On this Tuesday at 2.46pm local time, India will launch a rocket heading for Mars. This mission aims not just to gather information about the existence of creature on Mars nor simply to showcase Indian technology, but to steal an interplanetary march on its regional rival, China.
"In the last century the space race meant the US against the Soviets. In the 21st century it means India against China," said Pallava Bagla, one of India's best known science commentators. "There is a lot of national pride involved in this."
It is India's first attempt to reach the Mars. However, the huge expenditure is controversial. People doubt that the country where more than 40% of children are malnourished and half the population have no toilets, can afford the mission.
Indian government claims that for a government beset by charges of corruption and mismanagement, the Mars mission is one way to repair its battered image.
As is known to all, India is famous for its information
technology. And I think improving the
country’s economy by developing science and technology is not a bad idea. Indian
government may want to increase its international
status by Mars mission. But I could not
understand why India showed its purpose of stealing technological star status from China so
openly. Now, I am curious about Chinese government’s response and other
countries’ opinions about it.
By Lynn
ReplyDeleteI also read a news about India's first mission to Mars. India is strong in IT so it is not surprising that India made a mission for Mars. I believe it would bring a positive effect on people in India.
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ReplyDeleteby Corentin
ReplyDeleteIt's good to have more countries which can reach Mars. In the next century Mars will take a bigger importance, and everybody will want his piece of the pie. First arrived will have the biggest piece.
by Elaine
ReplyDeleteIndeed I am not shocked about the fact that one of the misson of the launching programs is aimed at "stealing" some information from other countires.Personally, I think it is one of the main purposes of endless lauching satellites into space. It may be an open-secret that when we shake our hands and we eavesdrop our alliances at the same time so as to "better understand intentions".