ISRO takes to social media

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is using social media to bring younger generation into its target group.

In an informal chat with presspersons on the sidelines of the convocation of Mangalore University on Monday, ISRO Chairman K Radhakrishnan said that social media achieves two things. One is that it is a direct communication. Secondly, it enables the younger generation to be brought into the target group.

Giving the example of ISRO’s Mars Orbiter Mission, he said it is a one-year programme, and people will have to be with ISRO during that period.

Stating that Mars Orbiter Mission’s Facebook page has more than three lakh ‘Likes’, he said people are discussing the matter here, along with information dissemination. “Three lakh young minds talking about space science in itself is a big achievement,” he said.

Then the organisation thought of using social media for its other space programmes also. ISRO’s official page, which was started recently, has more than 50,000 likes now.

Earlier delivering the convocation address, Radhakrishnan said that the Mars Orbiter spacecraft is on course for its arrival near Mars on September 24 2014 after a voyage of nearly 68 crore km.

The 300-day-long cruise phase through the harsh space environment is a daunting task that has never been attempted in ISRO earlier. This incorporates onboard autonomy to deal with the long delay in communication and ensures reliable operation of the propulsion system during the Mars orbit insertion.

He said that ISRO’s launch vehicle programme and the satellite programme have been contributing tirelessly for achieving the technological capabilities that are essential for the nation. “Our space-based assets -- a constellation of 24 satellites around mother Earth, have enabled applications focused towards food and water security, weather and climate, environment and ecosystem, education and health care, skill development, rural communication, infrastructure development, disaster management support, smart governance and sustainable development,” he said.

ISRO is moving towards enhanced launch capability through its GSLV Mark-III launch vehicle and even higher powered vehicles in the years to come.

As of now, this vehicle is getting integrated, he said, adding that ISRO should be able to have conduct experiments on this by the end of May or the beginning of June. GSLV Mark-III has a high-thrust cryogenic engine, he said.

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