flightHyderabad, Jan 23 (PTI) It was a proposal thatreignited imagination and enthusiasm in the previous decade,but "resource constraints" have held back ISRO's human spaceflight venture for far too long as it does not figure in thetop-priority list.
A S Kiran Kumar, who retired as ISRO Chairman earlierthis month, says the space agency's priority continues to bestrengthening its observation, communication and navigationcapabilities.
"At this point of time, you can say it (human spaceflight) is not very high on priority," he told PTI.
More than a decade ago, at a meeting convened by ISRO,scientists were highly appreciative of the study undertaken byit on such a mission, and were unanimous in suggesting thatthe time is appropriate for the country to undertake theventure.
Such a mission, many space scientists say, wouldunleash a new wave of interest in attracting bright talent andtake India's space programme to a totally different level,besides the "pride factor".
Kiran Kumar, in fact, agrees with the kind of hugepositive impact that it would make, but made no secret thatadequate resource is a key constraint. "You need resources,isn't it?"When asked about reports that the cost of the projectwas estimated to be around Rs 8,000 crore to Rs 10,000 crore adecade ago, he said, "It's much more than that."On whether the cost could have gone up to Rs 20,000crore now, Kiran Kumar said even a decade ago, it was in thatrange, but hastened to add that he does not want to speculateand the actual cost is to be worked out.
"At this point of time, still in terms of priority ifyou see we still have to make sure that our basic capabilitiesof observation, communication, navigation, we need tosignificantly enhance our capacity and that will be the higherpriority thing," he said.
Kiran Kumar said ISRO is working on some of thecritical technologies for the human space flight, such as crewmodule and environmentally-controlled chamber.
"As you can visualise, the cost involved (for humanspace flight mission) will be more for the simple reason thatthere is a life involved in that. So, you cannot afford totake a risk that you would have taken if there was no lifeobject in the activity," he pointed out.
"So, you have to make sure that your reliabilitylevels become much higher. It's a question of not onlybuilding capacity but also ensure that safety requirements aremet," he said.
"And all of this naturally is going to cost more. Andthen at some point of time, we as a country will have to makeup our mind on how do we go ahead (with human space flight),"Kiran Kumar added.
"We have a finite resource, we need to put ourresources in a manner, which is befitting and as per thedemand. So, while technological capabilities towards realisingthese activities (human space flight) are continuing, gettinginto the act itself is dependent on how much resource we canmake it available. This is the real issue", he said.
"We will will be ready to take up and move in a nextgear the moment the resources become available. We have toworry about it," Kiran Kumar said. PTI RSNP.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.