Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Monday underscored the expanding role of space technology beyond research, noting its vital contributions to communication, agriculture, disaster management, education, health, and infrastructure development.

Speaking at the Space Conference 2025, focused on the role of Himalayan states in achieving a Developed India by 2047, Dhami congratulated Indian scientist Shubhanshu Shukla for hoisting the national flag aboard the International Space Station — calling it a moment of immense national pride and a strong foundation for future missions like Gaganyaan.

The chief minister inaugurated an ISRO-UCOST developed dashboard aimed at making Champawat a model district, and also unveiled a new ISRO publication. He highlighted the state’s commitment to scientific innovation, citing progress on establishing a Science City, Innovation Centres, and advanced labs in fields such as AI, robotics, and drones.

Dhami expressed confidence that the conference would help position Uttarakhand as a “space-technology friendly state” and boost sustainable development in the region.

ISRO chairman V Narayanan, chief guest at the event, charted India’s progress from launching its first rocket in 1963 to becoming a global leader with over 130 satellites. He noted India’s achievements — including being the first to detect water on the Moon, the first to land on the Moon’s South Pole, and among the first nations to reach Mars and study the Sun.

He revealed ISRO’s ongoing efforts towards a human spaceflight programme and the development of a heavy-lift rocket capable of launching 75,000 kg to low Earth orbit — expected within 27 days. India also aims to set up its own space station by 2030 and send astronauts to the Moon by 2040.

Prakash Chauhan, director of the National Remote Sensing Centre, stressed the growing integration of satellite data in daily life. He cited its use in livestock data digitisation, glacier monitoring, forest fire mapping, and disaster response — especially during the Rishiganga-Chamoli tragedy where satellite-based assessments informed national-level policy decisions.

The conference reinforced India’s growing space capabilities and the Himalayan region’s strategic role in driving innovation-led sustainable development.

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