Low-Budget Indian Satellite Launch

Geekonomical writes "On Thursday afternoon, for a mere 15 million U.S. dollars, India launched a meteorological satellite into geo-synchronous transfer orbit some 36,000 kilometres above the equator using a modified version of its highly successful space workhorse, the polar satellite launch vehicle (PSLV). The article also claims that China spends 12 times as much as this for a launch!"

Comments

implications

[tps12]

While it's great to see third world nations making headway in traditionally Western scientific endeavors, I have to wonder if this story doesn't have a more sinister side to it. Recall that India shocked the global community recently when satellite data indicated that they had developed nuclear weapons, despite treaties against such activities. If they can put a weather satellite up this cheaply, then they can probably get nuclear missiles up there for not much more. Or maybe they already have. If the US had been more proactive about limiting space research by unstable and undeveloped nations, then we wouldn't have to worry about this. As it is, we're almost forced to bolster our own space weapons so we don't look like sitting ducks.

Re:implications

[JimPooley]

Fuck the US. Space does not belong to them. The Russians were there first, dammit!

Re:implications

[phunhippy]

At which point did these fine European nations drop out of "The West". Before the USA we were "The West".

Typical American assh*le syndrome. Where's a moderator when you need one?

Hey Stuck Up british boy! Hows your "empire" ?? OH wait!! ITS AN ISLAND, A TINY ISLAND!

Re:implications

[Frank of Earth]

Are you suggesting that the US has the right or responsibility of regulating space research? What goes on in another country shouldn't be up to the US, unless it directly affects them.

Well maybe he isn't but I am. When you are the strongest and most powerful nation on the planet, you can dictate any policy you want.

I don't know how near sighted you are, but having a potential nuke in space is a threat to my freedom; even if it's not pointed at the US.

It's about time we start our Space Defense Initiative. I forget who, but some dolt in govt stated that we shouldn't bother with a Space Defense system now cause we won't need it for another 20 years. Like in 20 years we can just say "Launch the space defense system!"

Personally, I'm sick and tired of these little puke nations telling us what we can and can not do. In the history of our planet, how many super powers were there that didn't seek to expand their empire. They should be thankful we're content with what we already have.

Re:Slightly OT, but informational

[LordNimon]

Is more competition still good if it costs some American engineers their jobs?