BANGALORE: Breaking his silence on the Antrix-Devas row, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman K Radhakrishnan told Express that it was the mission that mattered. “My mind is now focused on ISRO’s future programmes,” he said.
“I am worried about ISRO and nothing else. I have a couple of major missions lined up this year and they are close to my heart. They include: launch of PSLV-C19, Radar Imaging Satellite (RISAT-1) carrying a C-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) payload, indigenous Cryogenic upper stage and GSLV Mk II , GSLV-MK-III and Indian Regional Navigation Satellite Systems (IRNSS) constellation consisting of seven satellites,” Radhakrishnan explained.
When Express sought his reaction on the Devsas deal, the man in the middle of 2012’s maiden Indian controversy, said: “The truth is there. I am unfazed. ISRO is an efficient organisation. Our fabric is unique. There’s an ‘ISRO culture’ and there’s a vision, which is shared among all. There’s a lot of openness in the system.”
Asked if he is hurt by Madhavan Nair’s comments and what the media is reporting, the ISRO chief said he hasn’t seen any reports. “I don’t want to be dragged into any controversy. ISRO should move on and it will. When the cryo-engine failed in April 2010, I faced it alone. When we had another failure in December 2010, you (media) saw I was alone. While going in a ship you often come across rough weather, but your journey is never stopped,” he said.
Asked again on his response to the D-row, he said, “mission matters.”