Indo-US pact on ISS bolt from the blue for space scientists

MUMBAI: Isro chairman K Radhakrishnan declared at the International Astronautical Congress in Prague that there is no immediate plan of India partnering with the 17-member US-led International Space Station ( ISS).

But the joint statement issued by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and US President Barack Obama on Monday states just the opposite.

Radhakrishnan’s statement at Prague in September said, ‘‘ As of now there is no programme to get into the ISS.’’ The Singh-Obama statement though said India and the US will ‘‘ seek ways to colloborate in future lunar missions , international space station and human space flight... ’’

Isro officials on condition of anonymity admitted to TOI that it was an ‘‘ embarrassing situation.’’ This blatant contradiction on the important space-cum-foreign policy issue comes around 45 days after the Isro chief ’s statement at the Prague meet. It has triggered speculation among space officials that there could have been a communication gap between Isro, the prime minister’s office and external affairs ministry.

Officials wondered if the Isro chairman or any senior space agency officials were kept in the loop while the joint statement was being prepared . The decision by India and the US to ‘‘ seek ways to collaborate in the ISS’’ comes at a time when foreign space agencies, especially the European Space Agency, were keen on India, an important global space power, joining the space station.

TOI learnt that a senior Isro scientist while interacting with school students in Bangalore 10 days ago, said that India has been invited to partner with the ISS. If his statement reflected a serious development , officials said it should have been announced by Radhakrishnan as it’s an important matter involving the space sector and the external affairs ministry. It was of global interest, they said. At least, it could have been mentioned in Isro’s website.
But nothing was done. This indicated the Isro scientist might have been referring to statements made by space agency chiefs at the International Astronautical Congress that India must become a part of ISS.

Space expert Taylor Dinerman writing in the ‘‘ The Space Review’’ on November 17, 2008, said, ‘‘ One obstacle to India joining the ISS is lack of money. This is what killed Brazil’s membership and preliminary talks with India should be careful to insure that Isro’s commitment are compatible with India’s overall budgetary policy. India has the right to be considered a full fledged space-faring nation,’’ he said.