HAVING SUCCESSFULLY TESTED an anti-satellite missile system in March, and then coming within 2.1km of soft-landing a rover near the south pole of the moon, our military and space scientists have two creditable achievements this year. Space offers an asymmetrical advantage to nations that can penetrate it, in terms of their capability to fulfil the needs of their people, security of the nations and, ultimately, economic leverage.
Post-World War II, there was a surge in space capabilities in developed nations at the civil and strategic levels. The Soviet Union and the United States took the lead in developing the requisite technologies and industrial base through national policies with a competitive spirit. European nations followed suit, as soon as they recovered from the trauma of the war.
We were not far behind. Driven by the vision of Dr Vikram Sarabhai and the systematic nurturing of mission mode programmes and procedures by Professor Satish Dhawan, India’s space mission has taken major strides. We have indigenously created state-of-the-art technologies and an associated indigenous supply chain to build systems, ground infrastructure and space assets. It is to our credit that all these were achieved in the backdrop of repeated technology sanctions and denial regimes, imposed by the west.
Militarisation of space is the development of weaponry and associated technologies for application in outer space to gain a definite edge over one’s adversaries. The first steps towards militarisation of space were taken soon after the Second World War by the two superpowers, the USSR and the USA. The initial intent was to remotely monitor the enemy’s strategic assets and the technologies they were developing.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة September 22, 2019 من THE WEEK.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة September 22, 2019 من THE WEEK.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
Ram temple not an issue in south
Much has been said this election season about the alleged north-south divide.
Haute and sweaty
In Mumbai, where I live and work, there is a severe heatwave going on. The highest temperature this month has been 40 degrees, sweltering and humid for the coastal city.
MOVE AWAY MARY!
In many parts of the world,unique names are becoming popular
CALL OF THE WILD
Tejas Thackeray, the younger son of former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, shares his passion for wildlife conservation and photography
CEPA and beyond
Bilateral trade between the UAE and India has grown almost 16 per cent year-on-year, touching $84.5 billion
Brash and raw
When I chanced upon Raj Narain, who humbled Indira Gandhi
Lone voice of dissent
“I am keen to invite Parakala [Prabhakar] to Mumbai… What do you think? Do you know him?” A friend asked. No, I don’t know the man. And no, it is not a good idea to invite him, unless you want to invite trouble, I replied.
Modi and the Muslim syndrome
I have long been intrigued by the prime minister’s desire to hug every passing sheikh and sultan and his contrasting contempt for the ordinary Indian Muslim.
Assam Rifles not trained to guard borders; need separate force for Manipur border
Imphal is blanketed in darkness. The sun has set a little too soon in the valley, but N. Biren Singh is yet to call it a day.
SPOTLIGHT ON THE SENTINELS
Manipur government wants the Assam Rifles replaced, but the Union home ministry is focused on upgrading infrastructure and connectivity before deciding who guards the state