Institute of Space Science to come up in Kerala

30 April, 2007

The Union Cabinet has cleared a proposal to set up an Indian Institute of Space Science & Technology (IIST) from the next academic year. The IIST will involve an initial investment of Rs 2.70 billion and an annual recurring cost of Rs 400 million.

Reports said the setting up of the IIST will be on the lines of the IITs, and will provide high-quality undergraduate and postgraduate education in space technology and science and postgraduate and research programmes and integrated Masters in Space Science degree with customised curriculum meeting the high technology requirements of ISRO. The IISt will mainly address the problem of acute shortage of quality human resources, the reports added.

The courses will commence from academic year 2007-08 itself on an alternate campus in the premises of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in the Kerala capital of Thiruvananthapuram. To be ready in 24 months, the IIST will have an intake of 150-200 students a year.

Reports said that the entire expenses of the course will be supported by ISRO in the form of scholarships and assistantships and all its high-performing students would be absorbed into ISRO.

With the country already among the space tech super powers, an academic institute focusing on space technology is considered by observers and experts as a boon to the space research arena.