New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday invited the countries of the world to become India’s “co-travellers” in its next journey to space.
He also outlined the country’s growing ambitions in the space technology sector, and said that India aims to build a space station by 2035 and send astronauts to the moon by 2040.
The PM was speaking at the International Space Summit on Thursday.
India believes in safe and peaceful space domain: PM
PM Modi went on to state that India believes in a safe, secure, peaceful and sustainable space domain, which is run according to international laws, dialogue and multilateral cooperation.
PM Modi said, “We support a safe, secure, peaceful and sustainable space domain”, said a report in India Today. He added that any scientific data and advancements in space sector must ultimately serve the common good.
He added that the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) was at the heart of the country’s space journey and the advancements made by the organisation, reflected the aim he had put forward, that is common good. He added that the space agency had won global admiration for its cost-effective missions and India’s space inventions and partnerships were increasingly serving the wider world.
PM Modi said that more than 430 satellites from 34 countries were taken to space aboard Indian rockets. Thus India has emerged as an important player in the global space sector, added the PM.
PM Modi recalled the historic landing near the Moon’s South Pole and the Aditya-L1 mission, which he said was helping scientists unlock secrets of the Sun. Apart from this India has also been to the International Space Station and this was only proof of its growing lead in sending a manned mission to space, said the PM.
He said that India’s mission is clear that the benefits of space missions must reach all of humanity. He then went on to highlight the India-France partnership in the space sector and said that this relationship had been established right at the start of India’s space programme.
He invited France and other countries to become “co-travellers” in India’s journey to space as it prepares for a journey beyond Earth.
