Indian Space Odyssey
Sunday, June 24, 2007
"The Indian Space Odyssey" read the headline in one of the Indian newspapers.
"India stayed up to track Sunita's return" read another one.
It was reality television at its best. Packed with spine-chilling thrills, nerve-wrecking action and ending with an outburst of cheers and tears, Sunita Williams’ journey back to terra firma was watched with rapt attention throughout India. While some Indians performed pujas through the night, others tracked her return by the microsecond on the NASA website. Most, though, just chose to sit glued to their television sets.
"India stayed up to track Sunita's return" read another one.
It was reality television at its best. Packed with spine-chilling thrills, nerve-wrecking action and ending with an outburst of cheers and tears, Sunita Williams’ journey back to terra firma was watched with rapt attention throughout India. While some Indians performed pujas through the night, others tracked her return by the microsecond on the NASA website. Most, though, just chose to sit glued to their television sets.
How can one not think what this all about? Sigh!! Is there really something wrong or is it just me? Can our country [India] claim any role in the so called "Indian" space odyssey? The answer is simple - No. Why then do our folks act the way they do is beyond my comprehension. NASA has a right to take proud in whatever they have accomplished and so do the Americans. But these folks in the Indian media - are nothing but a bunch of jokers.
For one, she was born in Ohio and has an Indian origin because her father hails from India. But thats it. There's nothing wrong in making the Atlantis story a big deal, there's a way to do it. The reasons that our folks back home quote are quite stoopid. And then run SMS campaigns praying for the safe return back home of Sunita Williams. I personally don't have anything against the astronaut, she has achieved many milestones and has reached heights that other's haven't. The problem that I have is with the media and the people back in India. We do have more than enough pagans back home don't we? Why then do we spend energy and time for folks like Williams, Jindal etc.etc.
A quick check on the news aired in Slovenia reveals the difference. Afterall Sunita is a half Slovenian yeah? So a quick check revealed that they have other things going on. The top headlines were -
I only have two words to say "Shut Up". Make claims when ISRO sends folks on a space trip. Back them up and give them credit for what they have been doing. Support their effort and teach children back home the "facts" instead of making someone (who's not even looked back at India) an overnight hero.
For one, she was born in Ohio and has an Indian origin because her father hails from India. But thats it. There's nothing wrong in making the Atlantis story a big deal, there's a way to do it. The reasons that our folks back home quote are quite stoopid. And then run SMS campaigns praying for the safe return back home of Sunita Williams. I personally don't have anything against the astronaut, she has achieved many milestones and has reached heights that other's haven't. The problem that I have is with the media and the people back in India. We do have more than enough pagans back home don't we? Why then do we spend energy and time for folks like Williams, Jindal etc.etc.
A quick check on the news aired in Slovenia reveals the difference. Afterall Sunita is a half Slovenian yeah? So a quick check revealed that they have other things going on. The top headlines were -
- Slovenia Cracks down on smoking.
- Slovenian ambassador visits Bethlehem
I only have two words to say "Shut Up". Make claims when ISRO sends folks on a space trip. Back them up and give them credit for what they have been doing. Support their effort and teach children back home the "facts" instead of making someone (who's not even looked back at India) an overnight hero.
Labels: India, ISRO, Media, NASA, Space, US
Posted by Rajesh @ 10:50 AM; PERMALINK,
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NASA decides its enough !!
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
We all have heard/read Neil Armstrong make a historic statement "That's one small step for (a) man, one giant leap for mankind". After so many years, we hear something similar again.
Yes. NASA finally decides to go completely "metric". I say completely 'cause they have been trying a few things here and there but it was not until today that they came up stating that - the next time they return astronauts to the Moon, the mission will be measured in kilometers - not in MILES.
I wonder why the FPS system is still being followed out here when the rest of the world has adopted and adapted to the SI system - using Metre, Gram, Litre instead of Miles and Pounds and Gallons. The worst part is that the education system here makes us learn facts and figures in the SI system. But once you graduate and get out there in the real world - gotta revert back to FPS.
I (like many others out here) have found this amusing and it took me some time to get accustomed to the usage, especially implementing it in my day-to-day activities. Guess its time to move ahead and why not? At least we won't be losing spacecrafts. According to Wikipedia, "As of 2005 only three countries, the United States, Liberia, and Myanmar (Burma) had not completed the changeover". Wow !! There's some company ;-)
Looking into the near future - I believe NASA would be losing a bit of productivity due to the switch. Scientists would have to "re-learn" the sizes of all the equipments, Metal Sheets, Screws, Fasteners (and what not).
Let's go back to school !!
Yes. NASA finally decides to go completely "metric". I say completely 'cause they have been trying a few things here and there but it was not until today that they came up stating that - the next time they return astronauts to the Moon, the mission will be measured in kilometers - not in MILES.
I wonder why the FPS system is still being followed out here when the rest of the world has adopted and adapted to the SI system - using Metre, Gram, Litre instead of Miles and Pounds and Gallons. The worst part is that the education system here makes us learn facts and figures in the SI system. But once you graduate and get out there in the real world - gotta revert back to FPS.
I (like many others out here) have found this amusing and it took me some time to get accustomed to the usage, especially implementing it in my day-to-day activities. Guess its time to move ahead and why not? At least we won't be losing spacecrafts. According to Wikipedia, "As of 2005 only three countries, the United States, Liberia, and Myanmar (Burma) had not completed the changeover". Wow !! There's some company ;-)
Looking into the near future - I believe NASA would be losing a bit of productivity due to the switch. Scientists would have to "re-learn" the sizes of all the equipments, Metal Sheets, Screws, Fasteners (and what not).
Let's go back to school !!
Labels: FPS, Kilo, Mars, Metre, Mile, MKS, Moon, NASA, School, SI, Space, Spacecraft, US, Wikipedia
Posted by Rajesh @ 7:49 PM; PERMALINK,
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