Rama Krishna Sangem
The spectacular success of Chandrayaan-3 soft landing on Moon this week drew huge applause from across the world. But, what’s special about this time is Pakistan’s praise on the mission terming it a great scientific achievement of ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) and its scientists). Pakistan’s foreign ministry spokesperson congratulated the Moon mission, while Pak media went overboard on its path breaking soft landing on the lunar south pole.
What irked the Pakistani media is the poor performance of its space agency, Space & Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), launched a little ahead of the space activity of India in early 1960’s. The SUPARCO could send a digital satellite, Badr -1, meaning full moon, through a Chinese rocket from a Chinese space station in 1990. Most of Pakistan’s space operations are backed and sponsored by China.
As every of China’s help comes with a price tag – of course, on expected lines – Pakistan with its falling financial conditions couldn’t afford more missions, or go much forward. Incidentally, Pakistan is the only Muslim country which has set its eyes on space, mainly out of its rivalry with India, not out of its scientific quest or technological requirements. Naturally, SUPARCO is funded and works under the military establishment, unlike any other country.
Growing economic problems and political instability tied down Pakistan space missions drastically. For decades together, SUPARCO couldn’t launch any satellites. Now, Pakistan has an ambitious mission by 2040, but its success is doubtful as the country’s financial situation is not that rosy. What caught the ordinary Pakistani youth and common man is ISRO’s peaceful path of explorations and its scientific advancements.
“Great Scientific achievement”
Pakistan, in a belated response, has termed the success of the Chandrayaan-3 mission as a great scientific achievement for which ISRO scientists deserved appreciation while the country’s leading dailies heaped praises on India for achieving the feat on a lesser budget than rich nations.
Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch during her briefing on August 25, Friday was asked to comment on the successful soft-landing of the Chandrayaan-3 mission on the Moon. I can only say that it is a great scientific achievement, for which ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) scientists deserve appreciation, she said in her brief response.
Pakistan had so far officially ignored the landmark success of India. The media, however, gave front-page coverage to the historic event on Wednesday.
The Dawn newspaper in its editorial headlined ‘India’s space quest’ called the success of the Chandrayaan-3 mission historic. The paper said this particular feat deserves appreciation as India achieved on a lesser budget what richer nations accomplished by spending larger sums.
Perhaps the key to the success of India’s space programme, apart from sustained state support, is the quality and dedication of its engineers and scientists who helped make these difficult missions possible, it commented. “Comparisons are indeed odious, but there may be plenty for Pakistan to learn from India’s space success. Pakistan’s space programme was launched before India’s and managed modest success,” it said.
