ISRO’s New Initiative

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) will launch two dedicated satellites in the polar orbit in 2010 and 2011 to study climate change. The first will be a micro-satellite to conduct atmospheric research, while the second will be a remote-sensing satellite to monitor greenhouse gases like methane and carbon dioxide. These dedicated satellites will put the country in a select space club and make it one of the few countries in the world to have such an advanced facility to study the impact of climate change. With the launch of the climate change study satellites, India will also send out the message that it is serious about global warming and committed to protecting the environment from the adverse effects of global warming. As Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh said, ‘‘the world attention is engaged in climate change and environment’’ and the country is ‘‘taking major initiatives for an integrated approach to the study of effects of ocean, land and atmosphere’’. The ISRO scientists must be supported well, and it is incumbent on the government to ensure that they do not suffer from bureaucratic interference, shortage of funds and infrastructure bottlenecks. These scientists are the country’s pride. THE SENTINEL