Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Why India's Mars mission is so cheap - and thrilling [Cheaper than the Hollywood Film: 'Gravity']
BBC News ^ | 09/25/2014 | Jonathan Amos

Posted on 09/25/2014 8:30:42 PM PDT by SeekAndFind

India's space programme has succeeded at the first attempt where others have failed - by sending an operational mission to Mars.

The Mangalyaan satellite was confirmed to be in orbit shortly after 0800, Indian time. It is, without doubt, a considerable achievement.

This is a mission that has been budgeted at 4.5bn rupees ($74m), which, by Western standards, is staggeringly cheap.

The American Maven orbiter that arrived at the Red Planet on Monday is costing almost 10 times as much.

Back in June, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi even quipped that India's real-life Martian adventure was costing less than the make-believe Hollywood film Gravity.

Even Bollywood sci-fi movies like Ra.One cost a good chunk of what it has taken to get Mangalyaan to Mars.

So how has India done it? For sure, people costs are less in this populous nation, and the scientists and engineers working on any space mission are always the largest part of the ticket price.

Home-grown components and technologies have also been prioritised over expensive foreign imports.

But, in addition, India has been careful to do things simply.

(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...


TOPICS: Science; Society
KEYWORDS: gravity; hollywood; india; mars
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-50 next last

1 posted on 09/25/2014 8:30:42 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

If it can be done, India can do it.

< snicker >


2 posted on 09/25/2014 8:33:35 PM PDT by Bullish (You ever notice that liberalism really just amounts to anti-morality?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

Send George Clooney


3 posted on 09/25/2014 8:34:24 PM PDT by Loud Mime (arguetheconstitution.com See if the video makes sense to you.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

4 posted on 09/25/2014 8:34:44 PM PDT by SeekAndFind (If at first you don't succeed, put it out for beta test.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Bullish

5 posted on 09/25/2014 8:36:15 PM PDT by SeekAndFind (If at first you don't succeed, put it out for beta test.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

Because Indian companies pay their employees squat!


6 posted on 09/25/2014 8:37:41 PM PDT by G Larry (Which of Obama's policies do you think I'd support if he were white?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Comment #7 Removed by Moderator

To: Loud Mime

Big spenders: A comparison of how much countries have spent on their attempts to reach Mars. Both Russia and the US failed their first attempts to Mars, while the Chinese mission to Mars, dubbed Yinghuo-1 mission failed in 2011 and the Japanese mission to Mars ran out of fuel


8 posted on 09/25/2014 8:40:39 PM PDT by SeekAndFind (If at first you don't succeed, put it out for beta test.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

9 posted on 09/25/2014 8:41:46 PM PDT by SeekAndFind (If at first you don't succeed, put it out for beta test.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

because they outsource the engineering work to Elbonians?


10 posted on 09/25/2014 8:41:54 PM PDT by bigbob (The best way to get a bad law repealed is to enforce it strictly. Abraham Lincoln)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: bigbob

SOURCE:

http://www.vox.com/2014/9/24/6838079/india-mars-mangalyaan

Perhaps the most remarkable thing about the craft’s success is that it was made entirely with homegrown Indian technologies — and was produced on a remarkably small budget.


11 posted on 09/25/2014 8:43:10 PM PDT by SeekAndFind (If at first you don't succeed, put it out for beta test.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

Low wages and a modest payload. But the cost is not the important thing. The important thing is they got there, where many have failed. Now that they learned on a cheap satellite, they can do something bigger.


12 posted on 09/25/2014 8:43:13 PM PDT by Vince Ferrer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

The US has had several successful missions to Mars. Russia and the Soviet Union have had none.


13 posted on 09/25/2014 8:43:54 PM PDT by Moonman62 (The US has become a government with a country, rather than a country with a government.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Vince Ferrer
SUMMARY FROM: THE DAILY MAIL

India's spacecraft orbits Mars successfully - and it cost less to send it there than Hollywood spent on making Gravity


14 posted on 09/25/2014 8:45:33 PM PDT by SeekAndFind (If at first you don't succeed, put it out for beta test.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

Congrats, guys.


15 posted on 09/25/2014 8:47:13 PM PDT by Army Air Corps (Four Fried Chickens and a Coke)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Moonman62

Missions[edit]

Spacecraft Launch date[1] Operator Mission[1] Outcome[1] Remarks Carrier rocket[2]
1M No.1 01960-10-10-000010 October 1960 OKB-1
 Soviet Union
Flyby 0Launch failure Failed to orbit Molniya
1M No.2 01960-10-14-000014 October 1960 OKB-1
 Soviet Union
Flyby 0Launch failure Failed to orbit Molniya
2MV-4 No.1 01962-10-24-000024 October 1962  Soviet Union Flyby 0Launch failure Disintegrated in LEO Molniya
Mars 1
(2MV-4 No.2)
01962-11-01-00001 November 1962  Soviet Union Flyby 1Spacecraft failure Communications lost before flyby Molniya
2MV-3 No.1 01962-11-04-00004 November 1962  Soviet Union Lander 0Launch failure Never left LEO Molniya
Mariner 3 01964-11-05-00005 November 1964 NASA
 United States
Flyby 0Launch failure Payload fairing failed to separate Atlas LV-3 Agena-D
Mariner 4 01964-11-28-000028 November 1964 NASA
 United States
Flyby 4Successful Closest approach at 01:00:57 UTC on 15 July 1965 Atlas LV-3 Agena-D
Zond 2
(3MV-4A No.2)
01964-11-30-000030 November 1964  Soviet Union Flyby 1Spacecraft failure Communications lost before flyby Molniya
Mariner 6 01969-02-25-000025 February 1969 NASA
 United States
Flyby 4Successful Atlas SLV-3C Centaur-D
2M No.521 01969-03-27-000027 March 19691  Soviet Union Orbiter 0Launch failure Failed to orbit Proton-K/D
Mariner 7 01969-03-27-000027 March 19692 NASA
 United States
Flyby 4Successful Atlas SLV-3C Centaur-D
2M No.522 01969-04-02-00002 April 1969  Soviet Union Orbiter 0Launch failure Failed to orbit Proton-K/D
Mariner 8 01971-05-09-00009 May 19712 NASA
 United States
Orbiter 0Launch failure Failed to orbit Atlas SLV-3C Centaur-D
Kosmos 419
(3MS No.170)
01971-05-10-000010 May 1971  Soviet Union Orbiter 0Launch failure Never left LEO; upper stage burn timer set incorrectly Proton-K/D
Mariner 9 01971-05-30-000030 May 1971 NASA
 United States
Orbiter 4Successful[3] Entered orbit on 14 November 1971, deactivated 516 days after entering orbit Atlas SLV-3C Centaur-D
Mars 2
(4M No.171)
01971-05-19-000019 May 1971  Soviet Union Orbiter 3Mostly successful Entered orbit 27 November 1971, operated for 362 orbits. Mapping operations unsuccessful due to dust storms on the surface[citation needed] Proton-K/D
Mars 2 lander
(SA 4M No.171)
01971-05-19-000019 May 1971  Soviet Union Lander 1Spacecraft failure Deployed from Mars 2, failed to land during attempt on 27 November 1971 Proton-K/D
Mars 3
(4M No.172)
01971-05-28-000028 May 1971  Soviet Union Orbiter 3Mostly successful Entered orbit 2 December 1971, operated for 20 orbits.[citation needed] Mapping operations unsuccessful due to dust storms on the surface[citation needed] Proton-K/D
Mars 3 lander
(SA 4M No.172)
01971-05-28-000028 May 1971  Soviet Union Lander 1Spacecraft failure Deployed from Mars 3; landed at 13:52 UTC on 2 December 1971 but contact lost 14.5 seconds later Proton-K/D
Mars 4
(3MS No.52S)
01973-07-21-000021 July 1973  Soviet Union Orbiter 1Spacecraft failure Failed to perform orbital insertion burn Proton-K/D
Mars 5
(3MS No.53S)
01973-07-25-000025 July 1973  Soviet Union Orbiter 1Spacecraft failure Failed after nine days in orbit Proton-K/D
Mars 6
(3MP No.50P)
01973-08-05-00005 August 1973  Soviet Union Lander
Flyby
1Spacecraft failure Contact lost upon landing, atmospheric data mostly unreadable. Flyby bus collected data.[4] Proton-K/D
Mars 7
(3MP No.51P)
01973-08-09-00009 August 1973  Soviet Union Lander
Flyby
1Spacecraft failure Separated from coast stage prematurely, failed to enter Martian atmosphere Proton-K/D
Viking 1 orbiter 01975-08-20-000020 August 1975 NASA
 United States
Orbiter 4Successful Operated for 1385 orbits Titan IIIE Centaur-D1T
Viking 1 lander 01975-08-20-000020 August 1975 NASA
 United States
Lander 4Successful Deployed from Viking 1 orbiter, operated for 2245 sols Titan IIIE Centaur-D1T
Viking 2 orbiter 01975-09-09-00009 September 1975 NASA
 United States
Orbiter 4Successful Operated for 700 orbits Titan IIIE Centaur-D1T
Viking 2 lander 01975-09-09-00009 September 1975 NASA
 United States
Lander 4Successful Deployed from Viking 2 orbiter, operated for 1281 sols Titan IIIE Centaur-D1T
Fobos 1
(1F No.101)
01988-07-07-00007 July 1988  Soviet Union Orbiter
Phobos lander
1Spacecraft failure Communications lost before reaching Mars; failed to enter orbit Proton-K/D-2
Fobos 2
(1F No.102)
01988-07-07-00007 July 1988  Soviet Union Orbiter
Phobos lander
2Partial failure Orbital observations successful, communications lost before landing Proton-K/D-2
Mars Observer 01992-09-25-000025 September 1992 NASA
 United States
Orbiter 1Spacecraft failure Lost communications before orbital insertion Commercial Titan III
Mars Global Surveyor 01996-11-07-00007 November 1996 NASA
 United States
Orbiter 4Successful Operated for seven years Delta II 7925
Mars 96
(M1 No.520)
01996-11-16-000016 November 1996 Rosaviakosmos
 Russia
Orbiter
Penetrators
0Launch failure Never left LEO Proton-K/D-2
Mars Pathfinder 01996-12-04-00004 December 1996 NASA
 United States
Lander/Rover 4Successful Operated for 84 days Delta II 7925
Nozomi
(PLANET-B)
01998-07-03-00003 July 1998 ISAS
 Japan
Orbiter 1Spacecraft failure Ran out of fuel before reaching Mars M-V
Mars Climate Orbiter 01998-12-11-000011 December 1998 NASA
 United States
Orbiter 1Spacecraft failure Burned up in the atmosphere Delta II 7425
Mars Polar Lander 01999-01-03-00003 January 1999 NASA
 United States
Lander 1Spacecraft failure Failed to land Delta II 7425
Deep Space 2 01999-01-03-00003 January 1999 NASA
 United States
Penetrators 1Spacecraft failure Deployed from MPL, no data returned Delta II 7425
Mars Odyssey 02001-04-07-00007 April 2001 NASA
 United States
Orbiter 5Operational Delta II 7925
Mars Express 02003-06-02-00002 June 2003 ESA
 European Union
Orbiter 5Operational Soyuz-FG/Fregat
Beagle 2 02003-06-02-00002 June 2003 ESA
 European Union
Lander 1Spacecraft failure Deployed from Mars Express Soyuz-FG/Fregat
Spirit
(MER-A)
02003-06-10-000010 June 2003 NASA
 United States
Lander/RoverRover 4Successful operated for 2208 sols Delta II 7925
Opportunity
(MER-B)
02003-07-08-00008 July 2003 NASA
 United States
Lander/RoverRover 5Operational Delta II 7925H
Rosetta 02004-03-02-00002 March 2004 ESA
 European Union
Gravity assist N/A Flyby in February 2007 en route to 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko[5] Ariane 5G+
MRO 02005-08-12-000012 August 2005 NASA
 United States
Orbiter 5Operational Atlas V 401
Phoenix 02007-08-04-00004 August 2007 NASA
 United States
Lander 4Successful Delta II 7925
Dawn 02007-09-27-000027 September 2007 NASA
 United States
Gravity assist N/A Flyby in February 2009 en route to 4 Vesta and Ceres Delta II 7925H
Fobos-Grunt 02011-11-08-00008 November 2011 Roskosmos
 Russia
Orbiter
Phobos sample
1Spacecraft failure Never left LEO (intended to depart under own power) Zenit-2M
Yinghuo-1 02011-11-08-00008 November 2011 CNSA
 China
Orbiter 1Lost with mothership To have been deployed by Fobos-Grunt Zenit-2M
Curiosity
(Mars Science Laboratory)
02011-11-26-000026 November 2011 NASA
 United States
Lander/RoverRover 5Operational Atlas V 541
MOM 02013-11-05-00005 November 2013 ISRO
 India
Orbiter 5Operational Entered Mars orbit on 24 September 2014 [07:17 IST] PSLV
MAVEN 02013-11-18-000018 November 2013 NASA
 United States
Orbiter 5Operational Atlas V 401




Map of landings[edit]

The following imagemap of the planet Mars has embedded links to geographical features in addition to the noted Rover and Lander locations. Click on the features and you will be taken to the corresponding article pages. North is at the top; Elevations: red (higher), yellow (zero), blue (lower).

Tharsis Montes Hellas Planitia Olympus Mons Valles Marineris Arabia Terra Amazonis Planitia Elysium Mons Isidis Planitia Terra Cimmeria Argyre Planitia Alba Mons Map of Mars
About this image

Spirit (2004) > Spirit

Opportunity (2004) > Opportunity

Pathfinder < Pathfinder/Sojourner (1997)

Viking 1 (1976) > Viking 1

Viking 2 (1976) > Viking 2

Phoenix < Phoenix (2008)

Mars 3 < Mars 3 (1971)

Curiosity (2012) > Curiosity

[6]

Future missions[edit]

Funded plans[edit]

Mission Launch Notes
ExoMars 2016, 2018 Orbiter, lander, rover
InSight 2016 Lander
Mars 2020 rover mission 2020 Rover

16 posted on 09/25/2014 8:48:20 PM PDT by SeekAndFind (If at first you don't succeed, put it out for beta test.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Loud Mime

What I find amazing is that they were successful on their first try. No other nation has done that on their first mission to Mars.


17 posted on 09/25/2014 8:48:58 PM PDT by Jack Hydrazine (Pubbies = national collectivists; Dems = international collectivists; We need a second party!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Jack Hydrazine

How many other nations have had Mars missions?


18 posted on 09/25/2014 8:50:47 PM PDT by morphing libertarian
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

“Methane, a key element for life on Earth”

But the Planeteers are telling us we should be corking cattle.


19 posted on 09/25/2014 8:51:24 PM PDT by tumblindice (America's founding fathers: all armed conservatives.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

I like the mission logo (center right). Somebody at their space agency is a star trek fan!

CC


20 posted on 09/25/2014 8:52:39 PM PDT by Celtic Conservative (tease not the dragon for thou art crunchy when roasted and taste good with ketchup)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-50 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson