Remember the Sputnik?

The earth’s first artificial satellite, Sputnik, was launched by the Soviet Union on October 4, 1957. Over the last 50 years...

The earth’s first artificial satellite, Sputnik, was launched by the Soviet Union on October 4, 1957. Over the last 50 years, human beings have made remarkable progress in exploring space. In 1969, within 12 years after the launch of that first satellite, man could set foot on the moon. To quote Neil Armstrong, the first visitor to the moon, it was “one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind”.

Space technology encompasses a wide range of activities — from fundamental research to advanced technology development — and puts huge demands on the state in terms of financial and infrastructure requirements. Naturally, through all these years, space assets have remained under the control of a few developed and few developing but technologically savvy nations. Despite this, space technologies have benefited all of humankind and have played a major role in areas like meteorology, communication, navigation, remote sensing and resource management. They have also contributed immensely to education and research.

Initially, the Soviet Union’s launch of Sputnik kicked off a decades-long ‘space race’ between the Soviets and the United States. However, space explorations are a very long-term and ambitious endeavour, and no nation today can embark on such projects alone. Over the last two decades various developments in the space arena have essentially been the result of cooperative international effort. The International Space Station (ISS), a research facility currently being assembled in space, and which involves 16 states, is an excellent example of such international collaboration. The ISS has been continuously inhabited since November 2002 with permanent human presence in space, drawn from various nations.

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Space technologies offer benefits not only to the states which have satellites in the space but also to the ‘space have-nots’. The majority of satellite-derived products are now available at a cost. Recently, states like Russia have offered space trips to ‘fee-paying’ tourists. In future, with greater commercialisation, space could occupy a permanent place in international tourism.

Other benefits too could accrue to human beings thanks to space explorations. Take energy. At present the race for the moon has assumed urgency, given the possibilities of tapping Helium 3 from its surface and piping it to earth for energy generation. There are also possibilities of deploying space platforms that could capture sunlight and beam it down to earth for electricity. Any success in this area could offer global energy and security benefits — including the prospect of preventing future resource wars between energy-starved nations.

Developed militaries, too, are using space for military purposes — like communication, navigation, reconnaissance and intelligence-gathering. There may be unfortunate consequences too. The recent anti-satellite test carried out by China throws open the possibilities of states even weaponising space in the near future, which could have extremely deleterious consequences for humankind.

Exclusive: Land reforms to law to aid rape survivors, to be in Mahagathbandhan manifesto

Political Pulse20 min ago

The Mahagathbandhan alliance in Bihar is set to release a joint manifesto, which will include promises such as setting up hostels and degree colleges for OBC students, implementing land reforms, and prioritising rape survivors' access to medical reports. The manifesto will also address issues faced by EBCs and ensure fair trials and speedy justice for rape survivors.

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