August 23 is National Space Day and if you are wondering to yourself why you have no recollection of this special day it is because this is only the second time it is being celebrated.
On August 23, 2023, the Indian Space Research Organisation successfully landed Chandrayaan 3’s lander and rover on the Moon, making India just the fourth country to land on the Moon and first to land near the southern polar region of Earth’s natural satellite. The soft-landing was followed by the successful deployment of the Pragyan Rover. Recognising this achievement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi proclaimed August 23 as National Space Day.
Only two Indian citizens have been to space (four others of Indian origin did so as American citizens) and none flew up on an Indian spacecraft as ISRO has yet to develop manned space vehicles.
Nevertheless, India can be justifiably proud of its space programme.
In a poor country, it is only right and proper that the manner in which public funds are spent should be questioned. Space flight is extraordinarily expensive but ISRO has done a good job in keeping costs down, at least when compared to the USA’s NASA. India has also garnered a lot of international goodwill, not to mention hard currency, by selling space on its rockets for other countries’ space missions.
Apart from this is a more fundamental justification for India’s spending on space. The purpose of science is to extend our understanding of the universe. If India’s space programme helps us do that then, in that way, the cost is justifiable.
Having said that, it was truly an eye-watering moment to read the estimated cost of sending India’s second astronaut – Shubhanshu Shukla to space earlier this year.
An Indian Air Force officer, it was ISRO that paid for his trip to the International Space Station where he spent several days carrying out various experiments. He thus became the first Indian astronaut (or cosmonaut, which is a somewhat more accurate term) since Rakesh Sharma in 1984. Shukla flew up to space on a private company’s rocket and ISRO was reportedly charged somewhere in the region of Rs 500 crore for the return journey.
Should India continue to fund its space programme? Absolutely yes. Should it temper its desire for exploration by keeping costs down as it still has many challenges that need addressing on its own soil? Certainly so. Is Rs 500 crore acceptable for a one person three-week space flight justifiable? Perhaps not.
Let us keep pushing the frontiers of exploration not just for India but for the benefit of all humankind. Happy National Space Day!
