By IANS,
Kolkata : After a string of successes, a confident Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is ready to offer its capacities on a commercial basis and ring in its cash registers, after meeting the domestic requirement that calls for four to five launches a year.
“ISRO launch vehicles are efficient, reliable and cost-effective. Our launch vehicles cost nearly 25 percent less than what international agencies demand,” ISRO chairman G. Madhavan Nair Thursday said.
“We have, so far, launched 14 satellites on commercial basis. Once we fully open up, the commercial activities will increase by four fold,” Nair said, adding this year ISRO would launch two commercial satellites for the European Union (EU).
Talking about the restriction imposed by other countries, he said many advanced nations think that ISRO’s technology is meant for dual use, and hence they are unwilling to pass on any information in this regard.
“Some of them have imposed restrictions on taking their satellites outside their own countries,” Nair said.
Commenting on the Sixth Pay Commission recommendations on government salaries to the scientists, the chairman said it is much lower than what private industries have been offering.
“If we have to attract talent, we have to offer better remuneration. We’ve already taken this matter up with the government and we’re hopeful to get a solution,” he said.