How India came to Mars with a low-cost spacecraft – Terra Colombia

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September 24, 2014 • 22:10 • updated at 22:12

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A India satellite from orbit around Mars on Wednesday and this marks several milestones.

Successful mission Mangalyaan was celebrated by Indian scientists and engineers

Photo: BBC / AFP

is the first country in Asia and fourth in the world that gets to get there, and the only thing that ever has in the first attempt.

But also, the Mangalyaan probe is part of one of the cheapest interplanetary missions ever.

Their U $ 74 million budget in contrast to the $ 671 million the Maven mission of NASA, which reached Mars orbit 48 hours before the Indian satellite.

The Indian probe is proud to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In addition, as noted Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the figure is less than the $ 100 million as estimated cost to produce the Hollywood movie Gravity.

With the feat, India scores a point against China, which is also betting on the space race.

The confirmation of successful Mangalyaan came Wednesday, after a journey of 10 months, and was held and widely distributed throughout the country.

But how they did it?

Simple and national

The Indian probe is proud to Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Photo: BBC / AFP

One of the first reasons that are experts is the cost of labor, which is lower in this populous nation

<. p class = "text"> And scientists and engineers who are part of any space mission always assume the price largest part.

Also, this project has given priority to components and technologies developed in the country before the expensive foreign imports, as Jonathan Amos, BBC science correspondent says.

In addition, India has made things so simple.

“What kept small. The load weighs only about 15kg. Compare that with the complexity of the load in Maven explains much about the cost, “says British Andrew Coates, who is principal investigator of the European Mars explorer 2018.

” Of course This suggests that reduced complexity will not be as scientific, but India has been smart and points to some really important areas that complement what others are doing. “

Measuring methane

Mangalyaan, formally called Orbiter Mars Mission, is equipped with an instrument that attempts to measure methane in the atmosphere.

This is one of the most important research on Mars now, after the tantalizing previous observations of this gas.

The Earth’s atmosphere contains billions of tons of methane, the vast majority come from microbes and organisms that live in the digestive tract of animals.

It has been speculated that some methane-producing bacteria could exist on Mars under the surface, protected from the harsh weather conditions.

is a fascinating possibility.

So although Mangalyaan have a small charge, will address some of the big questions about the Red Planet.

Western scientists are also excited to have an Indian probe in orbit.

His measurements other atmospheric components will fit perfectly with the Maven mission and with the observations of the European mission Mars Express.

“means that we will have measurements from three points, which is extraordinary” Coates says.

Space Wealth

The Indians gave priority to components manufactured in India for the construction of its Mars probe

Photo: BBC / AP

However, says Indian writer Pallava Bagla to the BBC, many have criticized the project as “deceitful dream” of a country seeking superpower status while 400 million Indians still live without electricity and 600 million have no access to toilets.

Many assume that the particular activity is a kind of toy that is best left in the hands of the rich countries, which has no value to developing nations.

Better to spend that money, they say, in health and public health improvements.

But what these arguments do not take into account is that investment in science and technology creates capacity and develops the kind of people that contribute to the benefit of society and the economy.

The space race is generating wealth. Some of the things done in the space served here on Earth, says Amos

And the developed countries know. Invest so much money on space research

UK eg significantly increased spatial financing in recent years.

According to the government, the satellites are one of the “Eight Great technologies” that can balance the economy and make it grow.

India wants to be part of this, and other programs Mangalyaan and rocket the nation is getting a strong presence in international markets for services and space products