'Columbia' Crash Has no Impact on India's Space Program

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, February 03, 2003

'Columbia' Crash Has no Impact on India's Space Program

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

American space shuttle Colombia's disintegration on Saturday will have no direct impact on India's space program as the country does not have a manned program, a senior Indian space official said on Sunday.

Dr. P. S. Goel, Space Commission member and director of the Satellite Center of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) based in Bangalore, said that the break-up of Columbia had no specific lesson for India as it has no planned manned mission.

However, according to the Press Trust of India (PTI), he added that any such failure would have some lessons in one way or other for space faring countries.

The space expert disclosed that India had planned an unmanned mission to moon but not in the nearest future.

Goel described the disintegration as a big tragedy that left seven astronauts, including the Indian-American Kalpana Chawla, dead.

Soon after news of the tragedy reaching here on Saturday night,Indian President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam sent a message to United States President George W. Bush, condoling the death of Kalpana and her six fellow astronauts.

"I feel deeply pained to learn about the great loss of Columbiaspace shuttle and the brave crew members, the seven astronauts," the massage said.

Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee also sent a message to President Bush, conveying his "heartfelt sympathies at the tragedy which has overtaken the space shuttle Columbia."

Questions?Comments? Click here

Indian PM Sends Condolences to Bush

India Shocked by Columbia Tragedy but to Continue Space Program

>> Full Coverage

Beijing to Cancel 'Hotels for Hosting Foreign Visitors' ( 11 Messages)

Crazy Pursuit for Graduate Education, an Ailing Personnel System ( 2 Messages)

Chinese Experts Demand Return of Cultural Relics ( 30 Messages)

Chinese Bid Farewell to Outworn Doctrine of Egalitarianism ( 22 Messages)

Full Text of UN Security Council Resolution 1441 on Iraq ( 3 Messages)