What are the benefits of the ISRO MOM

Mars Mission for Indias economy and

society?
September 25, 2014

With Yesterdays Successful insertion of Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) into Martian orbit
the Journey has just began for India.Reminds me of quotation from Star Trek

Space: the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Its five-year mission:
to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no
man has gone before.

This project is aimed as a technology demonstrator. It will showcase and prove the
capability for inter-planetary missions The launch was made using PSLV-XL C25
rocket The orbiter will have a life of 6 to 10 months in the orbit While orbiting Mars the
orbiter will study surface features, minerals and atmosphere on Mars There are 5 main
instruments on the orbiter

Lyman-Alpha Photometer (LAP)

Methane Sensor For Mars (MSM)

Mars Exospheric Neutral Composition Analyser (MENCA)

Thermal Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (TIS)

Mars Colour Camera (MCC)

First Criticism and cynicism

Economist Jean Dreze of the Delhi School of Economics told CNN that the money would have
been better spent on public health or solar energy, and was quoted in the BBC as lamenting
how the mission seems to be part of the Indian elites delusional quest for superpower
status.

Some have argued that this money should be spent on feeding the poor, economic stimulus,
higher education.
 Others have argued that the intellectual talent should be used only for projects of direct
immediate benefit not long term projects such as this.

Still others have argued that national pride and confidence are not important to growth and
development.

From Here on I will mix my own opinion and various sources to answer .I too was
skeptical and there are as many supportive arguments and as many opposite ones and
after reading for hours on this topic I came to conclusion that no one is giving the
complete picture and like all good upsc students we write what we know not what was
asked.

First the Budget :

Mars mission budget comparison via WSJ

 These two Images tell a lot about the cost and budget and ISROs annual budget is
about one billion dollars( 0.34 percent of Indias budget), compared to $17.7 billion for
NASA, $7.9 billion for Russian agency, $5.6 billion for the European Space Agency and
$ 2.5 billion for China

Seeing it as an isolated Mission not as a scientific achievement is the main reason for all
the criticism it is attracting.The DPSP in our constitution clearly states that To develop
the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform.How will a
country attract the world and its youth towards science ? with out any achievements ?

Curiosity is the root of human development and todays Technology was all possible
because of the so many scientists and their curiosity and MOM is also one such scientific
step who knows where it will take us ?

If I tell you that Malaria is spread by Mosquitoes you will treat it as common knowledge
or worse a prelims bit,but it took Sir Ronald Ross and years of hard work to prove to
world how malaria is spread and it saved millions of life from then on .Microscope saved
more lifes than any thing and the Skeptics arguing for more bathrooms than MOM are
aware of the health risk of open defecation is only because of science.

MOM is not an isolated issue, the main issue is budget of ISRO to show its impact on
India.The amount we waste really else where can be used for more scientific research,
the lack of policy and freedom to ISRO from political circles also crippled it to large
extent.

A number (here USD 72 million) doesnt mean much in isolation. Lets put it in some
perspective:

Andhra Pradesh Land Scam(2012) USD 15 billion Reddys land doles cost Andhra Rs 1 lakh
crore: CAG

Forex Scam (2012) USD 4.9 billion Rs 32,000 crore forex scam forgotten!
 Maharashtra Irrigation Scam (2012) USD 11 billion Maharashtra govt in crisis, all NCP
ministers quit

2G Scam USD 27 billion Total money spent on VIP Security just in Delhi: USD 552 million
8049 cops, Rs 341 cr spent on VIP security in Delhi

Loan Waiver of Andhra and Telangana Both, together could be anywhere between Rs 80,000
crore to Rs 1.20 lakh crore.

The mission might not show immediate results but it will help ISRO to attract more
joint ventures and more technology tranfer and better attract Indian brains from leaving
the country.It will inspire a nation.

This is letter of a yound kid who god inspired it speaks louder than all my words put
together.

This is a MEME I loved it Just for fun .

Due to technical problems in my theme I am unable to add links or edit posts in better
manner,please come back as I will try to rectify the problems and update the links and
suggested reading.And will complete the post.