Taking a big step in space exploration, the Indian Space Research Organisation has proposed to launch 10 satellites every year beginning 2015, said S.K. Shivakumar, Director, ISRO Satellite Centre, Bengaluru, here .

Speaking at the Science Day celebrations at Sona College of Technology, he said that currently five satellites are launched by India every year of which most of the satellites are for our own use. “We need to expand our space programme and hence, planned for 10 launches from this year,” he added.

He said that India had launched 72 satellites from 1975 till date and the 73{+r}{+d}satellite for navigation is scheduled for March 9 launch.

The scientist behind the successful Mars Orbiter Mission said, “Solving technology challenges in each state, micro-level planning, multi-level review and collaborative engineering efforts of all ISRO centres is the success behind our space programme.” He called upon each engineering student to contribute for the nation’s growth through their innovative skills and asked them to be technically updated. “ISRO welcomes students from all engineering streams as tremendous opportunities are available,” he added. When a student asked why satellites were launched from foreign countries, he said that “it was to exhibit our calibre and strength to foreign nations.”

C. Valliappa, Chairman, Sona Group of Institutions, said that the college is carrying out research for supplying a component for Chandrayaan 2 mission to the ISRO.

He explained the institution’s contribution in supplying various components for ISRO’s earlier missions.

About 300 students displayed projects that focused on earthquake-resistant building, energy from speed breakers, power generation through water flow, etc.