ISRO's Latest Inventions Can Rescue Soldiers' Lives at Siachen

BENGALURU: Lives of the soldiers protecting the country in extreme weather conditions are still a point of uncertainty. With all the technological advancements, equipments and shielding materials provided to the soldiers are still not matching the requirements to preserve their lives in the unimaginable circumstances. Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has come up with inventive material and technology tools developed for space applications which can be used after few tweaking for societal purposes and help soldiers survive in the Siachen conditions, reports BI.

A team at ISRO’s major research center, Vikram Sarabhai Space Center (VSSC) developed “world’s lightest artificial material” named ‘silica aerogel’ which can be used as a thermal insulator while making clothing for soldiers. Silica aerogel is a solid material enclosing 99 percent of air within its complex matrix. A participant scientist in the silica aerogel development process, Naga Priya elaborates that VSSC’s lab is in communication with the Indian Ordnance Factory that manufactures clothes for the soldiers. With mutual collaboration, they are planning to pack in the ultra-light aerogel between layers of soldier’s cloth giving protecting shield against the freezing temperatures in Siachen.

ISRO scientists were able to create small and portable emitters – emits radio beacons that can be detected by satellites. Soldiers serving at diverse regions can carry these handheld devices which will help rescue teams to easily locate them using Global Positioning System (GPS) technology and help those in distress at right time. As K Sivan, a rocket scientist and Director of the VSSC asserts that if Naik Hanamanthappa Koppad would have been equipped with silica aerogel based clothing and ‘secure and rescue’ devices, his and other nine brave soldiers’ lives could have been saved during the massive avalanche at the Siachen Glacier.

Furthermore, ISRO is also working on providing portable fuel systems and automatic camera for surveillance to help military troops leverage the latest technologies to keep the country and its soldiers safer and protected as well as staying well equipped to fight against enemy bullets plus worst environment conditions.
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