An extraordinay day for India…given that they’re relatively new onto the lunar stage.

But as for future plans and projected dates for a rover on the lunar surface by 2011/12, and a human-orbiting mission by 2015, these are very optimistic jumps for the country, as there’s a big jump between the two in terms of expertise, experience, and technology.

Still, India’s space agency has impressed the world already, so who knows what will happen? For now, lets all allow them enjoy the limelight. Well done India.

John – http://www.moonposter.ie
(A poster on important aspects about the Moon)

The real payoff will come when I get to relocate to a moon colony. Okay, so it’s a ways away. A moonbat can dream, can’t he?

I’m not sure if anyone has smashed in that location, but all the same, this is only the fifth country (if you count Europe’s ESA as a country) to send a probe, and I’m not sure all of them even had impactors. So even if it has been done before, there’s still info we can get from it. NASA is sending also an impactor, LCROSS, next year on the Lunar Reconnaissance Mission.

But, yes, this is a tech tryout for a lander, too. The ISRO has already said its planning Chandrayaan-2 in 2011, and that will have a lander/rover built with the Russian Federal Space Agency Roskosmos. Just because the US has done it, doesn’t mean everyone automatically can. ISRO needs to build up the skill set, and the more agencies out there that have it, the better it is all around. Especially when they share information (I’m looking at you, Chang’e 1 )

As for fundamental differences in engineering, I’m not sure. The instruments are a lot different. Probably like asking why should you build an Xbox 360 if they already made Pong? The engineering changes probably has to do with making sure more complex instruments can land safely an last longer. That’s just a guess.

Here’s some pictures/video that I took of the launch:
http://floridaeveryoneforgot.blogspot.com/2008/11/space-shuttle-endeavour.html

BTW, I think even more impressive launch wise (while this is awesome, don’t get me wrong), was the 10 satellites at once on the PSLV. That’s a real winner there.

Yes — there is some patriotism involved in “we got our flag there” but to me the moon probe is the least exciting part of the mission. After all what they did was to throw a 35 KG sized pebble at the moon from about 100 KM up.

The more exciting part of the mission is the potential to generate detailed maps of the moon. Also — the cooperation that the Indians have managed to get in terms of payloads from other countries is noteworthy. Imagine… a NASA payload on an Indian satellite. Who woulda thunk that even a few years ago?

I think the ultimate benefit of this mission, beyond the mapping and other payloads is simply to burnish ISRO’s credentials as a space agency that can put satellites in precise orbits. The payoff will come eventually if and when they decide to offer satellite and launch services on a turnkey, “in-orbit-delivery” basis, and can do it inexpensively. Think of this as one heck of a $80 million advertisement…

Computer, NASA TV, launch of Endeavour.

The TV was on at the same time – BBC2, two episodes of Star Trek, Next Gen. The second episode was written by Nicholas Sagan, son of Carl Sagan.

Never mind the Moon, I’m waiting for him to claim he can see structures on Fomalhaut b from those Hubble pictures.

For those interested in the Moon Impact Probe, check out the Indian and Asian news sources (The Hindu, PTI, IANS, Times of India, etc) It’s a real perspective changer from the news reporting we get here since space launches, while still great, are almost routine. A lot more political, too.

Night launches are always spectacular. I was able to follow the shuttle for a very long time.

The best part is hearing the crowd cheer at various stages. Just before the sound arrived someone shouted “hear it comes”. It is always special to see launches with such an enthusiastic group.

Today was a good day for space stuff; blogged about the Chandrayan images, did some reading about magnetars… and then the launch. What a day!

Went to the SL interview but kept getting told the area was “too full” and to wait a few seconds. I eventually gave up after more than a few characters starting hitting on my avatar…

First on NASA TV, then in the skies outside my house.

I still get a good feeling whenever I see the shuttle go up, even though I’ve seen more times than I can remember.

I can hardly wait to see the Orion go up as well. I’ll be on edge when the first flight of the Ares takes place.

I still get really fired up watching these launches. It’s magic, like the moon landings every time: I never seem to take it for granted.

Those images from Chandrayaan look very nice! Can’t wait for more…

@undercover,
True, CNN can really over-sensationalize some stuff, but they usually provide lengthy coverage of shuttle launches and landings (and that’s a plus).

Naomi – I want to see a launch live one day as well. Knowing my luck though I would plan the trip (from Australia) just to have it scrubbed for some silly reason like weather