Dr. Manmohan Singh, Honble Prime Minister of India, visited Space Applications Centre (SAC), Ahmedabad on Saturday, March 26, 2011. Dr. K. Radhakrishnan, Chairman ISRO/Secretary, Department of Space and Dr. R. R Navalgund, Director, SAC received Hon. Prime Minister at SAC campus. The Prime Minister was taken around the laboratories where he saw the development of the payloads of communication satellites, viz., GSAT-7, GSAT-10 and several remote sensing satellite payloads under progress. The Prime Minister evinced keen interest in various aspects of payload activities in progress at SAC. He also interacted with a group of young scientists and engineers drawn from different Centres/Units of ISRO on various facets of space activities.

The Prime Minister, addressing ISRO community, which was broadcast live through an INSAT satellite to all the establishments of ISRO/DOS, recalled the stellar role played by Dr Vikram Sarabhai and Prof Satish Dhawan, the founding fathers of Indian Space Programme in the formative years. He had special praise for Space Applications Centre, which is located at Ahmedabad, the birthplace of Dr Sarabhai.

Complimenting ISRO on the excellent record of PSLV with 16 successful launches placing 44 satellites into orbit out of which 25 were launched for international customers, the Prime Minister also mentioned that India has emerged as a leader in building satellites with versatile features. It is now time to look ahead so that space will be a tool for the welfare of mankind.

The Prime Minister paid rich tributes to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, who, while addressing the Indian Science Congress in 1949, stressed the need for spirit of inquiry and the role of science and technology in the development of the nation. Quoting Dr Sarabhai, the Prime Minister said that technology is not an objective to aim, but is a tool to be used for the benefit of the common man.

He called upon ISRO scientists to work towards reducing the cost of access to space and to expedite the development of heavy lift launchers using advanced propulsion systems like cryogenic stages, recoverable and reusable launch vehicle systems. The role of space based observing systems, development of newer class of environmental monitoring sensors and study of weather related phenomena assumes greater importance in the backdrop of climate change. He stressed the need for mastering newer technologies in the communication satellites towards satellite based internet services which can serve the rural masses. He expressed his happiness that self reliance is being addressed by having our own Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System which will enable secure transport, air traffic management and search and rescue operations saving precious human life.

The Prime Minister appreciated the contribution of Indian Remote Sensing satellites in national as well as global resource monitoring and the role of earth observation data from IRS satellites in flagship programmes like NREGA, Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme and Bharat Nirman. He stressed the need for space based forewarning, preparedness and mitigation measures. He called upon ISRO to make space based information more comprehensive by suitably augmenting the space infrastructure for emergency management.

The Prime Minister expressed optimism that the newly established Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology would attract the best talent available in the country to serve the needs of the country's space programme.

Assuring continued support of the government for the country's space programme, the Prime Minister urged ISRO community to rededicate itself to march towards greater heights upholding the highest standards of professionalism, nurturing the spirit of scientific inquiry and striving for greater excellence.