The immediate challenge beforeIndian Space Research Organisation(Isro) will be to expand its horizons and metamorphose into a self-sustainable organization, said the newly-appointed chairmanS Somanath.
Somanath said the space sector in India was funded by the government and the scene is different in other countries. “Though we are a technical organization and not a commercial one, we should also be able to exploit its commercial side. Though the space programme is funded by the government, end users of the achievements of the organization are many, like television networks, weather forecasting,” he said.
With regards to Isro’s various missions, he said that the earth observation mission that failed, when it was carried out last year (GSLV F10 mission), will have another launch. “Each mission is being carried out as a success-oriented mission and not a trial and error one, as each of them are costly affairs. Some may have a second chance while some of them would end with just one chance. The earth observation mission will get a second chance,” he said.