Slashdot Mirror
Chandrayaan Enters Lunar Orbit
William Robinson writes "After an 18-day journey, Chandrayaan-1, the moon mission of India, has entered Lunar orbit. The maneuver was described as crucial and critical by scientists, who pointed out that at least 30 per cent of similar moon missions had failed at this juncture, resulting in spacecraft lost to outer space. The lunar orbit insertion placed Chandrayaan-1 in an elliptical orbit with its nearest point 400 to 500 kilometers away from the moon, and the farthest, 7,500 kilometers. By November 15, the spacecraft is expected to be orbiting the moon at a distance of 100 kilometers and sending back data and images (the camera was tested with shots looking back at Earth). The Chandrayaan-1 is also scheduled to send a probe to the moon's surface."
In Soviet Russia, old Koreans... ...ah crap, wrong joke!
Strange things are afoot at the Circle-K.
I know that there is a lot of talk about India going into space when so many millions of Indians are living in poverty. When the US went into space, it was one of the most prosperous countries in the world. It truly was 'surplus wealth' that sent the Americans into space. Russia could hardly have afforded it, except communist leaders wanted it (just like the Beijing Olympics --money is literally no object). Its good that India is going into space. But addressing the rich/poor gradiant, the (still alive and kicking) caste system, and other social issues really should be more front and center. India has climate change issues too, which they are quick to dismiss 'we are a poor country' just like China, but not too poor to go into space. If you are rich enough to go into space, you are rich enough to be slapped for having a crappy record on climate change.