Will ISRO resignations impact Gaganyaan, other missions? Here's why ex-scientists are divided
He said on Thursday, according to India Today, “Many have gone, many have come", but the agency continues to induct new talent even as some employees leave. “ISRO has a very large workforce. As people leave, many also join," the minister reportedly said.Quick answers to key questions•5 QUESTIONSThe recent resignations at ISRO, involving more than 100 scientists, have been attributed to various factors, including better opportunities in the private sector and normal attrition rates within a large organization.In response to the wave of resignations, the Indian government has tightened rules governing voluntary retirement and resignation of scientists associated with critical missions like Gaganyaan, requiring more scrutiny for such requests.Union Minister Jitendra Singh stated that the Gaganyaan mission will not be halted by these resignations, as ISRO maintains continuity through a capable team and the involvement of ex-scientists.Many former ISRO scientists are reportedly leaving for the private sector due to expanding opportunities, better salaries, and the chance to contribute to innovative projects post-2020 when the space sector opened to private players.The tightening of exit rules aims to prevent disruption of critical projects at ISRO, ensuring that ongoing missions, especially the Gaganyaan mission, remain unaffected by sudden departures of key personnel.Singh's statement came after sources told the Times of India that at least 100 scientists resigned from ISRO's flagship programmes. The report claimed that the departures included key personnel like LVM-3 project Director Victor Joseph from Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC)."Spadex project director quit from UR Rao Satellite Centre (URSC). A very bright young person who was part of Chandrayaan-3 has also quit,” the source was quoted as saying.After the incident, the Department of Space issued a memorandum to major ISRO centres for tightening the rules governing the resignation and voluntary retirement of scientists and engineers working in critical missions of national importance such as the Gaganyaan Mission.Responding to a question about this ISRO memo, Singh said it was "for administrative reasons" and not because of any other factor."No, that is because... that is for administrative reasons so that the decision can be taken at a much mature level," the Union Minister of State for Science and Technology told reporters, as per NDTV.Will resignation impact Gaganyaan and other ISRO missions?When asked about India's future space missions, Union Minister Jitendra Singh reportedly recalled what the space agency's former chairman Dr Somanath S had remarked.Singh was quoted by NDTV as saying, "In one of the very early meetings about 10 years back, he [Somanath] said sending up a man is easier, getting him back is equally difficult. And that's how, you know, this crew module thing started.""Now Somanath is no longer in the picture. It doesn't mean the Gaganyaan mission has stopped. It doesn't happen. And moreover, in ISRO, they work in continuity. Even retired and ex-scientists are very much part of the projects. So it's a different kind of work culture there," Singh added.Meanwhile, Former ISRO scientist Sandeep Ojha, in an interview with ANI, explained the project structure, and said, "There is a hierarchy involving Project Managers and Deputy Project Managers. There is also an administrative track leading to roles like Division Head, Group Director, Deputy Director, and Director...," he said."Yes, if someone leaves a role they’ve been deeply involved with, it can certainly be a setback — albeit a temporary one. It might slow things down a bit, especially when a veteran of 20 or 25 years departs...While the team is capable enough to b
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