Abdul Kalam, who served as president of India from 2002 to 2007, shared his views on space, science and humanity during a multi-day program that kicked off Thursday with a public forum at the University of Central Florida. His visit also included stops at Dr. Phillips High School and community meetings.

The global community of space-exploring nations should pool its resources to reduce costs considerably in pressing on towards the moon, Mars and beyond, Kalam said to an audience of more than 500 at the UCF Student Union.

He also praised UCF’s commitment to scientific research in optics, modeling and simulation, digital media, engineering, computer science and other fields. He began by asking the audience, “What will the students from UCF be remembered for?”

Kalam then proposed his idea of a “World Space Vision 2050,” which has three main components: large-scale societal missions and low-cost access to space, comprehensive space security, and space exploration and current application missions.

“I believe that 21st century aerospace ventures will be more global, in view of unique space missions, technological complexities, high costs and risks,” he said.

Kalam pointed to the success of the Chandrayan-1, India’s first unmanned lunar probe, as an example of how those nations who have space technologies can work together. Chandrayan-1 carried scientific payloads, free of charge, from six other countries, including the United States. “The Chandrayaan-1 success further reinforces my firm belief that the space-faring nations have to work on a World Space Vision 2050,” Kalam said.

The global cooperation of a plan like “World Space Vision 2050” would “enhance the quality of human life, inspire the spirit of space exploration, expand the horizons of knowledge and ensure space security for all nations of the world,” Kalam said.

Kalam proposed the creation of what he calls a “World Space Council.” This entity, according to Kalam, would oversee the planning and implementation of exploration, space security and societal missions. “Such a unified approach will enable the world to see a quantum jump in the progress in space science and technology for the benefit of all the nations of the world,” he said.

“Given his impressive scientific and political background, it is not surprising Kalam’s presentation was so far-reaching and inspiring,” said Anil Deshpande, a member of the organizing committee for Kalam’s visit and a board member of The India Program at UCF – which is supported by The Anil and Chitra Deshpande India Program Endowed Fund.

“It had many positive implications for UCF, our community and our region – especially with the proximity of Kennedy Space Center.”

John C. Bersia, special assistant to the president for Global Perspectives and an interim co-director of The India Program at UCF, described Kalam’s presentation as “visionary, bold and comprehensive.”

“I am so pleased our colleagues in the Department of Mechanical, Materials and Aerospace Engineering took the lead in inviting Kalam to our campus,” Bersia said. “He joins a growing list of leading specialists from and on India who have brought UCF into a global discussion in terms of that country’s politics, technology, communication, culture and religion.”

P. N. “Vaidy” Vaidyanathan, assistant vice president for Research and a board member of The India Program at UCF, pointed out that Kalam’s main interests – space science and technology, energy and nanoscience – are all areas where UCF has research strengths.

Political Science Department chair Roger Handberg, also an interim co-director of The India Program at UCF, was particularly interested in Kalam’s discussion of the evolving Indian space program and its ambitions for the future, including reusable launch vehicle development and the potential for international cooperation in exploring the solar system.

“The information provided was very useful and thought-provoking in assisting me in the development of my new book examining the Indian, Chinese and Japanese space programs as the new Golden Triangle of space activities,” Handberg said.

He added that the Soviet-Russian, American and European space programs were the original Golden Triangle of space.

Sponsors of the forum included the UCF Department of Mechanical, Materials and Aerospace Engineering, the UCF Global Perspectives Office, the UCF College of Engineering and Computer Science, The India Program at UCF, the UCF Office of Diversity Initiatives, the UCF Political Science Department and the Global Connections Foundation.