TIRUPATI: The guided approach of landing aircraft through GAGAN (GPS Aided Geo Augmented Navigation) App, designed by ISRO, is now expanding to the railway stations too, which will have visible benefits at unmanned railway gates in the country, announced K Sivan, Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation. Sivan was conferred the Degree of Doctor Honoris Causa by A Damodaram, Vice-Chancellor of Sri Venkateswara University, at its 55th convocation held at Srinivasa Auditorium in Tirupati on Saturday, by permission from Chancellor and Governor ESL Narasimhan.
He stated that the guided approach landing with the help of GAGAN is benefiting nearly 50 airports in India. GAGAN services will be extended to the railways for providing safety at unmanned level crossings and for that feedback was taken from the Railways and accordingly, they will have GAGAN App. “Our navigation satellite constellation is also operational. We are planning to provide Navik services for potential fishing zone information and disaster alert system for fisherman community,” he said.
Today we have a full handle on the launch vehicle, satellite as well as space application areas. And with this cumulative knowledge, we are developing technologies for next-generation heavy lift launch vehicle as well as spacecraft employing electrical propulsion which will double the payload resource mapping to aid country’s planning process, he said. Tirupati emerged as a knowledge city with premier institutes like Sri Venkateswara University, IISER as well as IIT. At that intersection, magic happens and that magic is called wisdom, Sivan explained.
“I would say, students are fortunate and must have done some good deed in their previous birth to get an opportunity to study in such an institution. It is a divine opportunity to come here and deliver a convocation address in the holy city of Tirupati,’’ he said.