14 November 2013

INDIA’S BRIGHT FUTURE IN SPACE

Your leading article is right to endorse India’s Mars space probe. ( 6 November). India faces huge problems, but has come a long way since colonial rule ended in 1947. Millions of people have come out of poverty and millions more will in the coming years given its dynamic economy. Scientific breakthroughs are important to find solutions to a host of issues facing our world. The idea that India should halt any attempt to explore new vistas of opportunities until it rids itself of all poverty is nonsensical and simplistic. Would the US stop its space programme because it is $70trn in red? India is already reaping the benefits of its space programme in forecasting weather conditions and gathering other valuable information for better planning.

Nitin Mehta
Croydon