India launches spacecraft to Mars

[synsei]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-24729073

Some of the comments below this BBC News story make me ashamed to be British :(

On my part I think it is a fabulous achievement and for a fraction of the cost of similar missions from Europe and the US, well done India...

What some are failing to realize is that it is becoming increasingly crucial for mankind to have a presence in space. As Earth's resources dwindle the only option open to us is to develop space tech to a level where we can begin prospecting for minerals in space which are essential for our continuing development as a civilization. If not we face a slow decline into obscurity.

[realysm42]

More than just a presence in space, a unified presence is needed.

I think it'd be a lot more effective with pooled resources and knowledge; its such a waste of time, all of this duplication of effort.

[Ali Tait]

+1. Well done to India

[Thing Fish]

At least you'll be able to buy a loaf and a newspaper whilst in orbit...:)

[Markiii]

yeah they really need our foreign aid to fund that

farcical, half their country in real poverty and they spend the aid on a space program

[Rare Bird]

I wish someone would hurry up with an other planetary settlement, im getting a bit fed up with Earth :(

[walpurgis]

As Earth's resources dwindle the only option open to us is to develop space tech to a level where we can begin prospecting for minerals in space which are essential for our continuing development as a civilization. If not we face a slow decline into obscurity.

There is no likely prospect of bulk minerals being sourced offworld.

The demands in sheer resource terms would make it unworkable, even if confined to just our Solar System. Shifting a spacecraft into orbit uses unbelievable amounts of energy and assuming it got to its destination, you'd likely be using similarly vast amounts of fuel and whatever else, just to land and take off again even without taking on a load and then you'd need fuel to land back on Earth. God knows how much fuel would be needed to land a giant, loaded, mineral hauling spacecraft. Perhaps technologies will develop that circumvent these issues, but I don't see it happening myself.


Humans have no natural right to expect perpetuity and I think ultimately, humankind will remain Earthbound and fizzle out into obscurity and universal history (like all other Earth life) and I don't think it really matters one way or another. We won't be around to worry!

[The Black Adder]

I went to Mars last week. Diesel is expensive up that way. Cold too... proper brass monkeys.

People are nice though... Not sure what they would do with a ruddy rocket apart from look upon our world with envious eyes, and slowly and surely.... send the bloody thing back. :D

[walpurgis]

I wish someone would hurry up with an other planetary settlement, im getting a bit fed up with Earth :(

Your Hi-Fi won't sound right in an atmosphere with a different gas balance Andr'e! :)

[Wakefield Turntables]

well done India, now can the uk stop giving you £250million every year in aid?

[Yomanze]

well done India, now can the uk stop giving you £250million every year in aid?

Well they contribute way more than £250m in terms of their valuable contribution to the NHS. And no, big parts of India need it and, I feel, we are indebted to them since Empire days, and not to mention the curry house.

[synsei]

yeah they really need our foreign aid to fund that

farcical, half their country in real poverty and they spend the aid on a space program

It is comments such as this which need to be addressed. India has repeatedly requested that we stop sending them financial aid, it is successive British governments which insist on sending it so while they do the Indian regime continues to accept it and quite right too, if those pushy Brits can't take 'no' for an answer then more fool them. Secondly, India's space program generates $2 for every dollar spent. Spread the total expenditure on their space program evenly throughout the land and every Indian citizen would benefit to the tune of 0.07 cents. Don't spend it all at once guys...

[synsei]

Well they contribute way more than £250m in terms of their valuable contribution to the NHS. And no, big parts of India need it and, I feel, we are indebted to them since Empire days, and not to mention the curry house.

Exactly. Also, don't forget that India stepped in to save Land Rover and Jaguar ensuring the security of British jobs in the process and the same goes for our steel industry. Much of the technology for India's space program has been developed in the UK and supplied to India. I think India has more than repaid any aid given many times over...

[archiesdad]

Exactly. Also, don't forget that India stepped in to save Land Rover and Jaguar ensuring the security of British jobs in the process and the same goes for our steel industry. Much of the technology for India's space program has been developed in the UK and supplied to India. I think India has more than repaid any aid given many times over...

What steel industry?, IFIRC large plants were shut by TATA and equipment shipped off to foreign parts, more redundancies last week, time to stop all aid going overseas.

[synsei]

What steel industry?, IFIRC large plants were shut by TATA and equipment shipped off to foreign parts, more redundancies last week, time to stop all aid going overseas. We wouldn't have a steel industry at all if it wasn't for TATA...

[bobbasrah]

TATA steel industry was a bit Freudian...

[Thing Fish]

TATA steel industry was a bit Freudian...
Nice one...:lol:

[Canetoad]

We'll drown in our own shit just like bacteria in a Petrie dish. :lol:

[Markiii]

I don't really care how the math is justified

They can afford a space program and a nuclear weapons program, and have half the country in Real poverty

They do not need our aid, and we should not be sending it to them, and that's absolutely our governments fault

[walpurgis]

Well they contribute way more than £250m in terms of their valuable contribution to the NHS. And no, big parts of India need it and, I feel, we are indebted to them since Empire days, and not to mention the curry house.

I wasn't aware that India pays anything towards our NHS.

And I hate curry. Smelly muck! Yuk!

[Thing Fish]

I wasn't aware that India pays anything towards our NHS.

And I hate curry. Smelly muck! Yuk!

How can you hate curry...:scratch:

It's spicy hot, nice an tasty and go's great with a cold Cobra beer...:cool:

[loo]

Surely its up to the Indian people as to what to spend their money on,
don't see how another bit of space junk orbiting Mars is gonna benefit mankind though,
and as for mining in space you better dig up Jerry Anderson then:lol:
Paul

[Clive]

Our "aid" is just a pathetic attempt to buy trade favours. A waste of money.

[loo]

very true Clive, International aid is just a distraction in the grand scheme of things its a pittance our government spend more on state functions and dinners than international aid