PIONEER NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that space technology is no longer limited to research alone but plays a significant role in communication, agriculture, weather forecasting, disaster management, education, health and infrastructure development. Congratulating the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and all scientists for Shubhashu Shukla reaching the International Space Station, he called it a matter of immense national pride, adding that Shukla’s contribution will lay a solid foundation for future space missions including Gaganyaan. Dhami was speaking at the Space Conference 2025 focused on Himalayan States’ role in Viksit Bharat 2047 vision organised by Uttarakhand Space Application Centre (USAC) on Monday.
The CM reiterated the State government’s strong commitment to promoting science and technological innovation, mentioning that significant progress is being made in establishing Science City, innovation centres and cutting-edge laboratories in areas such as AI, robotics and drones. He expressed confidence that this conference would play a key role in making Uttarakhand a “space-technology friendly State”, contributing to its sustainable development. Dhami also inaugurated a dashboard developed by ISRO and Uttarakhand State Council for Science and Technology (UCOST) to make Champawat a model district, and also released a publication by ISRO.
Speaking as the chief guest, ISRO chairman V Narayanan
recalled that India had launched its first rocket in 1963. Since then, India has launched over 100 rockets. Till 1975, India had no satellites of its own, but today, it possesses 131 satellites. Satellites are playing a vital role in sectors such as television broadcasting and communication. He said ISRO is currently working on a human space programme and a rocket capable of launching payloads of up to 75,000 kilogrammes into low earth orbit, expected to be completed in around 27 days. Narayanan recalled how Indian rockets were once transported on bicycles, but today India holds multiple world records. India was the first country to detect the presence of water molecules on the moon, the first to land on the moon’s south pole, and the fourth to study the sun with Aditya-L1. India also succeeded in its first attempt at reaching Mars’ orbit, becoming the fourth country to do so. The country aims to establish its own space station by 2030 and send astronauts to the Moon by 2040. He affirmed that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, India is achieving new milestones and will certainly become a developed nation by 2047.
Director of the National Remote Sensing Centre, Prakash Chauhan, said that satellite data is now integral to daily lives of the people. In Uttarakhand, livestock data has been digitised. During the Rishiganga-Chamoli disaster, satellite-based mapping and data were used in national-level policymaking and Post Disaster Need Assessment (PDNA). He emphasised how earth observation, satellite communication and navigation have transformed lives. In Uttarakhand, satellite data is being used for disaster response, forest conservation, forest fire mapping, glacial lake monitoring and prediction of cloudbursts and floods.
Chief secretary Anand Bardhan and USAC director Durgesh Pant also addressed the gathering.
