Chandrayaan-1

Certainly Chandrayaan-1 mission would appreciably build on India's technological capability to undertake inter-planetary missions in the coming years. The mission reflects ISRO’s strong competence, to raise India's stature worldwide.

However there arise a few apprehensions. Even Scientists say Chandrayaan's benefits will not become immediately apparent. It will take at least 30 to 40 years to do so according to them. A period of 30-40 years is far enough for people to forget all about Chandrayaan. Even generation would change by that time and there will be none presently working in Chandrayaan project to speak about the benefit of the mission.

Another claim of the Scientist seems quite ludicrous. According to them Helium 3, which is reported to be present on the lunar surface, is brought back to earth, it could help solve the energy crisis. Energy crisis of which country? Is it India? If one ton of Helium-3 can generate a year's supply of energy it would have been siphoned by other developed countries by that time and India could remain only as a mute spectator. Minerals too found on the lunar surface could be commercially exploited by other countries before India plans about it. Moon is owned not alone by India. Moreover Chandryaan mission is too expensive. Wasting resources for an uncovered project is a cruelty towards the starving masses in India. Many countries and international space agencies, including the European Space Agency (ESA), Japan, China, the US and Russia have undertaken or in the process of undertaking unmanned exploratory missions to moon. Hence, there is nothing novel about India’s exploration of the moon

The cost of Chandrayaan-1 mission is Rs 386 crore. And this amount is too high for boosting the technological confidence of India without any material gain. The money spent for the project could have been spent on more constructive projects such as feeding India's poor and educating them. Our country accounts for 57 million malnourished children. Improvement in their condition alone will mean development. The much-acclaimed economic growth and its recession recounts only for the elite class. A national emphasis on wiping out poverty and malnutrition is more necessary than project Chandrayaan.

KA Solaman