I am really suprised that there is hardly any coverage of India’s unmanned moon mission. It is historic to say the least and a huge step for India in its space mission. Unfortunately, there is hardly any coverage of this. Any references to the moon mission is in the inner pages of a paper rather than on the front page. I was suprised when several people including a few of my collegues told me “Why are we doing a moon mission, when we haven’t fixed the problems back on earth?”. He had a good argument. Should India have gone for this moon mission in the first place? I put some thought in to it and the result is a blog post (finally!!) after a really long time. One more thing before I start my argument though, I am pro-space research, hence there is some bias to my argument.

Now for some facts, this is India’s first unmanned space mission. The total cost incurred was around Rs. 350 Cr. The idea first came up in 1999, was passed in the cabinet in 2003 and completed in 2008. I don’t know how many of you are aware of this but these are staggering numbers. A moon mission in Rs. 350 Cr is phenomenally low and have no doubts that some fabulous thinking has gone behind keep the costs that low. If you still think Rs. 350 Cr is huge then lets think in national terms. The cost of this moon mission is only 1. 75% of our annual railway profit.

Secondly the enitre moon mission has been completed in 5 years since cabinet approval – Talk about quick service! It has taken DMRC longer to make the Delhi Metro line!! When you achieve so much in such little time with hardly any spending, it is fabulous execution. 

Thirdly, many say that moon mission is doing what other countries have already done. This is not completely correct. Though other countries have put a man on moon, they haven’t explored the moon completely. One of the goal of this mission is to revolve around the moon to obtain as much information as possible including information on the minerals available on moon. 

But why is all this necessary? It has to do with long term vision. Today space is virtually unexplored. By exploring we obtain more and more information about it which may at a later date help us solve our future problems. We will not have immediate benefits from this moon mission. But 150-200 years later, our countrymen will reap its benefit. In medival ages, the kingdoms that controlled the land and sea were the most dominant of their times. Today, the nations that have most control on air are the most dominant. Simialrly, a century or so later, the country that has control of space will be the dominant one. And India is heading in the right direction.