India-United States Conference on Space Science,
Applications and Commerce Held at Bangalore

The India-United States Conference on Space Science, Applications and Commerce jointly organised by the Astronautical Society of India (ASI) and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) was held at Bangalore during June 21-25, 2004. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the Indo-US Science and Technology Forum and the US Department of State in co-operation with the US Department of Commerce, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) sponsored the Conference. The main objective of the conference was to strengthen and expand the cooperation between India and the US in the field of space science and applications as well as the related commercial activity.

The Prime Minister of India, Dr Man Mohan Singh, in his message, hoped that the conference would help in identifying and generating an awareness of market opportunities and contribute to building confidence between the two countries for cooperation in a way that reflects their transforming relationship and common interests. In his message, the US President Mr George W Bush Jr urged the space scientists from India and the United States to identify new areas of cooperation in the civil space programme and inspire the next generation to explore the universe. Inaugurating the conference, Mr Prithviraj Chavan, Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, said that India and the US can collaborate on technical, policy and business issues to build a stronger future in the area of space. In his address, Mr G Madhavan Nair, Chairman, ISRO, recalled the Indo-US co-operation in space from a historic perspective, and, in the context of India’s present capabilities in space, stressed the need for the delegates of both the countries to identify areas of common interest.

Dr David C Mulford, US Ambassador to India, Mr Kenneth I Juster, Under Secretary, US Commerce Department and Dr Frederick D Gregory, Associate Administrator of NASA were amongst the senior officials from the US who participated in the inaugural function.

One of the highlights of the India-US Conference was the address by the President of India, Dr A P J Abdul Kalam, who is himself an accomplished space scientist. He delivered his lecture titled “Dynamics of Indo-US space co-operation” to the delegates before the closing plenary through a satellite bridge established with Delhi. Dr Abdul Kalam nostalgically recalled the first sounding rocket launch from India in November 1963 and unveiled his vision of future space exploration. He felt that both India and the US have acquired enriching experience in furthering space technology for benefiting the society. He underlined the need for reducing the cost of access to space and felt that cost reduction strategies require a global effort.

Dr Kalam suggested a five-point space mission – i) finding ways to bring down the cost of launch; ii) use of nano-technology, Indo-US partnership
in the areas of Solar Powered Satellites (SPS); iii) exploration of the asteroids, mining on the moon and the establishment of first habitats on Mars; iv) earthquake prediction; and v) dissemination of the benefits of space research to the entire humanity. At the end of his lecture, the President interacted with the delegates over the satellite bridge.

The idea of holding the Bangalore Conference emerged when the Prime Minister of India and the President of the United States issued a Joint Statement in November 2001 that both sides would discuss ways to stimulate bilateral high technology commerce and civil space cooperation. In October 2002, ISRO and the US State Department held initial discussions on possible methods of strengthening cooperation in these two areas. With the encouragement of other government agencies in India as well as the US and with extensive support from industry, professional societies such as ASI in India and AIAA in the US and organisations such as the Indo-US Science and Technology Forum, both countries decided to hold a high level conference in India that could act as a catalyst for strengthening cooperation. The main objective was to bring together US and Indian space scientists, policy makers and private entrepreneurs to explore cooperative programmes and business opportunities. The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and the Astronautical Society of India (ASI) were chosen to organise the conference. To ensure strong participation from industry in both the countries, industry level discussions were also held between India’s Antrix Corporation and US-India Business Council along with the participation of the Confederation of Indian industries.

Mr Prithviraj Chavan, Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office inaugurates the Conference as Dr David C Mulford (to his left), Ambassador of the US to India, Mr. Kenneth I Juster, Under Secretary, US Commerce Department (to his right) and Mr G Madhavan Nair, Chairman, ISRO (extreme left), look on