The following is the text of the
speech of the President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam in the Space Summit
of 90th Session of the Indian Science Congress:
I am indeed
delighted to participate in the Space Summit of 90th Session
of the Indian Science Congress. As a scientist who has spent major
portion of life in building India’s first satellite and placing
it in orbit, I am glad to see myself among the galaxy of expert
scientists from various premier space agencies. Surely, the progress
world-over in Space science and technology is amazing and beautiful
– a true miracle for all mankind. In this connection I would like
to congratulate China for their recent successful launch of SHENZHOV-IV
orbiting a recoverable space craft around the earth, moving a
step nearer to manned space missions. India have plans for moon
mission and reusable launch vehicles.
I was asking
myself what thoughts I can share with such important space community.
As the First Citizen of India, however, I know the dream of my
people. I am also aware about their pain and sorrow. We are one
sixth of the world’s population and at least two thirds of the
global population is perhaps going through the same type of crisis
and turmoil. How are we going to remove the pain? I have a suggestion
to this Space Summit to evolve a vision for a prosperous, happy
and secure planet earth. Hence I have selected the topic - Vision
For The Global Space Community: Prosperous, Happy And Secure
Planet Earth. Particularly I would like to highlight the relevance
of space technology in providing solutions to the global concerns
like energy crisis, water scarcity and mineral exploitation leading
to man-planet conflict.
Growth of technologies
and human impact
The last century
has seen an amazing impact of science and technology on human
life and quality of living. From a hunter and gatherer, man has
evolved himself through science and technology. People’s life
will be enriched with knowledge products of information and communication
technology, bio-technology and info-space technology.
Society and economic
growth
During the last century
the world has undergone a change from agriculture society, where
manual labour was the critical factor, to industrial society where
the management of technology, capital and labour provided the
competitive advantage. Then the information era was born, last
decade, where connectivity and software products are driving the
economy of a few nations. In the 21st century, a new society is
emerging where knowledge is the primary production resource instead
of capital and labour. Efficient utilisation of this existing
knowledge can create comprehensive wealth and also improve the
quality of life - in the form of better health, education, infrastructure
and other social indicators. Ability to create and maintain the
knowledge infrastructure, develop knowledge workers and enhance
their productivity through creation, growth and exploitation of
new knowledge will be the key factors in deciding the prosperity
of this Knowledge Society. As we progress from one society to
another, we have been doing value addition to the processes followed
in the previous societies. Info-space technology can do tremendous
value addition in the way we have been doing agriculture, industry,
education, health care etc.,
Knowledge Society
In the 21st century,
a new society is emerging where knowledge is the primary production
resource instead of capital and labour. Efficient utilisation
of this existing knowledge can create comprehensive wealth for
the nation in the form of better health, education, infrastructure
and other social indicators. Such a knowledge society has two
very important components driven by societal transformation and
wealth generation. The societal transformation has to be through
large-scale development in education, healthcare, agriculture
and governance. These in turn will lead to employment generation,
high productivity and rural prosperity. Core areas that will spearhead
our march towards knowledge society are: Space technology integrated
with Information & Communication Technologies which includes
generation of conventional & non-conventional energy, environment
& ecology protection, mining of new resources from planets,
tele-medicine & tele-education, Infotainment.
As society transforms
itself through education, health-care, agriculture and good governance,
it has now to focus on resolving impending major crisis in the
areas of energy, environment, ecology, water and mineral resources.
While opportunities exists for markets up to 80 billion dollars
by 2010 for knowledge-based products, it is only Space technology
that has the capability and capacity to resolve the serious Man-Planet
conflict created by severe pollution arising from a fossil fuel
based industrial era. The effects of environmental pollution are
as dangerous to mankind as the fact that even these resources
of oil, gas and coal are not infinite. Fossil fuels will soon
be depleted and India with 20% of the world’s population and 0.4%
of world’s oil and gas reserves will have to bear the brunt of
the impending crisis. Hence it is in our nation’s vital interest,
and indeed the interest of all nations that this Space Summit
throws light to show the path to liberate the world of the Man-Planet
conflict which is now moving from a moderate stage of conflict
to a severe stage. Let us not wait for the crisis stage to emerge,
when accommodation may not be possible.
Prosperous, happy
and secure societies
Every human being
on planet earth yearns for prosperity, happiness and security.
Technology development through wealth generation, and innovative
knowledge intensive products and services are creating a massive
societal transformation world-over. This will surely lead the
mankind to universal harmony and prosperity. Can Space technology
be a main tool for such an evolution.
Dynamics of terrorism
and violence
World over, poverty,
illiteracy and un- employment are driving forward the forces of
anger and violence. These forces link themselves to historical
enmity, tyranny and injustice, ethnic issues and religious fundamentalism
flowing into an outburst of terrorism worldwide. Those who claim
to love the Creator but hate His creation are indeed living in
self deception. But, society which includes you and me, have to
address ourselves to the root causes of such phenomena which are
poverty, illiteracy and unemployment.
Energy for
future generations
The era of wood and
bio-mass is almost neared its end. So to the age of oil and natural
gas would soon be over even within the next few decades. Massive
burning of the remaining reserves of coal would surely lead the
world in ecological disaster. Nuclear power especially a breakthrough
in nuclear fusion may be a path. But sustainable economic development
and perennial sources of clean energy which would then heal the
wounded planet earth’s environment and ecology is the only massive
use of the solar energy.
Water for future
generations
More than 70% of
earth surface is having water; but only one percent is available
as fresh water fro drinking purposes. Currently, more than half
of the world’s six billion population is without access to safe
drinking water and sanitation. Twenty thousand children are dying
every day due to polluted drinking water more than the total mortality
due to cancer, aids, wars and accidents. By the year 2025 when
the world population touches eight billion, as many as seven billion
will be living under conditions moderate, high and extreme water
scarcity. There is a four-fold path towards safe, fresh drinking
water. The first is to re-distribute water supply; the second
is to seek new sources; the third is to save and reduce demand
for water; and the fourth is to recycle used water supplies.
River Networking
Space science and
technology can surely find sustainable regional solutions for
abundant and perennial supply of fresh drinking water. In our
country, redistribution of water supply through networking of
rivers is now being taken up as a critical mission. Remote sensing
to survey and evolve optimum water routes, environmental mapping
and afforestation requirements, and continuous monitoring of the
networked water flow through all seasons and at all times may
require a dedicated satellite constellation for our networked
river systems.
Space technologies
for new sources of fresh water
Seeking new water
supply sources may also be yet another thrust area for space science
and technologies. Reverse osmosis technologies for sea water desalination
in new energy efficient manner is rapidly evolving. Space based
solar power stations have six to fifteen times greater capital
utilization than equivalent sized ground solar stations. Linking
Space solar power to reverse osmosis technology for large-scale
drinking water supplies to coastal cities is thus yet another
major contribution which could be made by space technologies for
sustainable economic development through regional solutions for
the impending drinking water crisis.
Potentially Dangerous
Asteroids
Space community
has to keep monitoring the dynamics of all potentially dangerous
asteroids. Asteroid 1950DA’s rendezvous with earth is predicted
to be on Mar 16, 2880. Presently it is about 7.8 millions kilometers
away. The impact probability calculations indicate a serious condition
of 1 in 300. In such a crucial condition, we should aim to deflect
or destroy this asteroid with technology available with mankind.
Definitely this problem belongs to space technology community.
It needs political support and international cop-operation to
destroy such asteroids.
Societal transformation
Can Space technology
provide solutions to these fundamental problems of man and society?
Surely, it has already begun to do so. The social values added
and enhanced social productivity is largely due to satellite imagery
for land and water management. It is also due to satellite based
e-education and connectivity to community activities for sustainable
economic development. But, this is just a beginning and the tip
of the iceberg.
Space technology
– missions
It is only international
cooperation that can yield shared benefits beyond expendable launch
vehicles and spacecraft for information missions in the areas
of tele-communications and imagery. Solutions to the Man-Planet
conflict for energy, water and mineral resources may be discovered
in a new 21st century Space era of low cost access
to space with re-usable launch vehicles.
Commercialisation
of Space
The global space
industry has had a forty year period of unprecedented growth and
prosperity. But as would be seen from the trends, global space
markets are declining. The market is rapid shrinking for information
satellites. The geo-stationary orbit is nearly full, and new earth
orbits need study and exploration, especially use of small satellites
in equatorial low earth orbit. Currently, global space industry
has a capacity to launch over 200 tonnes of satellites every year.
However, the forecast demand will consume less than half of this
established capacity. A bitter price war is on to capture this
limited market. New space missions for the benefit of all mankind
are yet to be formulated. Space launch vehicles which are now
in use are just an out-cropping of ballistic missiles proliferated
by geo-political rivalry. The cost of access to space forbids
further expansion of space activities. No exit strategy is possible
for such a vast and prestigious industry. Hence, the global space
industry is in a state of disequilibrium being unable to move
either forward or exit from the market.
Cost of access
to Space
This state of disequilibrium
is only a temporary stage. Further expansion of man’s activities
in Space can and must take place only in a global cooperative
manner that will integrate all nations’ Space capabilities to
reduce Man-Planet conflict patterns. This calls for reduction
of cost of access to space by several orders of magnitude to enable
the global space community move out of the era of information
missions into an era of mass missions and find solutions for energy,
water and mineral crises which is soon to engulf mankind.
Cost reduction
strategies
It may be interesting
to this space community to know that you are in Bangalore just
200 kms away from Srirangapatana, the birthplace of world's first
war rocket. In 1792, Tippu Sultan, the ruler of Mysore State,
in the war against the British, used war rockets against the cavalries
and defeated the British force. He was the first in the world
to introduce rocket forte in the Army. Though India was a latecomer
in the modern space activities, it is one of the five nations
today placed its own satellite using indigenous GSLV.
In the past, countries
which participated in the industrial revolution became developed
countries due to economic strength and took the lead in space
activities also. But today, having crossed the industrial age,
we are in the knowledge age. India is a country, which has tremendous
capabilities to be one a leading country in information technology.
Space technology combined with information and communication technologies
will provide greater opportunities for India to be one among the
lead countries for future space activities. The Indian concept
of hyper-plane, a fully re-useable system is an innovation in
rocketry providing a payload fraction of 15%, drastically reducing
the launch cost to 1/50 of the current cost elsewhere. Therefore,
it is an opportune moment for. countries to join together with
India and launch major universal missions to share the benefit
of space to the whole mankind, rather than commercial competition.
This will enable narrowing the difference between developing and
developed nations. The key to new opportunities for the global
space community lies in the creation of new markets arising from
mankind’s determination to reduce the Man-Planet conflict and
embark on solutions for facing the impending crises for energy,
water and mineral resources. Typically, solutions for energy and
water for India have been briefly presented.
Formulating of
such new missions would thus lead to better capacity utilization,
and the creation of low cost space transportation. India is already
working to evolve innovative design concepts for both small as
well as large payloads into space. Both single and two-stage to
orbit RLV concepts are being examined. The goal here is to reduce
the cost of access to Space by one and two orders of magnitude.
Even a small scientific breakthrough, for example, in air breathing
propulsion systems may lead to a Space transportation revolution.
The world Space community has a huge stake in such breakthrough
research in advanced inter-disciplinary and inter-institutional
collaboration. A global effort is thus needed to quickly demonstrate
at least on a small scale the technology for low cost access to
Space.
Aerospace system
applications – a perspective
The Space Summit
may therefore, have a long-term 50-year perspective from small
scale technology demonstrations of re-usable launch vehicles through
small solar power satellite demonstrations and small satellite
constellations to heavy lift RLVs for large scale solar power
satellites, space manufacturing and ultimately to space colonization
and extra terrestrial mining.
Space technology
and integrated strength
India, with its
large population and depleting natural resources of energy, water
and minerals may collaborate with the world Space community to
win the battle, and move forward to resolve the Man-Planet conflict.
In the global Space community, there are over one million scientists,
engineers and technicians; huge investments in infrastructure
and a strong mission management culture which can lay the foundation
for long-term partnership and international cooperation including
the commercialization of Space and targeting to move towards a
100 billion dollar space industry business in the coming years.
India has established core competence with talented manpower and
can build reusable launch vehicles in a cost effective manner.
India is thus a strong contender for the consortia of space agencies
for future mission. India also has considerable infrastructure
and experience in the use of space for sustainable economic development.
This experience can be used by other nations for their socio economic
development under common global missions.
Space technology
and socio-economic development
It would thus
be seen that space technology is central to and enjoys special
links with major aspects socio-economic development. This includes
information technology, infrastructure including electric power,
education and health-care, agriculture and agro food processing,
strategic industries and geo-strategic initiatives. All this is
bound to lead to rapid economic growth and a high level social
security.
Conclusion
In conclusion,
the Space Summit thus needs to address itself as to how we may
initiate a movement towards a Common Minimum Global Space Mission,
to address the impending human crises for energy, water and
minerals. Such a mission needs to have a 50-year perspective for
international cooperation, but more importantly the Summit may
identify an immediate strategy for change and an action plan to
move forward.
Above all, we
must recognize the necessity for the world’s Space community to
avoid terrestrial geo-political conflict to be drawn into outer
space, thus threatening the space assets belonging to all mankind.
This leads on to the need for an International Space Force
made up of all nations willing to participate and contribute
to protect world space assets in a manner which will enable peaceful
use of space on a global cooperative basis without the looming
threat of conflict on earth. I am sure, India would contribute
its best to the creation and sustenance of such an International
Space Force.
The advantage
of space science and technology today is its highly inter-disciplinary
nature, cutting across institutional boundaries. My suggestion
to the global space community is: "if you have knowledge,
let others light their candles at it…." And thus share
the goodness of life and mind across all mankind.
Thank you.
