MUCH goes bang over India at this time of year, amid celebrations for Diwali, the Hindu festival of light. By one estimate, Indians spend over $800m a year on fireworks. But, in cosmic terms, they barely leave the ground. How much more exciting that a single, 4.5 billion-rupee ($74m) rocket is set to whoosh high into the sky on November 5th.
This one is not intended to explode, though in December 2010 scientists had to blow up a rocket that went haywire after a launch. Instead the idea is to send a craft to Mars. If all goes well, the rocket will lift Mangalyaan (“Mars vehicle”), which looks like a big box of gold foil, into orbit round the Earth. After stretching its solar wings and fiddling with its trajectory, it will set off on the nine-month trip to Earth’s neighbour.
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2 comments:
and it did reach the Mars' orbit today. A proud moment for every Indian, and fitting reply to sarcasm towards Indians and Hindus.
Mangalyaan successfully enters Mars orbit. India is now the first country to succeed at a Mars Mission in the first attempt & cheapest cost.
For your information: The one and only one Mars mission rocket which went to Pacific Ocean was launched on 8 November 2011 and its name is Yinghuo-1. :D
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