MOON EXPLORATION
Chandrayaan 3 mission (Launch Date - 14 July 2023 14.35 hrs IST) was a great success ( Landing Date Time - 23 August 2023 06.04 hrs IST) for ISRO team, ISRO and INDIA.
Wishing them more success in the future. From childhood space always fascinated me and my friends. We learned about rockets in detail during our high school and were attracted to them. As we grew heard about Vikram Sarabai, and Dr. Kalam, followed him and highly motivated by his accomplishments and speeches.
FROM HUMBLE BEGININGS
Later moved to US for higher studies and had opportunity to visit Wallops Island where Dr. Kalam had also visited. My environmental research was on Chesapeake Bay sediment toxicity. Also had a dream to study such toxicity on extraterrestrial materials, which did not materialize due to various reasons but the interest in space never deteriorated. Life took its path and put me near the Titusville where Kennedy Space Center, NASA is located. NASA's outer planet exploration, it's space shuttles, and rockets are examples of human's intelligence, hard work, dedication, perseverance, unselfish sacrifices and uncompromised quest for exploration into unknown territory.
Presidents Kennedy's words are true -
"Not because they are easy, but because they are hard; because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills."
It is hard work from childhood for an aspirant astronaut. Fitness, extreme conditioning endurance tests, education, knowledge, experience, severe extreme exercises including swimming in gargantuan sized pools with heavy space suits ( for practicing space walks ).
After all these hardwork they may not even get to travel out of the World and those get the chance have several risk factors such as exposures to hazardous materials, weight loss, change in physiology, psychology and even accidental death. Young students have witnessed their astronaut teacher's space craft blowing off. We have seen spacecrafts broken into pieces while returning into Earth's atmosphere after successful mission. Kalpana Chawla and the crew are still in our minds.
Space exploration is really tough and with all these hurdles still the courageous bunch try these exploration to satisfy their quest for reaching the universe and understanding it.
Despite of all these hardwork, sacrifice and team efforts, there are negative comments that these are Hollywood movie sets. Even though real scientists do not care about these comments, it is an insult to their dedication and hard work. Rockets are one of the human made wonders and an outcome of a teamwork at its best. Even if people do not appreciate their dedication, hard and tough efforts, they should not negatively demeanor their efforts. Still we are mastering the space exploration day by day. Rocket's humongous size can be witnessed only when you are near it. This Saturn/Apollo Rocket displayed at KSC will make one awe at its size. Just the exhaust is so huge and the body from top to bottom cannot be captured in one normal photo frame.
Similarly space shuttles with their orange fuel tank is a delight to watch especially during launch. Have watched several spaceshuttle launches from KSC and night ones are the delight to watch. First you see a ball of fire lifting the space shuttle lighting up the entire area and finally you hear the roaring unimaginable sound. One will not take the eyes away from the shuttle until it disappears into the space. This will stay in one's mind for so long.
Over the years the space travel has improved with advancement of technology. We can be of sure that it is going to improve a lot in the future.
A recent launch by SpaceX delightful to watch from beach.
As we felt excellent at the success of Chandrayaan mission and its rover Pragyan exploring the moon, heard some negative comments such as India is poor, even toilets are not there for several people - Swachh_Bharat_Mission
and feed your people (India is number 1 in Pulses production and in top 4 in many crops and main vegetables). India has great history of agriculture greatness and it has been documented in more than 2000 years old Thirukkural by great Thiruvalluvar.
Also water management, irrigation systems built by the Great Cholas are still existing as witness. Currently the agriculture is moving towards sustainable regenerative agriculture - not only we practice it at EAFARMS, but also we educate the farmers on its benefits.
Everyone knows that India has the most population in the World. As in corporate business world, there is a budget by government for every aspects, there are departments such as Space Exploration and Poverty Reduction among several. As in corporate world, everything runs by budget. Every department has its own budget allocated. Similarly governments allocate funding ( Budget ) for space exploration and poverty reduction programmes. Hard working people in Space exploration make it big which is not only good for country, but also for future generations. It is rat race in space exploration field, especially, Corporates are knocking doors at it. Everyone wants their hands on Moon's Resources especialy the Helium - 3. The old treaty is getting over and hence India PM reiterated that this landing is for the whole World and humanity. At the same time, poverty reduction even though budget allocation is there, poor management and corruption has put that department into back seat unlike ISRO. That department negativesness should be rectified and in near future poverty should be eradicated from the face of our Mother Earth. That comparison is the best example of comparing apples and oranges, especially by negative minded people. Space program gives job opportunities for thousands of people. As India's PM has said during Chandrayaan 3 mission, the success is for the whole humanity and to leap forward positively.
It is One Earth, One Family and One Future:
Every one should work together for the prosperity of our Great Planet - Mother Earth instead of fighting each other, war, polluting, spreading negativity and destroying our fragile Planet, the small bluedot in the great universe. Chandrayaan 3 landing site is now named as Shivsakthi Point
by Prime Minister Modi dedicating to the men and women who worked hard to make this mission successful.
One day people may visit Moon and ride a rover.
With Dr. Hatha, Environmental Scientist in a model rover at KSC.
From there they might explore the vast universe. Our future generatons have the motivation ( motivation to young future aspirants ), capability and technology to take it further forward. Good Luck to such teams, scientists, explorers and hard workers.
Makesh Karuppiah, PhD
Environmental Scientist and Information Technologist
