President A P J Abdul Kalam

Low earth orbit ships by 2014, says Kalam

The aeronautical community is ready with a roadmap for a 150 Seater civilian Aircraft as a public – private partnership mode and the R&D and infrastructure build up for the same has to start right away with innovative programme management methodologies, according to President APJ Abdul Kalam.

Participating in an international conference on aerospace, in Hyderabad, the President said ISRO had initiated programmes for a reusable two stage to orbit launch vehicle demonstrator and air breathing propulsion modules. Work has started on the feasibility studies for a manned mission to low earth orbit by 2014.

"DRDO has goals to develop stealth air crafts and long range reusable hypersonic cruise missiles. In the next two decades, I visualize the integration of multiple technologies of supersonic aircraft, missiles and spacecraft to transform into an unmanned supersonic long-range and low radar cross section aircraft replacing manned fighter aircraft," the President said.

The academic institutions and the public and private sector industries have large roles in successful accomplishments of these national initiatives. Particularly the current production activities in aggregate and total systems will move over to industries, he pointed out.

Kalam administers '7-point oath' to students

President A P J Abdul Kalam today administered a 'seven-point oath' to students to work hard to achieve their goals, achieve success and enjoy the success of others and lead a corruption-free life.

Participating in the centenary celebrations of Vivek Vardhini Education Society here, he administered the oath to the students of the educational institution.

The seven-point oath dealt with setting a goal in life and working towards it, working with courage to achieve success in all tasks and enjoy the success of others, keeping oneself, one's home, surroundings, neighbourhood and environment clean, being righteous, leading a corruption-free honest life, lighting the lamp of knowledge, and realising that one's work contributed towards realising the vision of developed India 2020.