India launches first Moon mission

[TheCoxwain]

Source: BBC

The unmanned Chandrayaan 1 spacecraft blasted off smoothly from a launch pad in southern Andhra Pradesh to embark on a two-year mission of exploration.
The robotic probe will orbit the Moon, compiling a 3-D atlas of the lunar surface and mapping the distribution of elements and minerals.
The launch is regarded as a major step for India as it seeks to keep pace with other space-faring nations in Asia.

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7679818.stm

---

WELCOME TO 1960!!!

[But....]

1. The world wants to go...

why are we not leading the way?

[Brotherjohn]

2. I think "WELCOME TO 1960!" is rather harsh and unfounded. They should be proud. And it is yet...

... another sign that we should be aware that we are no longer the sole power with monopolies on science and high technology.

We are about to start using Russia and their "vintage" Soyuz spacecraft to shuttle our astronauts to the ISS. One could argue that while India is moving into the 1960s, the United States is moving BACKWARDS into the 1960s.

[cosmicone]

4. This is not 1960's technology...

This orbiter will be in the lunar-polar orbit and do remote sensing of the surface and up to 30 meters deep. No other country has done this until now and there are currently no 3-D maps of the entire lunar surface that this craft will provide.

It is very chauvinistic of some Americans to think that we have the monopoly on all science and technology.

[Posteritatis]

5. Nevermind the idea that only the first person to do anything "matters" (nt)

[WriteDown]

3. When is that call center opening on the moon?

I kid, I kid.

[TheCoxwain]

9. Oh Noes ... Atleast in India you had to keep EST .. Now you have to keep Earth time on Moon

[indio55555]

12. As soon as the Americans

Get there... I kid I kid too.

[Hekate]

6. Congratulations to India. The USA has rested on its laurels (read: fat butt) for far too long...

The rest of the world has been raising the next generations of scientists by pushing kids hard in school from Day 1, while we have let our school system decay and have offered parents the "choice" of school vouchers.

Taxes? Schools don't need no stinkin' taxes. Failing schools? Let's never give teachers a raise. Even better, let's take money away from schools that fail to meet artificial goals.

:argh: :argh: :argh: :argh: :argh: :argh: :argh:

Hekate

[WriteDown]

10. Actually...

We are pursuing unmanned space exploration which is the wiser move by far. Manned space travel is great for PR, but risky and less fruitful. Our Mars missions have been astounding.

[Geoff R. Casavant]

7. To confirm if the moon is made of paneer? n/t

[PfcHammer]

8. I can't help but think as India prepares for the Moon

the US prepares for another stolen election. I hope not,
but the thought has crossed my mind.

[Vidar]

11. I'm glad someone is doing it, since the US has turned to looting & killing as its primary mission.