Updated on Sunday, November 16, 2008, 00:00 IST

Hyderabad, Nov 16: The Indian Space Research Organisation is ready to establish a world class facility for atmospheric studies near Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh.

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman G Madhavan Nair informed Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhar Reddy that ISRO would establish the facility for advanced atmospheric studies.

Nair was replying to the message sent by the Chief Minister congratulating him and his team for the successful launch of Chandrayaan-I, said a statement from the Chief Minister's office.

The moon mission was launched from Sriharikota launch station in Andhra Pradesh.

Rajasekhara Reddy, in his congratulatory message, sought the establishment of ISRO's human space programme (astronaut training and biomedical engineering centre) and offered the necessary land in Anantapur district close to Bangalore.

Nair, however, informed him that as part of Human Spaceflight Programme (HSP), a centre for training India astronauts is planned to be set up around Bangalore, (in coordination with Indian Institute of Aviation, Medicine, Bangalore).

The ISRO chief pointed out that the National Atmospheric Research Laboratory (NARL) of ISRO was already functioning at Gadanki, near Tirupati since 1992. It is engaged in fundamental research related to atmospheric and space sciences and developing various types of radars and lidars for atmospheric studies.

"NARL has proposed to expand its activities towards advanced technology experiments and in this regard a laboratory for developing flight instruments is planned to be set up near Tirupati," wrote the ISRO chairman.

Naidu urged the Chief Minister to allot 20 acres of land for establishing a world class facility for atmospheric studies which would attract the participations of many Indian and foreign researchers, who will contribute to advanced research in weather and climate.

IANS