Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, July 31: A delegation of International Astronautical Federation (IAF), led by its Paris based Headquarter Executive Director, Christian Feichtinger and Special Advisor, Elena today called on Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh and discussed the upcoming Space missions in near future as well as the forthcoming International Astronautical Congress (IAC) which is a prestigious annual event spread over five days and held by rotation at different venues across the world every year.
The 70th International Astronautical Congress (IAC), being held this year in Washington D C from October 21 to 25, will also commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first human being landing on the surface of the Moon in 1969. The conference will be attended, among others, by one of the three surviving astronauts who were a part of the Apollo 11 crew led by Late Commander Neil Armstrong. The conference will provide a platform for interaction among the experts to explore new avenues in Space activities and to enthuse young professionals and young scientists to take up technical challenges of future.
Pertinent to mention that India too has hosted two of such International Astronautical Congress meets in the past, at Bengaluru and Hyderabad, respectively.
The visiting delegates conveyed to the Minister their appreciation of the manner in which the Indian Space Programme had grown over the past six decades with a resolve to build and launch operational Space systems along with concurrent efforts to deploy the same for national development. The Chandrayaan-2 Moon Mission launched on 22nd July and the upcoming Gaganyaan Human Mission to be launched on the eve of the 75th anniversary of India’s independence have already placed India as a frontline nation in the world community.
Meanwhile today, announcement was also made for selecting two students each from every State to be present at Sriharikota on 7th September when Chandrayaan-2 lands on the surface of the Moon. The selection will be made on the basis of an on-line quiz competition.
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