Indian President first man to go to Mars - country follows later

Next stop moon, then Mars

Pioneer News Service / Thiruvananthapuram

"Having missed the opportunities of the first industrial revolution, India is still a developing country. Now the developed countries are racing towards moon and mars, which may be the next industrial revolution. India now has the opportunity to join this exclusive club of nations to establish industry on moon and Mars," said President APJ Abdul Kalam.

Inaugurating the silver jubilee celebrations of SLV3 at Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) on Thursday, Mr Kalam said that India has come a long way in the field of space technology. "If we had became an exclusive member of the space club 25 years back, now India would have been one among the six countries in the world that have attained self-reliance in space technology," said Mr Kalam.

Giving a Power Point presentation on "Vision For Space Mission 2005-2030", Mr Kalam said that in the next five years space technology would be developed such that earthquakes would be predicted. "Earthquake and tsunami are sub-terrain phenomena and predicting these from space observations would be a great challenge. Space scientists of multiple nations should work with determination to use satellite deep penetration images to predict earthquake or shock wave propagation," he said.

On future space mission Dr Kalam said: "Our aim should be manned mission to moon and Mars."

Elaborating on the various technologies to be developed for achieving this mission, Dr Kalam said that a cost-effective space technology should be the focus. "Reusable launch vehicle technology should be the focus since this can cut down the expenditure in space mission," he said. Refuelling, repairing and maintenance of satellites in geo-orbit, integrated disaster management and space energy for electric power and drinking water should be the core areas that has to be developed for the future mission, he added.

Detailing on the Industrial Revolution in space, Dr Kalam said that the focus should be on manufacturing payloads in redeemed gravity and mining in planets, harnessing Helium3 in moon for future energy, utilising dry deposition in moon and Mars as source of fuel rocket engine, going for solar power satellite, humans and robots to work together in other planets and moon to be used as a hub of transportation. Dr Kalam said that India and Russia would soon be taking an initiative to develop a space programme on international youth power connectivity.

"Thinking beyond our planet is an essential trait. The thought itself elevates the person. The person is transformed into a creative state. Creativity indeed is the foundation of discovery and inventions," he said. Space has to become another place. This calls for cost effective and reliable space transportation and manned missions, said Dr Kalam.

Earlier, addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said that Kerala was the only State that was utilising space technology for various developmental activities. "Space science has a leading role in the development programmes. Without the help of technology we cannot achieve development," he said.

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"Our aim should be manned mission to moon and Mars."

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Dr Kalam said that the focus should be on manufacturing payloads in redeemed gravity and mining in planets

Yes forget cleaning up India and helping all the rampant sickness and all. India needs more than anything to just spend money to get to other planets!

shanti

They can then send their poverty to moon!

This is not accurate representation of Dr. Kalam, Indian President.
He is different, most down to earth scolar and a visionary. The way he thinks and inspires younger generation is unparallel. He is one of the most respected personality in history of free India. He has dedicated his whole life to the service of people of India. I am fortunate to listen to his speech in Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore and that was an experience to me.

Though he is a scientist and scolar, he has vast knowedge in Sankskrit. And his favourite book is SriMad Bagavad Gita.

So please change the topic title for the honour of this great man.

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Dr Kalam said: "Our aim should be manned mission to moon and Mars."

Dasaji,

He does seem to support missions to other planets, how is it a misrepesentation if he said those things?

shanti

India already has an international satellite program that must bring in a lot of money. Money is a good antidote for poverty isn't it?

In many ways, it makes sense to skip the "normal" process of industrial development if they can. Just as you now see India taking advantage of satellite communication, the internet, etc., and skipping the step of having to lay wires across the whole country. Their cell-phone coverage actually seemed to be better than where I live. Of course, we have something called electricity in a more readily available and reliable form but if money is being made, the infrastructure will fill out to meet that demand eventually. An interesting side-effect of this rapid progress is seen in the new cities that are springing up. It's often easier to start from scratch than try to fit a new model into an old system. Again, it's another form of leap-frogging normal development processes but how else do you get ahead? The socialist model has hardly ended poverty or generated the kind of economic returns needed to move a mass of people up from the level of poverty. India has an incredible number of highly educated people--better they put their learning to use in new arenas than simply answer the phones for America or hold back to show allegiance to their suffering countrymen. Jai Hind!

BTW, India launches its rockets from a place called Sriharikota. This is big preaching!

Space exploration is a waste of resources and money as far as I am concerned, especially when poverty is so rampant not only in India but all over the globe. I say focus on cleaning up this planet 1st, put an end to war and start taking care of the millions in dire need of basic things like food, education and medical care before wanting to conquer space.

shanti

Before making a fair judgement of the Indian space program, one would have to study both its projected and potential direct income in the future, as well as the indirect impact on their economy. I don't think a simplistic "throwing money to space" approach does justice to the concept.

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Although space exploration is expensive, moreso in social cost than actual cost (afterall, India's program is indigenous, thus it employs many people from those who develop the plans to those who manufacture the bolts or deliver everyone's tiffins), I don't see the harm in exploring space. That is science--you need to start somewhere with the process of investigation and experimentation. For instance, what if a fuel or technology results from space exploration that solves the world's energy crisis? What if medical breakthroughs are made? Even if that took a hundred or several hundred years, today's forays could yield something hugely signification for humanity, despite the short term cost.

As far as ending war and poverty, I don't see why space exploration should be singled out. How about grabbing the assets of tobacco companies, missile manufacturers, Haliburton, etc? That would have more merit.

FWIW, India's unmanned moon expedition is apparently projected to only cost $80 million*. They will be carrying a payload for other countries, reducing that even further. As the project is manufactured indigenously, the costs not covered by the payload is simply money circulated within the economy. If you are to argue that all the labor would be better spent elsewhere, I'd like to suggest the following:

Rupa Raghunatha who runs Food for Life Vrindavan is an old friend of mine. He would be very interested to get in contact with anyone wishing to volunteer their services. You can see the incredible work he is doing on their site or just by taking a stroll on the parikrama marg from Kaliya ghat to Kesi ghat. The trash has gone, the ghats are being reclaimed from the septic waters, etc. His next venture involves a project, which he is doing in association with Vandana Shiva, publicizing the state of the Yamuna and cleansing it.


(*By way of comparison, check out what $741 million buys when you contract with the US government)

In all fairness Timothy Leary did support credible space colonization! But that was something he hoped for to escape the insanity here as he foresaw earth being uninhabitable in the coming future and credible space colonization as a means to get away from the 'establishment'...

Even Ameica hasn't succeeded in this mission yet !
Amazing Grace by Jonathan Kozol

Good point Madhava indeed! Well said Ol Chap