In any case, as recent as 2007, Japan sent out second mission - Kaguya (Sept 13, 2007) followed by China’s Chang’e-1 (Oct 24, 2007) and India’s Chandrayaan-I (Oct 22, 2008) and the new space age has begun.
There are significant similarities and differences between these missions
Mission:
- Japanese Kaguya orbits at approx. 100Kms and is supposed to last for at least one year.
- Chinese Chang’e-I orbits at 200Kms and is supposed to last for one year.
- Indian Chandrayaan-I orbits 100Kms and is supposed to last for two year
Mission Status and Information
- Quote "Japanese scientists showed off the latest results from their highly capable Kaguya spacecraft at a meeting of planetary specialists. (Check out the high-def video of a "full Earth" rising over the lunar landscape.) Team member Sho Sasaki told me that Kaguya has ample fuel reserves, enough to lower the orbital altitude from 60 to 30 miles and extend the mission through at least February" [2]
- Quote "Far more enigmatic is the Chinese orbiter Chang'e 1. A lot of hoopla accompanied its launch about this time last year. But few details have emerged since then. A small contingent of Chinese scientists had planned to describe early results from Chang'e 1 at a scientific meeting last March, but they were no-shows." [2]
- Quote "India’s Chandrayaan-1 moon mission has not only been a scientific and technological success, but it has been an international political winner. By incorporating instruments from Europe and the US as well as their own ones, and doing so in an open way, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has proven itself to be, without question, one of the world’s top space agencies."[3]
Right from when India is weeks away from reaching moon's orbit, ISRO’s has provided continuous updates on health and orbital information of Chandrayaan-I. Some preliminary images and hundreds of frames have subsequently been shared in the open web. This demonstrates tremendous confidence, maybe over-confidence even, of ISRO. ISRO definitely deserves pat on the back entering the big-boy's club, brimming with confidence.
Co-operation:
Indian mission stands out in this front as well. ISRO fostered international co-operation by giving a free ride to six instruments (3 from ESA, 2 from NASA and 1 from Bulgaria). While some feel that a “completely Indian” mission would have provided better focus on Indian accomplishment, it is a good move to be inclusive in an area where co-operation is the key.
One example is US-led effort for International Space Station (ISS) in 1984. ISS was a joint effort of six space agencies (total of 16 countries). Russia was later invited in 1991, post-cold war. However, conspicuous by their absence are India and China.
India’s case is that of “Neither here, nor there”. During the cold war, India was considered to be in USSR camp and has been subject to crippling sanctions from US and the West at various points. India still hasn't found its stride by that time, but even as Indian space capabilities have matured later, it did not get the invited to the ISS party. While fighting the ensuing sanctions, Indian space community had to sweat it out from scratch for GSLV program, in terms of building Cryogenic Engines. In this long tortuous process, the agency has hardened and earned respect world over. And now, Indian initiative of Chandrayaan and co-operation with NASA and ESA puts them in a different league and gives India a leg up in future joint ventures, unlike China.
China is a different story. US-camp has traditionally been suspicious of Chinese intentions and its human-rights record. Trying to showoff anti-satellite capabilities haven’t done them any favors and is getting more isolated, with the exception of significant Russian co-operation in sending man to moon. So, it needs to be seen how China can join the international effort.
Worthwhile to note however, is that Chinese launch has been opened up in a limited way to Chinese citizens, making them a part of this exciting new journey. It’s a pity the Doordarshan/ISRO and Indian government couldn't’t care less about providing decent coverage. Reaching out to citizens is more important than reaching to out international scientific community, that is my opinion anyway.
Future of Space Exploration
From the words of father of Indian Missile program and guiding light to young minds, Dr. Kalam, Earth-Moon-Mars are one complex. ISRO has traditionally adopted down-to-earth goals of bringing the benefits of space missions to common man in terms of helping fishermen, educational satellites and remote sensing. ISRO has met its charter and given back a lot to the tax payers. ISRO now needs to look beyond and establish itself in such a way that it should be a natural part of any international space mission of the future. ISS is yesterday's news, EMM is the new frontier and ISRO needs to be in the forefront of new age of space exploration
