Accounts in the American media view the successful launch of India’s Mars mission not only as a technological leap for the country, but also one with a distinct potential for a “symbolic coup” over China in the space arena.
“A successful mission by India’s Mars orbiter would make the country the first Asian nation to reach the Red Planet — and provide a symbolic coup as neighbouring China steps up its ambitions in space,” CNN reported.
“If it succeeds, India’s Mars mission would represent a technological leap for the South Asia nation, pushing it ahead of space rivals China and Japan in the field of interplanetary exploration,” wrote The Wall Street Journal.
Dr James Clay Moltz, a professor at US Naval Postgraduate School who closely follows space security issues, suggests India’s focus on Mars is a product of an increasing Asian space race.
“I believe India’s leadership sees China’s recent accomplishments in space science as a threat to its status in Asia, and feels the need to respond,” Moltz told CNN, which at the same time referred to ISRO chairman K. Radhakrishnan’s categorical comment that India is not in a race with anyone.
China’s Global Times itself is fuelling reports that India is being driven by competition with China. The tabloid, owned by the Chinese Communist Party, claimed in a commentary that “India has an ambitious goal of leading Asia in this area, especially having an advantage over China….New Delhi has set China as its target, while China views the advanced level of the US and Russia as a reference.”
Some US reports have highlighted the risks that MOM may be up against in its long journey. CNN quoted the ISRO chairman’s observation that “the journey has only begun” and “challenging days are coming”.
As Space.com puts it: “It’s tough to reach Mars with spacecraft, and more than half of the 40 missions launched to the Red Planet since 1960 have failed. India would be only the fourth country or space agency to deliver a probe to Mars after Russia, the United States and the European Space Agency if the Mars Orbiter Mission succeeds.”
MOM and the US’s own soon-to-be-launched MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN) will arrive nearly simultaneously in Mars orbit next September – joining Earth’s invasion fleet of five operational orbiters and intrepid surface rovers currently unveiling the mysteries of the Red Planet.
“Although they were developed independently and have different suites of scientific instruments, the MAVEN and MOM science teams will “work together” to unlock the secrets of Mars atmosphere and climate history,” writes Universe Today quoting MAVEN’s Principal Investigator Bruce Jakosky.