India to launch Mars mission: Singh
India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) blasts off from the Sriharikota spaceport near Chennai, India. — AP Photo
NEW DELHI: India plans to launch a space probe that will orbit Mars, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh confirmed on Wednesday after press reports that the mission was scheduled to begin late next year.
The project would mark another step in the country’s ambitious space programme, which placed a probe on the moon three years ago and envisages its first manned mission in 2016.
“Our spaceship will go near Mars and collect important scientific information,” Singh said in his annual Independence Day address, heralding the plan as “a huge step for us in the area of science and technology”.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is expected to launch the unmanned orbiter as early as November next year, the Press Trust of India news agency reported earlier this month.
According to one ISRO official, the cost of the mission has been estimated at four to five billion rupees ($70-90 million).
India has a well-established space programme which is a source of strong national pride, but it has also attracted criticism as the government struggles to tackle dire poverty and child malnutrition.
Power blackouts on two consecutive days this month knocked out electricity across vast swathes of the country and underlined weaknesses in India’s basic infrastructure.
“More attention needs to be paid to the poor on issues such as health, drinking water and literacy,” Bindeshwar Pathak, founder of the Sulabh sanitation charity and one of India’s most noted welfare activists, told AFP.
“Going to space might have some scientific benefits but it alone will not help the condition of India’s poor.”
In September 2009, India’s Chandrayaan-1 lunar probe discovered water on the moon, boosting the country’s credibility among more experienced space-faring nations.
But the space programme suffered a setback in December 2010 when a satellite launch vehicle blew up and fell into the Bay of Bengal after veering from its intended flight path.
The United States, Russia, Europe, Japan and China have all sent missions to Mars.
The US robot Curiosity is currently on the surface of the “Red Planet” after landing last week to hunt for soil-based signs of life and send back data for a future human mission.
Curiosity is a nuclear-powered vehicle that is designed for a two-year mission, though scientists hope it will last at least twice that long.
The world spends 3.3 billion dollars on military expenditures every day. Most of this can be used to achieve universal clean water, literacy and poverty reduction for the world's poor children. Space research expenditure is always an extension of military spending whether declared or undeclared. It is time to give governments of the world a haller to spend more resources on uplifting the poor.
One thing i cannot understand why people is always talking about India's poverty,do they mean that India's should idle and not do any thing because there is only one issue poverty.Remember one thing no country can reduce poverty without proper nation building i.e the country's advancement in all scientific,manufacturing ,infrastructure etc etc field.The logic is before you expect return on your investment you yourself 1st need to invest and India is exactly doing the same thing first investing money in space technology and then getting money by launching foreign satellites.These money in turn spend on health,education and reducing poverty.
No water to Drink and investing in Mars, Shame, Shame, by a Citizen of India, BTM Layout, Bangalore
Its a shame for many Indians if they see your post.
There is no way India can improve without technological advancements.
Its embarrasing post written by Deepak. Inspite of all our challenges we as a indian are united. all countries have one or other problems. Which country is 100% perfect. Shame on you writting such comment. Specially when you are in Bangalore. You cant just ignore the hard work and effort of indian waste by writting such foolish comment.
It is like saying I should not spend money in educating my children because I am poor and sometimes I cannot purchase milk for the family. I should purchase milk first
Dear My Pakistani Friends
Namaskar
I only read comments, I not ready what authors write above. as per all comments now I feel I m living in a poor country where no transport, not road, no electricity, even every body going to die without food. but this is not truth, your govt. your media keep you in dark. Dont take any otherwise. I respect all
Thanks
If India was just busy removing poverty instead of running critical space program along , then it would not have been self sufficient in sending all those satellites for itself and now for other countries too. This is another way for India to earn foreign exchange which in turn can be used to remove poverty. Also these kind of space program have made India a global power in missile technology as well in absence of which it would have had to depend upon Russia or US. Of course India needs to keep focus of getting people out of poverty as well.
I am a Pakistani and I wish Pakistan also set and implemented such ambitious targets. Good luck to India! They have done it in the past and I am sure they would succeed in the future. Yes, there is poverty in India but believe you me the only way out of poverty is self-reliance and technological development. I am sure, just like the US, India has structured plans to channelize the advancements made in space technology into commercial and industrial areas to spread the benefit to the public at large.
Pakistan has it's own set of challenges – internal security being the top. Just this morning, Minhas airbase was attacked by foreign militants. Also the same morning, the ugly sectarian monster showed it's teeth again, 20 innocent people were killed at point blank range.
I am certain Pakistan will come out of these difficult times.
In the end – good luck to India – it's an inspiration for the Pakistani youth.
Thank you for projecting a positive perspective in India's space program.Good luck to Pakistan in coming out of very troubled times.
I used to have a Muslim gentleman,a retired Police officer, teach me art of batting in India a long time ago- his surname was Baig! I think is his first name was Habibullah but it was long time ago and I don't remember exactly.
Thank you for a positive spin/perspective to the story. Yes,poverty alleviation, and technology development must go hand in hand and they are not mutually exclusive.
Thanks Mirzabhai
Good to see a positive outlook of India from a pakistani.
Yes. what you said is spot on.