ISRO : ANOTHER STEP FORWARD. SCIENTIFIC QUEST MORE IMP THAN HYPE

ISRO : ANOTHER STEP FORWARD. SCIENTIFIC QUEST MORE IMP THAN HYPE
The facts:
India did land a aircraft on the moon in 2008 ( Chandrayan 1) . Insignia of our flag is already there.  Thus, this feat was already achieved.
Chyn2 took the effort to another degree or several degrees higher. Higher payload, heavier engine, orbiter, lander and rover in tow. The key capability to be tested was   :
1.Detaching the lander from the orbiter and then reducing orbiter speed from 70000 km/ hr to nil on touch down
2 Manage a soft landing ( so that it does not crash on the surface) by delicately firing main engines of lander
3. Rover detaching and its man oeuvres
The first was done. Second went awry. Maybe improper firing of engine or one of them did not fire. The most optimistic possibility is that it’s only a com failure and the lander is intact. There will be conspiracy theories too. Of foreign powers interfering with telemetry or communication. For once Pakis will not be blamed for obvious technological reasons.  Anyways, we will never know.
The rest of mission of lander is still troubled. No rower action too. Orbiter, as usual, will map and send pics.

Space mission is fraught with risks and there is complete dependence on technology, many untested by the user. The US and Russia has mastered it and has gone miles ahead. Europe and UK are also good at it but they have focused on theoretical fields. China is steadily going ahead. We are far behind but, commendably, have the ability to also reach there. All due to the vision of Nehru and the subsequent non-interference by politicians and bureaucrats. This was because the subject was complicated and not understood, thereby difficult to sway public opinion. Unlike nuclear tests. But now that we have reached application and technology phase of reaching the moon and planets etc,  the politician is interested, as people can understand. Therein lies the danger. 

Modi had planned his big PR exercise. A address to the nation at 8am. But alas fate did not support (fate is still not available for a price!) . In 2008, ISRO achieved the  task but without publicity stunts by politicians. Kudos to the then and current scientists.  But they must be warned not to fall for such stunts of politicians and focus on the science and tasks at hand. Like they have done for the past 50 years. Glory will come. As is seen by the large number of men and women who work in India’s space programs. It’s there the glory exists and not blabbering on TV and becoming famous. Science is serious work.
It is necessary that the public takes interest, as its public interest only that shapes policy on space. But public interest is fragile and so must be carefully handled. Without hype.
A more mature management of the progress of Chandrayan 2 mission would have been to temper expectations, avoid live telecast (resist politicians attempt, however powerful they are) and announce results with a time lag. It would be better to manage PR exercise after full or partial success. If scientists are left to themselves it would have been done like that.
Let’s hope sense prevails.
ISRO and Indian space program will move ahead and more and more talented men and women becomes mesmerized by space, physics and the journey to the unknown. The moon, meanwhile awaits the next Indian spacecraft while Mars waits in queue.

CHANDRA : In Hindu mythology also called Soma