Remember the early days when India was
opening up? The cry, that invasion by foreign companies would destroy the
fragile Indian enterprise? A decade into the process of globalisation, we
have Indians making news everywhere on this planet.
For some like Dr Chirinjeev Kathuria ,
even the globe does not seem to have enough space... may be the outer
space will!
Many skills.
This man has a quilt work of skills : a
doctor of medicine from Brown University, an MBA from Stanford, a trail of
successful businesses that span telecommunications, biotechnology,
Internet... and now the outer space engages his attention!
The Mir story is one that wowed the
world, but as the Soviet Union disintegrated the space station's troubles
began to mount and one heard of only breakdowns and failures. The groans
replaced the wows. Trash it say some; 'No', howls R S C Energia that built
and runs the engineering marvel.
Dr Kathuria is one of the investors in
MirCorp , set up salvage and commercialise the space-station.
They believe keeping the station going, is
a viable business. MirCorp certainly does not lack the vision. Read what
their web site says :-
-quote-
Our Goals.
MirCorp's vision of the future is to open space enterprise to private industry. By commercializing operations of the Mir space station, MirCorp
will be able to utilize this valuable resource.
Through its contractual relationship with Mir operator RSC Energia, MirCorp has leased the resources of the space station to provide direct access for a wide range of international users.
MirCorp's goals are to preserve the heritage of Mir, the first international space station, through the commercialization of space enterprise. The Mir space station is now commercially available for international users who seek access to one of mankind's most unique industrial, scientific, and recreational facilities.
MirCorp is using private funding to initiate commercial operations on Mir. The company is seeking
additional funds to support the station's activities over the longer term.
Mir's orbit offers a unique environment that is free of the constraints of gravity and with unmatched
views of the Earth and heavens. As a result, the commercial demand for Mir is expected to be large
and varied: from the production of highly pure medicines and alloys to real-time imaging of the Earth
and planets.
-unquote-
If
you or your children ever get to make a recreational space flight, please
remember an Indian would have played a part in making that happen!
Read more about
this enterprise:
Update! March,2001 The
Mir dream ends. Amidst whispers of international political intrigue,
Russia's tottering economy delivered the death sentence on the Mir. It was
said it was obsolete, unsustainable and had served its purpose. Like an
aging workhorse sent to the canneries, this pioneer space station was
steered to its fall into the Pacific Ocean in the middle of this month.
May, 2000 The
Mir space station lives! Funded by MirCorp, repairs have been
completed by space-men, after 73 days in space. During the
next mission there will be on board, US businessman Dennis Tito,
as the first space tourist! MirCorp also believes that many
commercial interests have been waiting for just this milestone
that marks the Mir as sound and profitable to use! August,2000 |