|
Open Page
Long live the Space Age
Balachandar Ramamurthy
I read with some interest and a good deal of irritation the article “The Greying of Space Age” by Tabish Khair (The Hindu, October 14). I feel the writer paints an unnecessarily bleak picture of space exploration. “What good came of it all?” he asks. I strongly disagree with the opinion presented.
India having recently played host to a large astronautical conference, one would have expected a retrospective about space exploration to at least adopt a tone of neutral discussion, if true optimism was impossible. Mr. Khair mentions in passing the fact that surprisingly, there are indeed some ‘tangential benefits’ (sic) of space exploration.
If you use a laptop, try remembering that it had its origins in space research. Viable solar cells — which you might have in your calculator — derive from the need for a cheap power source for satellites and space exploration vehicles.
The communications satellite can by no means be disparaged as a ‘tangential’ benefit; the impact of this area of space technology on everyday life is direct and immediate. The way we talk, the scale on which we exchange information — these are intimate, everyday activities which are largely a result of the success of satellite technology.
Medical technology, computing, metallurgy … space exploration has been the impetus for many developments in these fields. Often, technology (e.g. materials) developed for space applications has been successfully adapted to many down to earth uses (sports equipment, for instance).
It is impossible to use satellites alone to spy on people by looking at them — for one thing, think about atmospheric conditions. You would need a whole network of street cameras, and perhaps bugs implanted in the targets, to really track individual people — impracticable! Perhaps satellites might help the Big Brethren to coordinate their logistic data — but that’s all. Surely, B-grade spy film material is not all of what satellites provide.
Weather forecasting is an area where satellite images have played a crucial role. Their importance can only increase with applications in disaster prevention and management. Our understanding of our planet’s atmosphere has been greatly enhanced by space exploration. Why do people send missions to the Mars? By studying other worlds, we gain a better understanding of our own planet, of what makes it livable.
Mr. Khair hints that we are neglecting terrestrial housekeeping by focusing on space exploration. This statement can hardly be true. The number of people engaged in space exploration is absurdly small. Governments only grudgingly allot funds for actual space research. True, it takes billions of dollars to put a space programme through the motions. But there are definite profits to be gained from calculated risks. Society is self regulatory; it won’t allow a dreamer to overstep.
Settlements in space cannot leave the drawing board in the near future, and space cannot be actually viewed as a place to dump the excess of human population. There are some problems that need in-planet solutions. Collision with Near Earth Objects is something that can definitely be expected to happen. It is contrary to any principle of living to go down without a fight. It is important to detect such objects, think of ways to save the planet, should such a contingency arise.
I am all for the commercialisation of space exploration. Corporations are increasingly global in their constitution. We have to begin to stop thinking in the national glory mode. It is no longer a question of Cold War era type hubris. There are greater things at stake than imaginary boundaries on maps. Space research and energy production are two areas which could act as the grand unifying factors when it comes to international cooperation.
There are many problems baying at our heels — terrorism, energy, poverty… ad infinitum. The people who have the responsibility, ability or means to help alleviate these problems must do so. The small, intrepid community of people in the world who are dedicated to the exploration of space must be encouraged to follow their passion. They have foresight, they have the drive. Interference and ill-considered opinions are not going to stop them from challenging the boundaries of human kind.
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Open Page
|
