Kochi, Jan 15: The Indian Space Research
Organisation has recently commissioned a world class solid
propellant plant at Sriharikota, where the 200 tonne
propellant booster meant for the `Mars programme` was
processed, an official of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre said.
"Two months back, we commissioned a world class solid
propellant plant at Sriharikota, where we are able to process
the 200 tonnes propellant booster meant for the Mars three
programme, which will be commissioned in two years," M
Chandradathan, director of SHAR, said, delivering the K
Unnikrishan Memorial lecture here last night.
On the success of Chandrayaan I, he said it was the
result of a team effort under the "visionary leadership" of
ISRO chairman G Madhavan Nair.
Referring to criticism on the need to have launched
Chandrayaan-1 when there had been similar launches all over
the world years back, he said ISRO`s aim when they started the
rocket launch programme in 1964-65 was not for going to the
moon or landing on the moon.
"The main aim of ISRO was to concentrate on resource
building of the country, how best we can study the country`s
resources and how best we can make use the resources for the
benefit of the common man," he said.
Bureau Report
