New Delhi: After his Vision 2020 programme for India, President APJ Abdul Kalam Tuesday called upon the global space community to devise a space vision that will enable mankind to meet the challenges of the 21st Century.
"Time has arrived now for the world space community to evolve a space vision. Based on the discussion so far, let me propose the 'World Space Vision 2050' that forms into three components - space exploration and current application missions, comprehensive space security and large-scale societal mission and low cost access to space," Kalam said.
He was speaking from the Rashtrapati Bhavan through video conferencing to the "International Conference on Space - A Conceptual Challenge to Defence", held in Paris.
"I suggest this (Paris) conference may consider evolving World Space Council to formulate and implement World Space Vision as proposed. The council with global participation could oversee the planning and implementation of space exploration, space security and societal missions. Such a unified approach will enable the world to see a quantum jump in the progress in space science and technology.
"What we need today is a step function as a global space initiative to implement a World Space Vision and missions for an enhanced quality of life in a peaceful and safe world. I can assure you that India will be a partner in this effort," he added.
Kalam also said that the greatest asset of space research is that in many cases, the technology used in space has gone on to have applications in everyday life, thus enhancing the quality of life of the common person around the globe.
He also voiced that outer space should be free of weapons and underlined the need of an international space force.
"We must recognise the necessity for the world space community to avoid terrestrial geo-political conflict to be drawn into outer space thus threatening the space assets belonging to all mankind. Allowing space to become a battlefield could cause serious harm to the society.
"I suggest creation of an International Space Force (ISF) made up of all nations wishing to participate and contribute to protect world space assets in a manner, which will enable peaceful exploitation of space on a global cooperative basis," he said.
Kalam also briefly touched on the history of the Indian space programme from the vision of Professor Vikram Sarabhai in the 1970s to its present capabilities.
He said India is now working on its second space vision and will make significant contribution to low cost access to space and missions to the Moon and Mars.
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