Of ISRO and Myths

Top 5 myths of Moon Mission
It's a waste of money:
India's GDP (adjusted for purchasing power parity) = $4.156 trillion
ISRO budget = $ 940 million Or 0.02% of our GDP
Amount paid as bribes in India per year = $4.6 billion
Total Consolidated revenue for BCCI = $ 1 billion
Cost of Pirates of Caribbean = $300 million or 1/3rd the cost.
Total revenue of Bollywood in 2007 = $ 1.3 billion
(All costs in US $)
So you decide what's a waste.

US has achieved this before:
Yes but they did it 30 years ago. All the data from those missions is 30 years old with not much added after that. The image/terrain resolution is of a bygone age. The main scientific objective of the mission is high resolution remote sensing which involves mapping detailed terrains of the moon and determining what the soil of the moon contains with a sophistication not seen before. THAT is new and is data the whole world would want.

Why should India do this anyway:
Some of the US, Russia, Japan, China are all planning on establishing bases on the moon eventually. We would definitely want to have some moon real-estate of our own and not end up at the mercy of other nations. As a country willing to assert its authority in the world stage, the capability that we demonstrate is important.

It won't benefit common man:
There is hope that the helium found on the moon would be useful for electricity generation in the future. Helium is found in abundance on the moon. If the ISRO is able to tap even two tons of helium from the moon then it could be considered a major achievement as it could be used to generate power supply to the entire country for a year. The mission will also explore minerals available on the earth's only satellite. So if they are found in abundance, we would definitely want to be the first to stake claim on them. Even besides that, the fact that ISRO can send a probe to the moon means it has the increasing capability (and confidence) in its launch vehicles, very similar to the ones used for satellites. These could be used for launching further satellite systems, India's own GPS system for example.

Whats the point? Its just going to the moon:
If you can send a space craft to the moon, it means you have the technology in
- Electronic Systems
- Advanced compound materials
- Advanced Rockets
- Control systems that can precisely control an object all the way to the moon
Roughly, if you send a probe to the moon, it also means that you have the potential to send an inter-continental ballistic missile half-way across the world. The technology just has to be re-arranged.

AND CONGRATS TO ISRO!!!

Berhael