Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman Dr. S Somnath has nothing but respect for billionaire Elon Musk and his space company SpaceX, especially for Starlink. ISRO Chief Dr. S Somnath was recently featured in Ranveer Allahabadia's podcast where he expressed his admiration for SpaceX founder Elon Musk and also revealed that ISRO scientists indeed discuss the billionaire and his ability to get things done. ISRO Chief Somnath further revealed what will he discuss or ask Elon Musk if he is in a room with him. Below is an excerpt from the podcast.
ISRO Chairman Dr. S Somnath on Elon Musk
Somnath said, "Most of the time when I am in meetings or discussing designs, and concepts, we quote Elon Musk. My younger people quote, I quote. Why don't you look at him, I look at him for what he is doing. His rockets, their reusability, and new spacecraft design. The concept of constellation technology that he is bringing in. We are amazed by the speed he has been able to bring and also the way he can go through the processes within the country. That's again another important thing. That's again another important thing not just technology, it's also able to bring technology to an ultimate result. That's a very tough thing. Many people don't understand the technology and politics of applying technology.
On politics of applying technology, Somanth said, "I had the vision to get reusable launch vehicle, he was able to manage to get an engine which was developed by NASA, almost 10 years of money, 10 years of work, he was able to get in a private ecosystem. That was difficult in America at one point in time, he managed it within the system possibly through political influence. After having realized the reusable rocket possible he has looked at it as numbers. Hundreds of launchers are available which satellite he can use? Then, he created the Starlink Constellation. Thousands of satellites he was able to launch and most of the launches are for him alone. Today we know how he is utilising the satellites. These satellites are not just used for communication purposes, it is also used for national utilization, and global communication, where the entire US now depends on them.
So, he made an approach, a concept, and made it into the nation. So this can be done only by a person who understands the system, how the country works, how the decisions are taken, and who are the influential people, who drive the system. So, he works with the government, and political system, he works with technologists, he works with Engineers. So, that's really amazing."
On being asked what will he discuss with Elon Musk in a room, ISRO Chief Somnath said, "I will talk about his future vision. For example, he talked about reusable rockets, he is now talking about going to Mars and creating habitats for colonization. One of the bigger challenges for space people is to attain high speeds on distant planets for example exosolar planets. So what is his vision for moving human beings to exosolar planets? I will ask him straight."
Somanth explained that exosolar planets are planets belonging to another star. "The star we belong to is the sun, so for every star there is a planetary system. If there is a planetary system or planet like Earth there is the possibility that we can go and live there. So, the next star is Alpha Century, there are planets around it.