ISRO Chairman Emphasizes India’s Indigenous Capability in Space Sector

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman S Somanath stated that the space program has developed “indigenous capability” within the space sector, emphasizing that they have their own initiatives and strategies to determine future endeavors in this field on Wednesday.

Today, S Somanath visited Kalam’s Institute of Youth Excellence in Hyderabad and honored students.

“The space program has built indigenous capability in space sector from building our rockets, satellites and our application programs to serve the country in civilian and strategic sectors. We have accomplished that. Today, we are a forced reckon in the space sector and we have our own programs and ways to decide what to do with that in future. That is the power we have today. Now, with the opening of the space sector, private companies and start-ups are coming and this area is going to expand in terms of economic activity in space sector. The change is what is happening now,” he said.

Additionally, Somnath remarked that Kalam’s Institute of Youth Excellence has been diligently striving to motivate the youth.

“They have been working very hard to inspire young people especially to what Kalam did in the past, creating an inspirational story around India’s growth. Today I got the opportunity to interact with the students and I believe it will make them easier to understand the path they will take in the space sector. ISRO will help in best possible way to help them,” he said.

Previously, Director General of the European Space Agency (ESA), Josef Aschbacher, commended the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for its recent series of successful launches, emphasizing that India’s achievements in space, particularly in lunar exploration, are ‘astonishing’.

Aschbacher shared an appreciation post on X following ESA’s 323rd Council meeting in Paris, which was attended by Somanath.

“What India is accomplishing in space – especially in Lunar exploration – is astonishing. We hosted ISRO’s Chairman, Dr. S. Somanath at ESA Council today. It was a milestone occasion for Delegates to learn more about current and future plans for ESA-ISRO cooperation,” he posted on X.

India has now become the first nation to approach the Moon’s unexplored South Pole and is ranked among the top four nations to achieve a soft landing on the lunar surface.