Thiruvananthapuram

Noting that there is an increasing demand and enhanced use of space technology-based tools in governance, ISRO chairman A S Kiran Kumar today said efforts are on to build capacity within the country for doing more frequent satellite launches.

The vehicle assembly building was presently one of the “bottlenecks” before the space agency which was coming in the way of frequent launches, he said, adding the number of annual launches can be increased once the second assembly building coming up at Sriharikota becomes functional.

“The basic demand is increasing. As you are aware (there is) more use of space technology based tools in governance and in various applications of both central and state governments.

We are in talks with them for various activities,” Kumar said on the sidelines of a national workshop on aerospace quality.

“For all these, we need more and more earth observation inputs, communication infrastructure and also navigation support. For all these, we need more satellites in space,” Kumar said.

The ISRO chief said the country’s capability in space can be increased through frequent launches.

“So, what we are trying to do is to build the capacity within the country for doing more frequent launches. One of the targets is one launch a month. Then subsequent to it 18 and then 24 a year,” Kumar said.

Once the second vehicle assembly building is completed, the number of launches per year can be increased, he said.

On ISRO’s future plans, the chairman said the remaining two satellites of IRNSS series would be launched on March 10 and March 31 this year.

Earlier at the workshop, jointly organised by Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) and Society for Aerospace Quality & Rehabilitation (SAQR), he said aerospace activities were increasing very significantly inside and outside the country and the quality aspect was very significant for the sector’s development.

VSSC director Dr K Sivan, Deputy Director Dr B Valsala and Dr C P Ramanarayanan, Chief Controller, R&D (HR), DRDO were among those present at the function.

PTI