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Chennai, March 29 (IANS): Designing simples to operate ventilators, manufacturing sanitisers, oxygen canisters and masks while putting on hold manufacture of rockets is what Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), part of the ISRO, is doing to meet the emergency needs of the people and owing to lockdown, said a top official.
He said all the staff at the VSSC are safe and not affected by the Coronavirus.
Based in Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, the VSSC is part of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) which makes rockets that launch Indian and foreign satellites.
"We are designing ventilators that are different from what is already there. We are designing ventilators that can be operated in a simple manner and when power supply is not there," S. Somanath, director, told IANS.
He said, as regards ventilators, the VSSC's job is only to design while the manufacturing will be done by industries.
'We are making sanitisers and also for use of others. We have made over 1,000 litres. Similarly, masks are made by employee societies,' he added.
Meanwhile, the employees have been asked to work from home and VSSC's communication and computer systems are working well in a secure condition.
"Our communication and computer networks are safe and secure and those who can work from home are working from home while critical operations are taken care of by deploying necessary staff. Whenever needed, video conferencing is also held," Somanath added.
According to him, manufacture of rockets has been put on hold for now at the VSSC.
Queried about the status of the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-F10) loaded with India's first Geo Imaging Satellite-1 (GISAT-1), he said the rocket has been brought back to from the launch pad to the assembling building.
On March 4, a day before the scheduled launch GISAT-1 onboard the GSLV-F10 and hours before the start of the launch countdown, the Indian space agency announced postponement of the mission owing to some technical glitch.
"The launch of GISAT-1 onboard GSLV-F10 (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle-F10), planned for March 5, 2020, is postponed due to technical reasons. Revised launch date will be informed in due course," ISRO had said on March 4.
Disclaimer
Except for light editing to certain portions for clarity, this syndicated story is as it is, and no changes have been made to the main import of the story.