India moots intl mechanism for space assets protection

HYDERABAD: Warning that outer space may become the "battlefield of the future," India on Monday proposed a "robust" international mechanism for protection of space assets since they were "vulnerable to attacks."

New Delhi also told global space scientists to join forces in space exploration, asserting the world can "ill-afford the duplication of efforts and resources" in the face of many pressing priorities.

Advances in space exploration can be expensive and risky and "the question today is not whether we should cooperate but rather, can we afford not to cooperate?" said the Minister of State in Prime Minister's Office Prithviraj Chavan.

Chavan was speaking while inaugurating the 58th International Astronautical Congress (IAC) here. Chavan was standing in for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who is recovering from prostate surgery.

There is a risk of extending the world's conflicts into outer space and turning it into a "battlefield of the future," Chavan warned in the context of space systems being used extensively to support intelligence gathering and military operations on earth.
  
"The decisive advantage that space systems provide also makes them vulnerable targets for offensive action," he said,adding "in a world engulfed by conflicts and terrorism, protection of space assets is important."

Since reduction of the cost of access to space was critical for taking the benefits of space technology to the poor, Chavan said a close international cooperation alone could make this possible.
    
"Space activities are challenging, exciting and ultimately rewarding," he said. "They may be national in character but offer new opportunities for cooperation."

Over 2,000 space professionals from 45 countries are participating in the five-day Congress being held in India after a gap of 19 years. Police threw a tight security cover at the Hyderabad International Conference Centre, the venue of the Congress, in the wake of the recent twin blasts here that left 43 dead.

Seeking a careful review of the present wide asymmetry in policy and regulatory environment, he said there was a greater need for promoting public-private partnership models in global space industry.
    
The heads of space agencies of Europe, Russia, Japan and China and NASA and representatives of aerospace industry from across the globe are participating in the high-profile event, with the theme "Touching humanity: space for improving quality of life."

Chavan said Indian space programme had planned about 60 missions over the next five years covering a myriad fields like advanced communications, navigation positioning, space transportation, earth observation and space science.

All this will provide increased opportunities for commercial and scientific cooperation with India, he said.
   
Stating that India's space mission was driven by vision of self-reliance and use of space technology for accelerating national development, the Minister said the country had acquired capabilities to produce state-of-the-art satellites and launch vehicles.

The lunar mission Chandrayaan-1, to be launched next year, was a fine example of international cooperation in the field of lunar exploration, he said.

Outlining areas of international cooperation, Chavan said there was an urgent need to design effective regulations for minimizing the menace of growing debris in outer space, which threatens future beneficial uses of space.
   
The conference, billed as the world's largest forum of the global space community, is being organised by International Astronautical Federation (IAF) in association with International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) and hosted by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Astronautical Society of India (ASI).

Coinciding with the event, an international space exhibition is being held at the Hyderabad International Convention Centre (HICC) in which 200 global organizations will take part.
   
Representatives of global aerospace industries, including Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Great Wall Industries Corporation of China, will participate in the exhibition to showcase their products and services.

Speaking on the occasion, ISRO chairman and president of ASI, G Madhavan Nair said ISRO was entering the next phase of space vision with components of advanced technologies for low cost access to space planetary exploration and the manned mission initiatives in the next few decades.
   
The emphasis on societal applications would continue vigorously, he said adding, Chandrayaan-1 was part of this second vision.

"We are able to garner cooperation from various space agencies in developing the Chandrayaan mission", Nair said.
   
President of IAF James Zimmerman, President of International Institute of Space Law Prof Edward Stone and Chairman of IAC 2007 B N Suresh also spoke on the occasion.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhar Reddy, who was a special guest, said his government was extensively using the remote sensing and imaging technologies for its ambitious 'Jala Yagnam' (irrigation mission) programme.

Former President A P J Abdul Kalam will deliver a special lecture at IAC 2007 and interact with school students. The Congress would focus on utilisation of space technologies for poverty alleviation and environmental protection besides a host of plenary sessions touching upon an entire gamut of space exploration, space tourism and business opportunities.

As many as 125 technical sessions, four highlight lectures and seven plenary events would be held as part of the IAC 2007, director of National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA) K Radhakrishnan said.

History of 50 years of space: A global perspective will be one of the important sessions as 2007 marks the 50th year of launch of Sputnik signifying the beginning of space age, the 50th anniversary of International Geophysical Year and also the 40th year of the United Nations Outer Space Treaty.

About 250 young professionals from abroad and 50 students from India, selected through a national competitive examination, would also participate in the Congress while 1,200 students from 35 schools in Hyderabad would participate in an interactive sessions with Kalam.