India launches first mission to Mars.

[GScholz]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tXsZdTKr_Y

Pretty cool!

"This morning at 09:08 GMT Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the Mars Orbiter Mission, also known as Mangalyaan, the country’s first spacecraft destined for Mars. Over the next 300 days, it will slingshot around Earth and travel to Mars to begin its science mission. If all goes well, Mangalyann (Hindi for “Mars craft”) should arrive around September 24, 2014 and ISRO will become the fourth space program to reach the red planet; only the United States, Europe, and the Soviet Union have achieved this so far."

http://www.iflscience.com/space/india-successfully-launches-first-mission-mars

[mechanic]

"only the United States, Europe, and the Soviet Union have achieved this so far."

Only half the world then! heh

but this is cool, good luck to ISRO

[DaveBB]

Before too long, Mars is going to have a lot of space debris in orbit.  It'll be much harder to track than the 20,000+ objects we have floating around Earth.

[danny76]

Could the money been better invested in helping those in abject poverty than toddling off in the footsteps of many who have already fruitlessly done this before?

[GScholz]

They won't need to track them. Unlike back in the space race days, today the resulting orbit of every piece of equipment is calculated beforehand. Only an accident up there is going to create significant debris that we don't know the orbit of.

[GScholz]

Could the money been better invested in helping those in abject poverty than toddling off in the footsteps of many who have already fruitlessly done this before?

I like microwave ovens and cell phones.

[danny76]

See Rules #2, #4

[GScholz]

India will get a lot of research into communication systems out of this. The mission costs India $72 million, so it cost each Indian $0.05. By comparison the Microsoft yearly R&D budget in around $10 billion. Yeah, that's billion with a "B".

As for your comment on hunting: Yeah, I do enjoy that, and I don't really care whether or not you commend it. Just be happy I'm not hunting you!

[Ripsnort]

Regarding a successful mission, they will be out of luck if the computer reports an onboard system failure and needs to call India for Help Desk support. 

[GScholz]

Like I said: India will get a lot of research into communication systems out of this. 

[Curval]

Regarding a successful mission, they will be out of luck if the computer reports an onboard system failure and needs to call India for Help Desk support. 

LOL

[nrshida]

Just be happy I'm not hunting you!

You've not met Danny in person have you.

[rogwar]

Regarding a successful mission, they will be out of luck if the computer reports an onboard system failure and needs to call India for Help Desk support. 

and maybe even be re-routed to the Philippines.

[gyrene81]

and maybe even be re-routed to the Philippines.

that would require a supervisory escalation...on hold for 20 minutes.

[Slate]

  It was only a matter of time after perfecting ground transportation. The mission should arrive at Mars by no later than June of 2115.