President Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil visited Satish Dhawan Space Centre
Hyderabad: Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil, President of India, visited Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC SHAR), Shriharikota today (January 2, 2012). Dr. K Radhakrishnan, Chairman, ISRO/Secretary, DOS, Shri M C Dathan, Director, SDSC SHAR and other senior officials of ISRO/DOS received the President at the helipad at Sriharikota. The President of India inaugurated the new Mission Control Centre (MCC), which has been realised at Shriharikota Centre and dedicated the new MCC to the Nation.
For meeting the GSLV-Mk III launch requirements and future missions of ISRO, a new Mission Control Centre (MCC), with state-of-the-art facilities, has been realised at Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR. The MCC, situated about 6 km away from the launch complex, monitors and conducts the launch operations during the pre-countdown and countdown phases until the injection of the satellite into orbit. it is linked to all the ground stations through communication links for voice, video and data transmission. The launch preparations on the vehicle are monitored from MCC, using a multi channel Closed Circuit Television System (CCTV).
The important facilities at MCC include Mission Control Hall, Launch Control Centre, Real time Network, VIP Gallery, Video Conference, Mission Executives rooms, Commentator rooms, etc. a simulation of PSLV Launch was shown to the visiting dignitary at MCC. The President witnessed various exhibits at MCC which portrayed the advance made by the country in the area of Space Science and Technology. The President later visited the first Launch Pad (FLP) where integration of PSLV-C19/RISAT-1 Mission was in progress and evinced keen interest in the operations at the FLP. The President presented ISRO awards for the year 2008 and 2009. Life Time Achievement Award for contribution to Indian Space Programme was conferred on Dr. K Kasturirangan, former Chairman of ISRO and currently Member (Science) planning Commission.
Other Senior Scientists and Engineers of ISRO were conferred with Outstanding Achievement Award, Performance Excellence Award, Merit Award, Group Achievement Award, Team Award and Young Scientist Award. President of India, in her address to ISRO community which was telecast live to ISRO centres and units across the country paid rich compliments to ISRO on the successful missions accomplished. she felt that utilising the application of its research and working for the benefit of the society should be one of the overriding objectives of any discipline of science and technology and expressed satisfaction that the Indian space programme had always been distinguished for being application oriented. The President also congratulated the award winners for their significant contribution to Indian Space Programme.
