India Joins League of Lunar Nations

Q: Are you planning to have any collaboration with the Americans?

A: NASA had suggested training astronauts in their facility. We asked specifically, could they take these trained Indian astronauts in their space shuttle? But unfortunately, there is no slot available in the space shuttle [which is being decommissioned in 2010]. So because of this we didn’t pursue the topic. But the first priority is to evolve a highly reliable launch system. We must develop access to space ourselves because rocket technologies are highly guarded. Beyond that, there can always be collaboration in space exploration like there is in Chandrayaan-1.

Q: You also have plans for reaching Mars.

A: Technically, we have the capability to go there. Our GSLV Mark II can carry a spacecraft similar to a Chandrayaan-1 to a Mars orbit. But we don’t want to do such a sophisticated mission just to repeat what others have done. If everything goes all right, by about 2013 to 2015 we should be able to attempt a Mars mission.

Q: how much would it cost to go to Mars?

A: It could be about 6000 million to 7000 million rupees [$120 million to $140 million] for an unmanned mission. But more than the money, what is important is getting the right kind of scientific groups [to work on Mars], of which there is a dearth [in India] today.

Q: Should humans go to Mars?

A: Well, if one wants to establish a colony, Mars could be more amenable than the moon. The NASA missions have spotted ice, and also there is an atmosphere, though it is a hostile atmosphere. Perhaps we can derive livable conditions from those components. A small portion of our budget is set aside for such advanced missions [Editor’s note: It is 16 percent]. In the long run I think if you want to maintain a leadership position in space, such sophisticated missions will become important.

Q: What new technologies will you need?

A: For interplanetary travel, nuclear propulsion may become essential. But there are a lot of hazards associated with handling nuclear fuel and technologies. Maybe the intermediate solution could be ion propulsion with solar energy.

Q: Do you think humans will be able to endure the flight to Mars?

A: New findings have always come because of an adventurous approach to facing such challenges. I think human beings are endowed with such a capability. The long duration of travel in space, that becomes really complex. First of all, without gravity the human body behaves in an entirely different manner, and so we must learn how to compensate for it and how to make sure that no disintegration or damage happens.

Q: Atrophy of the muscles…

A: All those muscles, bones, and even the blood flow, you know, all these things become question marks. Then comes the radiation, sustained radiation for long duration. A lot needs to be done. It won’t be an easy job.

For more articles, go to Special Report: Why Mars? Why Now?