#dnaEdit: Tryst with Mars

For the millions who do not understand the science of space exploration — the engineering part and the mathematical part of guiding the craft — remains a matter of little interest, and perhaps rightly so. There is a sense of triumph and pride which the whole nation shares with the hundreds of scientists of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). It is a moment of national jubilation that the Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) spacecraft has been inserted into the red planet’s orbit by firing the liquid engines, and that it has been a successful manoeuvre. The spacecraft now hovers at a height of around 350km over Martian surface, and it will send back information about the atmosphere and the surface in due course. India is no more in the me-too club, but has moved into the position of a leader along with the United States. The ISRO achievement is compelling because the scientists have for decades worked in a technology-denial regime. It would be interesting to know about the international dimension of ISRO ventures, as well as the participation of the Indian private sector in producing the components of the space craft, the satellites and the launch vehicles. 

It would be naive not to acknowledge the sense of national triumph in ISRO’s achievement. Space exploration has been part of the denouement of Cold War, especially the race to the moon between the then Soviet Russia and the United States in the 1960s. In the post-Cold War era of the last quarter century, competition has turned into cooperation. It is for this reason that the Indian Mars moment is being welcomed internationally. The US’ Mars Curiosity, which is also in the vicinity, does not evoke any sense of rivalry. The information that will be radioed back by the Indian MOM and the US craft will be used by the global community of inter-planetary scientists for clues on life beyond earth. The question of life out there is still in the realm of science fiction, but the technological innovations made and the competence gained in the process would be of immense value in improving life here on earth through better means of communications. 

Some years ago, there would have been questions about the relevance of space exploration for a developing country like India with its challenges of grinding poverty. Such questions are debates have been put away into the trash bin where they belong. It is quite clear that the spin-offs are too many and they will benefit scientific enterprise in the country as well as the society. There is, however, a need to make the Indian space venture people-friendly and lift the veil of secrecy. The norm at the moment is that the country applauds the achievements of the ISRO, but it rarely knows the many interesting and stimulating work it does. There is a hint of military secrecy in the space programme as well as in nuclear research. The military component of the space and nuclear programmes can be kept under wraps, but the rest of the field should be open for the public activity. It will be the greatest stimulus to youngsters opting for a career in science. There are some vague programmes allowing school and college students to spend time at the Indian Institute of Science at Bengaluru. Perhaps, it would not be a bad idea to allow students and others to spend time at ISRO, where they could get a ringside view of India’s communications revolution as well as its space exploration programmes.