A bumpy landing on the moon

The Indian Space Research Organisation ISRO only intends to orbit an unmanned space vehicle around the moon. The spacecraft would not actually land on the moon. So what purpose would this serve, considering that probes have been exploring earth8217;s satellite since the 1950s? Well, ISRO will tell you that lunar exploration is not yet done; fundamental questions on the moon8217;s origins remain. We could study the distribution of rare elements, or particle and radiation environment in the moon8217;s vicinity 8212; there8217;s no dearth of minor scientific trivia.

But it8217;s quite clear that the real purpose of the mission would be to tell the world that, apart from building and launching world-class satellites for cheap, India is ready for deep-space exploration. Really? An unmanned spacecraft flung out to the moon by a rocket not terribly different from the ones we would use to deliver a nuclear bomb to middle China could do that? When the Europeans and the Japanese are between them sending up three moon orbiting missions over the next two years? It8217;s unlikely. At a time when the sheer complexity and cost of deep-space NASA missions has caused many to be scrapped, it makes sense to ponder our ambitions en route to the moon.

None of this is meant to run down the space programme. We8217;ve come a long way scientifically and its potential to earn money is significant. We charged the Germans and the Belgians a million dollars each to launch their piggyback companions with Metsat.

Three years ago, a launch of our premier rocket, the PSLV, cost 12 times less than a comparable Chinese Long March rocket launch. Once we build a decent launch capability 8212; at least three times a year instead of once in two years 8212; and learn to send heavier payloads higher, we could really shake out the satellite launch business.

Obviously, all these advances will be gradual. They will spool out to create a work-in-progress kind of essay. They will not make a statement. And Kasturirangan is right when he implies that the Indian space programme needs to make a statement. Sorry, but that orbiter around the moon isn8217;t the statement that will really catch the world8217;s attention. And it just won8217;t be worth the cost. So, here8217;s a real statement for Kasturirangan and his people at ISRO: put a man on the moon.

Yes, of course it8217;s been done, by Armstrong, Aldrin and the anonymous astronauts who followed. Yes, it happened before colour television in India. Yes, no one else thought it worth the while to follow suit. But people are what grand human statements are all about. We might have trouble distinguishing a PSLV from a GSLV, we might have even greater trouble figuring out the huge technological chasms between INSAT1s, 2s and 3s, but we will not forget the first Indian in space, Squadron Leader Rakesh Sharma. While in space, he photographed the Himalayas with special cameras that we were told would help in constructing hydroelectric dams in the mountains. He also did a spot of yoga.

Scientifically, it was zilch. And despite the fact that he was no more than a passenger on a Soviet Soyuz mission, Sharma electrified India. Can you imagine then, what a man on the moon would do for us? It would of course mean a radical change in thought, a massive leap in capability and ambition, and definitely require a lot more than Rs 400 crore. And, if it works, would a world that has refrained from attempting a manned moon mission for all these years applaud? There might be snickers from the top echelons of the western scientific community, but make no mistake: the world would notice. So, let8217;s urge ISRO to do merit to this particular course of action by taking it to its end. Let Tranquility Base become Saraswati Sagar, if it must. By all means, let8217;s go to the moon 8212; but one of us should go along.