President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Thursday urged Indian scientists to take up challenges beyond the earth like launching missions to Mars and other planets by collaborating with other countries. Delivering the annual Vikram Sarabhai Memorial lecture on ‘Dynamics of societal transformation’ here, Kalam said he visualised a habitat being established on Mars and mining of the moon and other planets by 2050. “India has to participate in such challenging mission with other countries. Thinking beyond our planet is an essential trait. The thought itself elevates the person. The person is transformed into a creative state.”

President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Friday called for India-US cooperation in exploring Mars. While addressing delegates at the India-US space summit here from Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi through videoconferencing, Kalam said he visualises an India-US team establishing a habitat in Mars, setting up mining industrial units in space and working on a joint programme to destroy or deviate asteroids that endanger earth.