Benefits justify costs of space missions

 Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday heaped praises on ISRO and put up a spirited defence of India’s space programme, saying the expenditure over the years had provided a number of benefits to the nation.

 He affirmed his government’s commitment to continue supporting ISRO in its coming endeavours.

 “Questions are sometimes asked about whether a poor country like India can afford a space programme and whether the funds spent on space exploration, albeit modest, could be better utilised elsewhere,” said Singh, speaking after the successful completion of the PSLV-C21 mission.

 “This misses the point that a nation’s state of development is finally a product of its technological prowess.

 The founding fathers of our space programme faced a similar dilemma, but they persevered in pursuing their vision.

 When we look at the enormous societal and national benefits that have been generated in diverse fields, there can be no doubt that they were right.

 Equally, I have no doubt that ISRO will build on these glorious traditions and scale still greater heights,” the PM added, noting that India’s 100th space mission had come on the 50th anniversary of the commencement of the country’s space programme

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