Eideard

India’s national space organisation has marked its 100th mission by successfully launching two new satellites which Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has lauded as a “spectacular success”.

Scientists at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) celebrated the launch of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle PSLV-C21 on Sunday as it blasted into the sky carrying a French observation satellite and a Japanese microsatellite…

Singh congratulated the team at the ISRO at Sriharikota hailing the achievement as “a milestone in our nation’s space capabilities”.

“India is justly proud of its space scientists, who have overcome immense odds to set up world class facilities and develop advanced technologies. We owe a great deal to pioneers like Dr Vikram Sarabhai and Prof Satish Dhawan,” Singh said…

“I would also like to congratulate European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS) Astrium of France and Osaka Institute of Technology of Japan for the successful launch of their satellites,” Singh said.

Bravo! There’s a special tightrope of contradiction for developing nations to walk when they choose to spend funds on projects which don’t seem to directly benefit the whole population of their nation.

Poisonally, I think it’s worth it as essential inspiration to the tens of thousands of Indian citizens who decide each year to join studies in science and maths. A goodly portion of India’s future lies in technology and science and being able to fill those needs with your own citizens is a special feature.