Comments on: Chandrayaan-1 and the Shuttle http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/11/14/chandrayaan-1-and-the-shuttle/ I am an astronomer, writer, and skeptic. I likes reality the way it is, and I aims to keep it that way. My real name is Phil Plait, and I run the Bad Astronomy blog. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 23:02:03 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: abhi http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/11/14/chandrayaan-1-and-the-shuttle/comment-page-1/#comment-135184 abhi Wed, 19 Nov 2008 14:54:33 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/11/14/chandrayaan-1-and-the-shuttle/#comment-135184 In this moon mission, ISRO has spent just about 2 % of its total budget. ISRO has returned more than what it had spent over the years.. though its commercial wing Antrix Corporation, In this moon mission, ISRO has spent just about 2 % of its total budget. ISRO has returned more than what it had spent over the years.. though its commercial wing Antrix Corporation,

]]> By: Elusion54 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/11/14/chandrayaan-1-and-the-shuttle/comment-page-1/#comment-135038 Elusion54 Tue, 18 Nov 2008 05:43:40 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/11/14/chandrayaan-1-and-the-shuttle/#comment-135038 I'm sorry, I'm all for science and I'm certainly all for global participation in space exploration, but is no one else absolutely appalled that India would spend this kind of money on luna exploration when they have such pressing social needs on earth. I've been to Mumbai (albeit some years ago) and the human condition made me feel physically ill. The idea that they would spend this money on anything other than improving conditions for their people is a disgrace. I’m sorry, I’m all for science and I’m certainly all for global participation in space exploration, but is no one else absolutely appalled that India would spend this kind of money on luna exploration when they have such pressing social needs on earth. I’ve been to Mumbai (albeit some years ago) and the human condition made me feel physically ill. The idea that they would spend this money on anything other than improving conditions for their people is a disgrace.

]]> By: NiteSkyGirl http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/11/14/chandrayaan-1-and-the-shuttle/comment-page-1/#comment-134805 NiteSkyGirl Mon, 17 Nov 2008 00:49:53 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/11/14/chandrayaan-1-and-the-shuttle/#comment-134805 Phil you have me interested in space race history. enjoyed reading this very much Phil you have me interested in space race history.
enjoyed reading this very much

]]> By: John http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/11/14/chandrayaan-1-and-the-shuttle/comment-page-1/#comment-134755 John Sun, 16 Nov 2008 11:51:35 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/11/14/chandrayaan-1-and-the-shuttle/#comment-134755 Agreeing with Steve 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) Agreeing with Steve

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)

]]> By: kuhnigget http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/11/14/chandrayaan-1-and-the-shuttle/comment-page-1/#comment-134695 kuhnigget Sat, 15 Nov 2008 21:58:42 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/11/14/chandrayaan-1-and-the-shuttle/#comment-134695 @ Jagadeesh Venugopal: The <i>real</i> 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? @ Jagadeesh Venugopal:

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?

]]> By: Steve A http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/11/14/chandrayaan-1-and-the-shuttle/comment-page-1/#comment-134664 Steve A Sat, 15 Nov 2008 19:12:00 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/11/14/chandrayaan-1-and-the-shuttle/#comment-134664 @Cory 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. @Cory

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.

]]> By: shane http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/11/14/chandrayaan-1-and-the-shuttle/comment-page-1/#comment-134645 shane Sat, 15 Nov 2008 16:47:04 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/11/14/chandrayaan-1-and-the-shuttle/#comment-134645 I suppose now they can say the next landing will have to be softer than that. :-) I suppose now they can say the next landing will have to be softer than that. :-)

]]>