Ex-Isro Chief 'Private Sector Entry Will Boost Space Industry'

Former Isro chairman Mayilswamy Annadurai has welcomed the entry of the private sector into the space industry, saying it would promote healthy competition and facilitate the large-scale manufacture of satellites and other space-related equipment. 

Addressing a press conference in Pudukkottai on Sunday, Annadurai, who heads the Curriculum Guidance Committee of the Tamil Nadu government, said Isro had successfully launched several spacecraft and missions and was now pursuing initiatives to send humans into space.

Isro has been developing space



technologies at relatively low costs, he said, adding that the organisation was now ready to manufacture satellites with private sector participation as its capabilities continued to expand. He also pointed out that work was under way to begin manufacturing rocket spare parts at Kulasekarapattinam. 

On education, Annadurai said new curricula were being developed to help students gain proficiency in both Tamil and English, with emphasis on writing, reading and speaking skills. Teachers were also being trained as part of the implementation of the new curriculum, he said.