13 May 2008

Can Space Cooperation Lead to Space Security?

http://www.idsa.in/apjabdulkalam.htm
Inaugural Address by Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, Former President of India at the International Conference on Space Security
November 13, 2007
I firmly believe that space faring nations have the responsibility to put their efforts together to launch time bound financially shared programmes to take up societal missions in a large scale, pooling their capabilities in launch vehicles, spacecraft and applications....In such a situation, what can be the space security system need to be evolved? What are the real threat perceptions of humanity for the twenty first century?
The inequity in education and health care
The shortage of human resources both for skills and research throughout the world
The looming threat to environment
The depletion of resources – energy and water
Can these be managed by the conventional way of thinking that individual nations and group of nations have been engaged in? I firmly believe that space faring nations have the responsibility to put their efforts together to launch time bound financially shared programmes to take up societal missions in a large scale, pooling their capabilities in launch vehicles, spacecraft and applications. Such major cooperation itself will act a great measure of space security, in addition to empowering the most underprivileged, minimizing communication gaps and reducing threats for conflicts. We have to focus on mass missions like solar energy from space, desalination of seawater through solar energy, mass transportation of minerals from Moon and Mars, which is possible only when the cost of access to space is reduced drastically...With the background and strength of technological progress in Space systems in the world, I would suggest the World Space Community to evolve World Space Vision 2050 with the following three components:
Large Scale Societal missions and Low cost access to space.
Comprehensive space security
Space exploration and current application missions
A World Space Vision would enhance the quality of human life, inspire the spirit of space exploration, expand the horizons of knowledge and ensure space security for all nations of the world...There is definitely a need for space faring nations to work together to develop reusable launch vehicles, which can bring down the cost of payload in orbit from the present US $ 20,000 per kg to US $ 2000 per kg and eventually to $200 per kg...I have proposed Space Satellite Service Stations as an international venture to have Space Satellite Service Stations. We have to guard against any threat from asteroids and manmade debris...Now, let me visualize the space profile in 2050, with the focus of World Space Vision 2050, being steered by the World Space council.
A world, where all citizens will have equitable distribution of energy through solar power and solar powered satellites.
A world where all citizens even in the remotest parts will have electronic connectivity and knowledge connectivity through constellation of communication satellites.
A world where all citizens will have safe drinking water by the technologies of seawater desalination using solar power.
A clean planet earth through the use of solar energy from solar power satellite and power generated from helium-3 derived from Moon.
A Planet earth will have a clean industrial complex on Moon and an alternate habitat at Mars.
Planet earth will be transformed to prosperity without poverty, peaceful without fear of war and a happy place to live for the whole humanity using space technologies as one of the prime movers.
I am convinced that time has come for political leadership of space faring nations has to come together and adopt a world space vision.

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