India’s expedition to Mars
ISRO's grand stride of Mars expedition at the tight low-budget of $73 million deserves applauses a big round of applause. This budget we is like that of the budget of four big Bollywood movies.
With successful launch of its first mission to Mars, it is India's attempt to become the fourth nation and the first Asian country to reach the fourth planet from the sun.
At the moment, the mission is just in the first phase of launch, the next phase of the mission is where two-thirds of the Mars missions have failed. Out of the 51 launches by the US and Russia only 21 have been successful. All we can hope is that the rest of the mission goes just as smoothly.
Amidst euphoria, the questions on cost of launch and its worthwhileness are also heating up. Space programme is not a short term investment. Its returns are not immediate and take many years, even decades to materialize. One can get intangible benefits from its onset in terms of its sublime impact on younger generation which infuses in them the spark to think beyond their imagination, getting them to dream about possibilities for tomorrow. Barring few components entire designing, building and testing of satellite have been done in India. This gives electrifying effect to younger generation.
There are some voices rising against the expenditures on these scientific and ambitious projects. We must get the facts together before airing pessimistic views against this and other such missions. Only 0.8 percent of India's national budget is spent on the space programme, and only 0.7 percent of that budget has been spent on the Mars mission.
Those who are talking in favor of prioritizing poverty issue over such mission should know that India is working adequately to stem its other chronic problems. There is budget for each issue. Similarly, India has a budget for space programme as well and events like these are useful in spurring innovation in a country known for running mere call centers.
Success to this project would place ISRO in a different orbit and put India into an elite club of US, Soviet Union and European space agency. India would become first Asian country to achieve such feat. China and Japan had attempted such a feat in the past but in vain. Mangalyaan launch exemplifies a creative blend of Indian scientific ability. The effectiveness and determination of ISRO can be understood from the fact that the launch occurred in just 15 months of government approval and at a low budget of Rs 450 crores. Mangalyaan is programmed to search water and methane on Mars. If it succeeds it will serve as a technology demonstrator, boosting brand India.
ISRO can easily capitalize such programmes in future. It can look forward to secure satellite launch contracts from many countries. With Nasa and other foreign space agencies wanting to outsource space mission, ISRO can easily undertake these multi-million dollar projects.
Amidst all the corruption dramas and rapes across the country, it is a proud moment for the country and we wish India’s voyage to Mars a great success.
