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Group Captain Ajey Lele (Retd.) is Senior Fellow in the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses and heads its Centre on Strategic Technologies. He started his professional career as an officer in the Indian Air Force in 1987 and took early retirement from the service to pursue his academic interests. He has a Masters degree in Physics from Pune University, and Masters and MPhil degrees in Defence and Strategic Studies from Madras University. He has done his doctorate from the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi. His specific areas of research include issues related to Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD), Space Security and Strategic Technologies. He has contributed articles to various national and international journals, websites and newspapers. He has authored nine books and has also has been an editor for seven books. He is a recipient of K. Subrahmanyam Award (2013) which is conferred for outstanding contribution in the area of strategic and security studies.
ISRO’s Cryogenic Conundrum
Senior Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Gp. Capt. Ajey Lele's article 'ISRO's Cryogenic Conundrum' has been published in The Space Review, on August 16, 2021.
India is just nowhere near to the capabilities of NASA, ESA, Russia, and China and even that of companies like SpaceX. ISRO needs to prioritize its agenda, says Gp. Capt. Lele.
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Medical aspects of Space Tourism
Senior Fellow Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Gp. Capt. Ajey Lele’s article ‘Medical aspects of Space Tourism’ has been published in Financial Express on July 30, 2021.
It is expected that the type of space tourism, which Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin are offering in near future, would make space accessible to the general (rich) public. Now is the time to formulate medical guidelines even for this type of travel. The people who are allowed to travel should be in good health and should not be suffering from heart and blood pressure related complications, says Gp. Capt. Lele.
Future of Civil Aviation Sector: The Supersonic Flying
Senior Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Gp. Capt. Ajey Lele’s article ‘Future of civil aviation sector: The supersonic flying’ has been published in Financial Express on July 20, 2021.
For modern-day supersonic commercial platforms, the business model should be different from the yesteryear Concorde model, says Gp. Capt Lele.
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Richard Branson’s space visit, where are Indian billionaires?
Senior Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA Gp. Capt. Ajey Lele’s article ‘Richard Branson’s space visit, where are Indian billionaires? Has been published in Financial Express on July 13, 2021.
Comments on ISRO’s Draft National Space Transportation Policy-2020
Senior Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Gp. Capt. Ajey Lele’s Issue Brief ‘Comments on ISRO’s Draft National Space Transportation Policy-2020’ has been published by Society for the Study of peace and Conflict (SSPC), on July 12, 2021.
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has presented a Draft National Space Transportation Policy-2020 in the public domain for comments. This issue brief is a humble attempt toward that effect. It identifies why ISRO has come out (timing) with this policy and offers some observations on this draft policy, says Gp. Capt. Lele.
Celebrity guinea pigs: Richard Branson and Jeff Bezos going to Space
Senior Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA. Gp. Capt. Ajey Lele’s article ‘Celebrity guinea pigs: Richard Branson and Jeff Bezos going to Space’ has been published in Financial Express on July 09, 2021.
World Asteroid Day: Everything you need to know about wandering celestial objects
Senior Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Gp. Capt. Ajey Lele’s article ‘World Asteroid Day: Everything you need to know about wandering celestial objects’ has been published in Financial Express on June 30, 2021.
Asteroid Day is not only for raising the awareness about asteroids but also is a day, when humans need to take a pause and think about what can be done to protect the Earth from any possible asteroid strike, says Gp. Capt. Lele.
Shenzhou 12 space station: China’s heavenly palace
Senior Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Gp. Capt. Ajey Lele’s article ‘Shenzhou 12 space station: China’s heavenly palace’ has been published in Financial Express on June 21, 2021.
China has added another ‘feather in the cap’, when on 17 June 2021, three Chinese astronauts (taikonauts) entered the made in China Space Station (CSS), writes Gp. Capt. Lele.
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Allopathy and Ayurveda: Need for an Informed Debate
Senior Fellow, MP-IDSA, Gp. Capt. Ajey Lele's commentary 'Allopathy and Ayurveda: Need for an Informed Debate', has been published by the Society for the Study for Peace and Conflict (SSPC) on June 03, 2021.
Undeniably, at this point, to save human lives, allopathy is a necessary form of medication available. This is the time to have an informed debate on this issue and expose the people who deviously use India’s cultural ethos and traditional Indian medicinal system to suit their agenda, writes Gp.Capt. Lele.
Allopathy-Ayurveda debate: Allow Science to grow scientifically
Senior Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Gp. Capt. Ajey Lele's article, 'Allopathy-Ayurveda Debate: Allow Science to grow scientifically', has been published in The Financial Express on June 1, 2021.
The Allopathy-Ayurveda debate teaches us that having knowledge of history and getting stuck in history are two different things. It is important not to burden India’s scientific community with the baggage of our past unnecessarily, writes Gp. Capt. Lele.