India's first step towards Mars is worth the price. [Infographic]
India is different than many wealthier countries with respect to population and resource management. So creatively making things in limited budget or as the Indians call it ‘jugaad’ has become the national strength.
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With just a fortnight away from making history in the Martian atmosphere, India’s MOM is a feat in its own right. It is only a $75 million mission that has showcased to the world that you don’t have to empty your banks to reach Mars.
It is unarguably true that India faces significant developmental challenges that need considerable action and lot of money. Nevertheless, stopping space missions will not stop poverty or development!
However, “The budget of MOM, is just three-quarters of the $100 million that Hollywood spent on last year’s space-based hit, “Gravity.” And, Diwali firecracker market in India costs Rs.5000 Cr, in this budget, ISRO can send an average of 10 Mangalyaans every year at the cost of Rs. 450 Cr to Mars!
But how did ISRO manage to make technologically advanced MOM cost effective?
Cost effectiveness is the mantra of many IT companies in India and ISRO is not an exception. Most obvious way to save cost is by saving on engineering talent. Recruiting young engineers saved India 15% of the Mars mission budget. Of all the 2500 scientists and engineers working on Mangalyaan , majority are in the age group of 27 to 32.
Terri Bresenham’s , “if necessity is the mother of innovation, constraint is the mother of frugal innovation” correctly suits this Indian scenario where a strict development schedule contributed to its low cost. The task was scheduled on an hourly basis, in order to meet the November 2013 geometry of the sun, mars and earth for the launch.
Like the Americans, Europeans or other space agencies, India did not build a qualification model, a flight model and a flight spare model of MOM. The modest budget only allowed one robust spacecraft that is ready to fly as soon as it is ready.
As Mr. Radhakrishnan, the chairman of ISRO explains the cost effectiveness of MOM, ours is the ‘Old is gold’ philosophy. The launch vehicle used in the mars orbiter mission was developed in 1970 and has been successfully used since then as GSLV launcher.
The Indian secularism has everything to do with its participation in the space race. Many systems like altitude controller, gyro, star tracker and other sensors were not tailor made for MOM but kept the same across many ISRO missions. Although a reliable backup is always handy in case of emergencies.
However, India is no longer poverty-ridden. It is developing at a decent pace and is learning to balance in house development, along with international competition and what better than showing off its abilities once in a while, by shooting at the red planet!
Let the countdown begin!
