Pune, Feb 01: Expressing shock over the crash of US space shuttle ‘Columbia’, former director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre Dr Vasant Gowarikar today said, "It is sad to see the most proven system for space travel going this way with seven astronauts aboard."

Gowarikar, who was involved with the development of advance rocket and launch vehicles when he was in the Sarabhai Space Centre, said that while only an inquiry would show the possible cause of the shuttle disaster, it seems something must have happened in the solid propellant boosters which are there in the space shuttle. The space shuttle has two 500 tons of solid propellant boosters in it and something must have gone wrong in it during the re-entry. "However, at present my guess is as good as anybody, who is watching the television," he added.

Gowarikar was the director of the space centre from 1979 to 1986. Bureau Report