India doesn't want to be overshadowed by its Chinese neighbors, who have just performed their first spacewalk. That's why it is striving to impose itself as a world power, despite the fact that it is a country still haunted by poverty, as well as torn by violent manifestations on religious and ethnic grounds. In this regard, the recent launch of the Chandrayaan-1 (“Moon vehicle-1”) spacecraft may come both as a cover-up for the state of the nation and as an indicator of its potential as a superpower.
The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO)'s $79 million cubic craft was launched this morning from southern India's Sharikota space center. The 2-year unmanned mission will chart the Moon, providing better resolution maps (since we have better maps of Mars than of the Moon) and sights of our natural satellite, as well as search for water, metals and the rare Helium 3 isotope which might prove to be a good energy source for Earth. The 1,400-kilogram (3,080 pounds) craft was much cheaper than its Japanese or Chinese counterparts launched last year, but this doesn't mean it is less useful.
The Moon Impactor Probe device will separate from the lunar probe, and will sample and analyze moon soil, according to ISRO statements. Five of its instruments are of Indian provenience, three are provided by the European Space Agency, two are American, while the last one comes from Bulgaria. With the help of some of these eleven tools, Chandrayaan-1 will also seek more accessible landing places for future Moon missions.
As security analyst Ajey Lele states, “With China forging ahead in the space field, India cannot afford to lag far behind.” However, in light of the recent worldwide spacecraft launches and bragging declarations, many people are beginning to think that this is a rather dangerous approach, since, besides boosting national pride, this kind of events is practically an international show-off race and a cover-up for military activity. These opinions are also backed up by India's recent signing of an agreement with the US, which recognizes the former as a nuclear superpower.
