CM for Human Space Programme Training Centre in A.P

Hyderabad|India|November'2008: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is ready to establish a world class facility for atmospheric studies near Tirupati. ISRO Chairman G Madhavan Nair, in a special message informed the Chief Minister Dr Y S Rajasekhar Reddy that ISRO would establish the facility for advanced atmospheric studies. Mr Madhavan Nair was replying to the message sent by the Chief Minister congratulating Mr Nair and his team for the successful launching of Chandrayaan-I. The Chief Minister in his message sought the establishment of a Human Space Programme (Astronaut Training and Biomedical engineering Centre) and offered the necessary land in Anantapur district close to Bangalore.

The ISRO Chairman in his reply to the Chief Minister said "The National Atmospheric Research Laboratory (NARL) of ISRO, which is functioning at Gadanki, near Tirupati since 1992, is engaged in fundamental research related to atmospheric and space sciences and developing various types of radars and lidars for atmospheric studies. NARL has proposed to expand its activities towards advanced technology experiments and in this regard a laboratory for developing flight instruments is planned to be set up near Tirupati. In this regard we seek your positive support for getting a suitable land of about 20 acres for establishing a world class facility for atmospheric studies which would attract the participations of many Indian and foreign researchers, who will contribute to advanced research in weather and climate. I request you to kindly grant this land and instruct your officials to help us in identifying a suitable land".

Mr Madhavan Nair in his letter said "We wish to acknowledge with profound thanks the receipt of your congratulatory message on the launch of Chandrayaan-1/ PSLV-C11 mission. We would also like to appreciate the initiatives taken by the A.P. Government under your able leadership, in creating suitable infrastructure towards reaching knowledge-based economy.

The ISRO Chairman agreed that, as part of our initiatives on Human Spaceflight Programme (HSP), a centre for training India astronauts is planned to be set up around Bangalore, (in coordination with Indian Institute of Aviation, Medicine, Bangalore). Mr Nair said that the ISRO would like to submit that they are presently pursuing the approval process of the HSP at Governmental level.

Mr Nair said in his letter "We are delighted to receive your gesture of offering required land at Anantapur District at concessional rates for this project. We sincerely thank you for the same and we shall approach you in this regard when the implementation plan gets finalised'.

Earlier in his message to the ISRO Chairman, the Chief Minister congratulated the ISRO team of scientists on the successful launch of the first unmanned moon mission, Chandrayyan-1, marking the beginning of a national odyssey. Dr Reddy informed Mr Nair that as part of positioning Andhra Pradesh as a destination for knowledge based industries and to develop knowledge-based economy, we are encouraging Public Partnerships to create integrated knowledge centers.

Dr Reddy said "We understand that ISRO is developing a Human Space Program (astronaut Training and Biomedical Engineering Centre) and planning to set up such facility close to Bangalore. In this context, we would like to inform you that we have acquired large parcel of land in Anantapur District close to Bagepalli in Karnataka on NH-7, 69 KM away from new Bangalore International Airport. We are ready to provide the required land for this project at a concessional rate and extend all the support required from Government of Andhra Pradesh.

Meanwhile the Chief Minister also congratulated the ISRO Chairman and his team for the successful landing of the India's "Moon Impact Probe" with the tricolour inscribed on it on the moon and putting the Chandrayaan-I in the lunar orbit. Dr Reddy said it was HISTORIC and a dream run for the ISRO and as India enters the Moon Club, we are a proud nation. Even the NASA applauded the Indian space odyssey and Chandrayaan-I's successful experiments. Dr Reddy hoped that time is not far when India will land its man on the moon. Dr Reddy also assured all support from Andhra Pradesh to the ISRO for all their future experiments and said that besides the Sriharikota launching station, ISRO's National Remote Sensing Centre is also in Hyderabad and hoped this would benefit the Andhra Pradesh State Remote Sensing Applications to a great extent.