Former ISRO, DRDO chairmen, two others appointed AP govt advisors

Hyderabad: On Wednesday, Sreedhara Panicker Somanath, the former chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), and four other people were named as space technology advisors to the Andhra Pradesh government. The state government also issued appointment orders to former chairman of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) G Sateesh Reddy, Bharat Biotech managing director Suchitra Ella, and forensic scientist KPC Gandhi.

The role will be held by Somanath, who is now a professor at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, for a period of two years or until it is no longer needed. He will suggest initiatives to combine the use of space technology with governmental priorities like disaster relief and smart cities.

Somanath will support the deployment of indigenous satellites, remote sensing, and communication technologies in addition to directing the establishment of advanced space technology hubs, testing facilities, and research centers. It will also encourage the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), satellite navigation, and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven space analytics.