My friend Mr Madhavan Nair, Chairman, ISRO, has briefed me of your future space plans.
... The exploration of the moon through Chandrayaan will electrify the entire country, particularly young scientists and children. I am sure the moon mission is just a start towards further planetary explorations. ... He also told me, that he has got extra 15 kg to allot for any national and international co-operation. I suggested that 15 kg can be allotted for a combined entry package to the moon with a telemetry of at least one channel, with density or pressure measurement or tone ranging alone. This experiment will be very effective since India will be getting the data from the moon's surface.

Personally, I look forward to you coming up with a Reusable Launch Vehicle. Once you bring in a cost-effective Reusable Launch Vehicle, the space applications will grow multifold and in new dimensions hitherto unimagined.

... India has been in the forefront of bringing the benefits of space technology to the common man. Space touches the human beings on his day-to-day life in a variety of ways. I believe that technology is a major enabler for the development of our country. Space technology with its uniqueness can network in many ways. With your strength, you have shown self-reliance in this core area. Even as you do this, there are opportunities to be part of global systems to serve the humanity in general.

The national developmental challenges are many involving integrated action namely: Agriculture and Food Processing, Education and Health care, Information and Communication Technology, Infrastructure and self-reliance in critical technologies. As space technologists, you have the role to play in many areas like education, healthcare, disaster prevention & mitigation, e-governance, urban planning, rural communication, PURA (Providing Urban Amenities in Rural Areas) and importantly Interlinking of Rivers and so on. Technology growth, self-reliance, global co-operation, centres of excellence, networking with industries and academia, contribution to international space law are all parts of this overall goal. The future of space applications for a highly populated nation like India cannot be only in the expanded uses of the now-very- conventional technologies for telecommunication and space imagery. It lies in the design, development and application of new technologies for innovative missions that must address pro-actively acute problems of rapid depletion of conventional energy sources, drinking water supplies, and deliver solutions for the man-planet conflict that has led to pollution, climatic change and degradation of ecology and the environment.

The ISRO programme upto now has built a capability to build any type of spacecraft system and also launch capability upto GSLV and beyond. Of course with tremendous core competence built in space technology and space systems and integration capability and manufacturing infrastructure coming in the country, it is time for the space programme to add to the economy of the nation. That means, commercially competitive spacecraft, commercially competitive space launch services, will be needed with marketing ingenuity. For this type of mission, we have to create new stream of creative leaders, whose leadership styles move from commander to coach, manager to mentor, from director to delegator and from one who demands respect to one who facilitates self respect.

... Indian Space efforts are unique in focusing this cutting-edge technology for national development. It has been a pioneering venture always providing challenges.
All of you here and in other centres of ISRO along with your industrial and institutional partners throughout the country have immensely contributed to the space revolution in the country. I have cherished my association with you. I see tremendous opportunities for you to contribute to national development.

... We had many successes but a few failures. You are all courageous people involved in huge missions like PSLV and GSLV. I am sure you will succeed with all your expertise and experience, in launching a single stage rocket system with 100 times take off and 100 times landing capability after putting huge satellite systems and spacecraft in the required orbit.

I visualise a scene, in the year 2021, when I will be 90 years old and visiting SHAR Space Port for boarding the Space plane, so that I can reach another planet and return safely as one of the passengers. I foresee the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, SHAR to grow into an international Spaceport with a capability of enabling launches and landings of the reusable launch vehicles.

I wish every one of you success in all your future endeavours in transforming the nation into a developed country.