‘I Am An Explorer, It’s Part Of The Journey Of My Life To Explore Both Science And Spirituality’: ISRO Chief

ISRO Chief S Somanath said that he is an "explorer", and that he explores the Moon and inner space. He also said that it is a part of the journey of his life to explore both science and spirituality.

The Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO's) Chairman S Somanath visited Pournamikavu, Bhadrakali Temple in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday. He said that he visits many temples and reads many scriptures.

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The Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO's) Chairman S Somanath visited Pournamikavu, Bhadrakali Temple in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday. He said that he is an "explorer", and that he explores the Moon and inner space. He also said that it is a part of the journey of his life to explore both science and spirituality.

"I am an explorer. I explore the Moon. I explore the inner space. So it's a part of the journey of my life to explore both science and spirituality. So I visit many temples and I read many scriptures. So try to find the meaning of our existence and our journey in this cosmos. So it's a part of the culture that we are all built to explore, find out the inner self as well as outer self. So for the outer, I do science, for the inner I come to temples,” the ISRO Chief was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

#WATCH | On his visit to Pournamikavu, Bhadrakali Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, ISRO Chairman S Somanath says, "I am an explorer. I explore the Moon. I explore the inner space. So it's a part of the journey of my life to explore both science and spirituality. So I visit many… pic.twitter.com/QkZZAdDyX3

— ANI (@ANI) August 27, 2023

ISRO’s Chandrayaan-3 made a historic soft-landing on the Moon’s south pole on Aug 23, 2023, at 6:02 pm IST, making India the first country to softly land a spacecraft on the lunar south pole. The ISRO Chief explained that Chandrayaan-3 has experienced a number of challenges on the Moon, including thermal and communication blackout problems. 

He said that ISRO chose the Moon’s south pole as the landing site of Chandrayaan-3 because the Moon's south pole has a specific advantage because it is less illuminated by the Sun, and there is a potential to have more scientific content in that region. He also said that scientists worldwide have shown tremendous interest in the lunar south pole because ultimately, spacefaring is the goal of one and all. 

The ISRO Chairman said that the Gaganyaan programme, India's first human spaceflight programme, is in progress, and that India's first crewed mission will possibly take place by 2025. He also said that ISRO is likely to conduct the first leg of the Gaganyaan programme by the end of September or early October to demonstrate the functioning of the crew module, and escape capability of the crew. After this, several test missions will be performed, and ultimately, the third leg of the Gaganyaan programme can be conducted. 

The Aditya-L1 mission, India’s first space-based solar mission, is scheduled for launch in the first week of September. 

It is expected to operate for five years, studying the Sun’s layer and activities.