-built commercial spaceport. This position announcement marks another significant milestone as the historic project transitions from a construction site to an operating spaceport.
The Deputy Director will be responsible for [...]
Wyle to Play Key Role in New FAA Commercial Space Transportation Center
WYLE PRESS RELEASE
Wyle is part of an academic-industry team that has been selected to support a new Federal Aviation Administration Center of Excellence for Commercial Space Transportation.
The center is a partnership of academia, industry, and government, developed for the purpose of creating a world-class consortium that will address current and future [...]
Space Tourism Insurance Could Be Next Big Growth Area
Space Tourism Sector A Good Opportunity For Insurance Firms
Space Travel
As space tourism matures, it holds tremendous opportunity for insurance companies to offer risk coverage to those on-board, similar to what they do for passengers of airlines, industry officials said.
At an international conference on space business, organised as part of Bengaluru Space Expo 2010, speakers noted [...]
