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.
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