Interesting to read about Lebanons forgotten space programme which was first attempt to reach in space by Arab world. Recently on 5 November, Indias first mission to Mars took off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre on the countrys east coast. The spacecraft is set to travel for 300 days and will reach Mars orbit in September 2014. If the satellite orbits the Red Planet, Indias space agency will become the fourth in the world after those of the US, Russia and Europe to undertake a successful Mars mission. Indias space programme, which was started in 1962, has made impressive progress with the more than a 100 launches by 2012. The space programme has always been tied to direct developmental goals and previous launches have aided in mass communication and education via satellite, survey and management of natural resources through remote sensing technology, environmental monitoring and meteorological forecasting. Data from satellites give real-time information to fisherman, farmers, and governments servants, sometimes helping avoid natural disasters. ISRO has successfully operationalised two major satellite systems namely Indian National Satellites (INSAT) for communication services and Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) satellites for management of natural resources. India also regularly launches satellites for other countries.
Posted on: Thu, 14 Nov 2013 08:38:27 +0000