Startups bringing transformation in India's space sector: ISRO chief S Somanath

The world is looking at India as an inspirational place with what the country has achieved in the space sector in the last 60 years, chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation S Somanath said on Sunday.

Somanath said he was witnessing a transformation in the sector by bringing in startups, incubating them in space technology and bringing great applications to develop rockets and satellites.

"The whole world is looking at India as an inspirational place and it is wonderful to see what is happening in India, especially in the space sector, with the startup eco system," he said at the 18th convocation of the SRM Institute of Science and Technology at Kattankulathur near here.

Somanath, who received the honorary degree of Doctorate of Science (honoris causa) in recognition of his contribution to the field of science, said, "We always believed others but they never believed we can do such things -- building rockets and satellites in this country ourselves -- besides having a large percentage of our own contribution (of satellites) to build them over the years and to have self-sufficiency in having our own satellites and rockets and placing them in orbit."

"We have 50-plus satellites of our own currently operating and at least three of the rockets are ready to fly at anytime from our own soil," he said.

Referring to the 75th year of India's independence, Somanath said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a clear vision of what the country needs to achieve in the next 25 years and in those 25 years, the nation would work in the domain of science and technology.

"I believe the real power of a nation will come out and it is only through the original work of people in science and technology and truly we can build that capability in this country," he said.

Somanath said India holds the responsibility to kindle the spirit in the young minds to bring about the transformation in society which is needed for the country to become a super power.

"A super power where every human being in this world will wish to come and live happily without fighting each other, without expanding our domains but accepting everybody to be contributing to the entire world in terms of knowledge and skills. We have to bring about a positive change in this society and that is what a nation is supposed to be," he said.