India launched a Mars probe

This afternoon November 5, India launched a spacecraft to explore Mars, an ambitious space program that has not been successfully implemented by any Asian country.

>>>India moved on the launch of the Mars probe

According to Hindustan Times newspaper, the Indian Space Research Agency (ISRO) will launch Mangalyaan from a small island near Chennai on the southern coast. The 1.35-ton spacecraft, the size of a large refrigerator, will leave Earth on a rocket manufactured by India. ISRO said that Mangalyaan will fly for 11 months to reach Mars orbit, scheduled for September 24, 2014.

India's Mars mission costs only $ 73 million, less than the $ 671 million cost that the US Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has invested in bringing MAVEN to Mars in November. ' TB in India's space program is aimed at exploration operations " - said Koppillil Radhakrishnan, ISRO president.

Because India does not have a rocket large enough to launch a ship directly towards Mars, Mangalyaan will have to follow the 350-ton rocket around Earth's orbit for nearly a month to reach a speed large enough to overcome the gravity. guide. ISRO said that if it flew to Mars orbit, Mangalyaan would map the surface of the red planet, study the atmosphere and search for methane gas, a sign that a planet could sustain life.

Indian experts complete the preparation of space ship Mangalyaan - (Photo: Reuters)

ISRO President Radhakrishnan admits conquering Mars is a challenging task. So far, countries have implemented 51 programs to ship to Mars, but only 21 projects went smoothly.'If we fail, we will learn and draw experience' - Mr. Radhakrishnan stressed. If successful, ISRO will become the fourth aerospace agency in the world to bring ships to Mars after the US, Europe and Russia.

In fact, Indian public opinion has been questioning the government over time for spending this "heavenly" mission when 350 million people still live with an income of less than $ 2 a day and 30% of the population. no electricity. Every year, New Delhi invests $ 1.1 billion in the space program and currently has 20 communication and military satellites on Earth orbit.

'The conquest of territories outside the Earth is a milestone for the country - the Washington Post newspaper quoted Bharath Gopalaswamy, an expert in the South Asia - India Center, with its own ambitions. It is impossible to lose ambition because of poverty. ' Some Indian officials also stressed that it would not be possible to get 350 million Indians out of poverty for $ 73 million, but that was enough for the country to achieve a great space achievement.

Professor James Moltz of Monterey Naval School (USA) evaluates India can also develop space technology to support its economy, military, science. For example, space technology has brought civil benefits such as increasing the capacity of weather forecasting. The fact that New Delhi accurately predicted the storm hit Odisha last month, helped evacuate 1 million people in time, stemming from the success of the space program. Professor Ram Jakhu of the Institute of Air and Space Law (Canada) said New Delhi also aims to find and exploit resources in the universe to boost the economy.