Forum Topic

Chandrayaan-3 lands on the Moon

Quite an achievement for India's space programme.....until we get an MCB Newsflash telling us that the whole thing was faked ?Of course, Wallace & Gromit got there first......

Richard Greenhough ● 627d26 Comments

Cold and hungry, things don't change much do they.

Janice Evans ● 624d

That's why one Country shouldn't have to cover all the cost so they have funds for other things, space exploration should be in everyone's interest,well that's just my opinion.  We have hungry children, I was hungry as a child and yes it's wrong.

Janice Evans ● 624d

Bugger space exploration, Janice. Every country should contribute to making sure that no child in the world ever goes to bed hungry, here on earth.

Roger Talbot ● 624d

Nikos, you take piety and condesencion to new heights.Get a grip.

Keith Iddon ● 624d

Not really calling this recolonisation and its a bit insensitive to term it that way. We all know how 'colonies' suffered so I'd kindly ask you to be respectful.I am more pointing towards the strategic partnership and how it is not as simple as just moving the aid from one place to the other.This Telegraph article can also help elaborate my view.Indian Ministers have passed a motion to stop taking aid from Britain but Britain pressurised India to get it cancelled.https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/india/9061844/India-tells-Britain-We-dont-want-your-aid.html#:~:text=According%20to%20a%20leaked%20memo,Indian%20poverty%20promoted%20by%20DFID%E2%80%9D.

Nikos Satsi ● 625d

The aid contributions I believe have been adjusted accordingly, but then told it would increase so bit lost there.

Janice Evans ● 625d

I get it, and think every country should contribute towards space exploration.

Janice Evans ● 625d

So you are saying this is a kind of recolonisation by another name via aid? That doesn't really scan for me.And it will never work.

Keith Iddon ● 625d

Any budget is always decided based on multiple factors and is proportioned to all the sectors of the society based on the needs - to put in simpler terms.The foreign aid works pretty much the same. The UK is also spending millions in other countries despite not getting much transparency. And India isn't just at receiving end of this, India also spends millions in foreign aid to the neighbouring countries despite border issues. Also remember that Nepal and Bhootan are 2 countries which are totally dependent on India for all sorts of infrastructure and security needs. Just like in the UK, we can't take out the budget from social housing and put it into NHS (even though patients were dying and nurses being overworked).Finally, its extremely crucial for the UK to help India and the subcontinent - not just for historical but also for economical reasons. Many Western businesses like Amazon, Uber have failed to garner support in China, and India & subcontinents offer a huge market to them. Helping India isn't just wasting money but there is a long term goal of having a control in major economy in Asia.Going to the moon - especially to the south pole isn't a small feat but I get it that you don't get it.

Nikos Satsi ● 625d

Thanks Richard, that's a shame.

Janice Evans ● 625d

Janice, that was the idea behind the International Space Station - and once the US had to retire the Space Shuttle they relied on Russian rockets to get to and from the station. The deterioration of relations between the USA and Russia since Vladolf Putler started his wars of attempted conquest has made such co-operation infinitely more difficult going forward.

Richard Greenhough ● 626d

Britain is set to boost aid to India by 70 per cent, it has emerged, just days after the country launched a rocket into space.The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), which distributes aid, sent India £33.4 million in aid cash in 2022/23.But the FCDO’s annual report, published this week, reveals that the total is set to rise to £57 million in 2024/25.This will be topped up by an as-yet-unknown amount from the business department, which usually gives more than £10 million.

Rae Lewis ● 626d

Not that I think space exploration is wrong but that it should be a world venture that every country contributes towards whichever country wantsto take on a space programme.

Janice Evans ● 626d

They could have put it towards the rail services, so many lost lives onovercrowded trains.

Janice Evans ● 626d

I read that the Indian moon shot cost about 6 billion rupees, so if they didn’t do it and spent the money on other projects,  it only represents about 6 rupees per head of population, which is about sixpence.

Peter Evans ● 626d

An excerpt from the above link:As the Review notes, the Government decided in 2015 to end direct bilateral financial assistance to the Indian government. This continues to be the position. The decision recognised that India has made substantial development gains and was increasingly able to invest in its own development. Since then, we have concentrated on investments to help secure sustainable private sector growth and to tackle climate change, reflecting the importance of continued economic growth to meet the Sustainable Development Goals in India (average income per head is less than $2,500), and that India is one of a handful of countries whose development choices will determine global climate outcomes.

Andrew Jones ● 626d

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/icai-recommendations-on-uk-aid-to-india-uk-government-response/government-response-to-the-independent-commission-on-aid-impacts-review-uk-aid-to-india-march-2023#:~:text=As%20the%20Review%20notes%2C%20the,invest%20in%20its%20own%20development.Doesn't sound like the UK pays the Indian Government money out of the overseas aid budget.

Andrew Jones ● 626d

W4 Daily Mail readers kicking off .

Dick Greenleigh ● 626d

Many no longer need such large handouts from us, thought it was supposed to deal with poverty.

Janice Evans ● 626d

It is Basil's business,assuming he is a tax payer.

Keith Iddon ● 626d

It’s not a good point.Basil is hinting that since “we” gave money to India, then India shouldn’t be having a space programme.Well, I think that India would tell Basil to mind his own business. Or would highlight how, in spite of Britain having the worst level of children malnourishment in Western Europe (or situations like Grenfell) we still play with nuclear bombs as if we were a world power. Or perhaps they might remind us of the incredible mess we left them with after Partition.Well done ISRO, and well done to India.

Francis Sheehan ● 626d

Good point,Basil.

Keith Iddon ● 626d

Ahem, I mean green!

Robert Fish ● 626d

Is there any blue paneer left?

Robert Fish ● 626d

What's not fake is the amount of aid money we sent to India.

Basil Finnis ● 627d

DAre you sure that it wasn't Lionel Jefferies, Edward Judd and Martha Hyer?

N V Brooks ● 627d