Kalam inaugurates 'Space Festival'
Coimbatore, July 9: Former Indian President and Scientist Dr A P J Abdul Kalam today said DRDO and ISRO were actively pursuing research on designing the material used for solar power plants.
The weight of solar panel needs to be brought down from 20kg per kilowatt to less than one Kg per KW, to achieve this.
He said after inaugurating an exhibition on "Space Festival 2012" at Bharathiyar University here.
He said the efficiency of solar collection also needs to be enhanced using nano technologies. Transmission of the energy and component design nano-packets need to be evolved they can move back and forth between space and surface of the earth, he said.
Mr Kalam said the combination of these efforts along with many other research possibilities to be carried out by DRDO and ISRO in association with the International space agencies such as NASA and other space agencies from various space faring nations, should be capable of bringing down the cost of the space solar power installation to reasonable limits within near future.
Listing out the space programmes of the country, he suggested pursuing manned space missions to moon and Mars and establishment of space industry, cost effective space transportation systems using Hypersonic Resuable Vehicles (SSTO), Harnessing space solar energy through solar satellite for power and drinking water, developing solar sail for inter planetary mission, Integrated Disaster Management - Role of space technology, Refueling, Repair and Maintenance of Satellites in Geo Orbit and Operational Indian Navigational Satellites.
He said these programmes will throw up new opportunities and challenges to the scientific community and the youth of India, apart from motivating young graduates to become partners in future missions of national and international importance.