Conflicting reports suggest that NASA may offer an astronaut slot to an Indian citizen in one of the next selection cycles. The Telegraph reports that an offer is imminent:
After Indian-American astronaut Kalpana Chawla, an Indian national could soon hitch a ride aboard a US space shuttle. An announcement could be made after the Joint Working Group on Civil Space Co-operation meets in Washington next month.
“The US offered to include an Indian astronaut in its training modules and later on a flight. So, it is their invitation rather than our request,” a source at the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) said.
“That’s why we cannot say much except that Discovery’s smooth landing means it could happen sooner than expected. We will begin working on the details after the next meeting of the joint working group.“
vs.
To a question on an Indian astronaut being trained by NASA, he [Chairman G Madhavan Nair of ISRO] said ISRO had not received any such proposal. [Link]
The India Daily seems to corroborate though, with an actual attributable source:
In a clear reflection of the newfound bonhomie, Robert Blake, Deputy Chief of US Mission in India, told reporters in Chennai that India’s moon mission would have active participation of the US.“We wanted to do more in the area of space exploration, space navigation, satellite navigation and launch. We want to launch two US instruments on the “Chandrayan” (moon mission). Finally we agreed to include an India astronaut in the US astronaut programme,” Blake said.
India plans to send an unmanned mission to the moon by 2008, in what is seen as an effort to showcase the country’s scientific capabilities. The mission has been named as ”Chandrayan Pratham” (First Journey to the Moon).”
Now I’m a little skeptical. Deputy State Department officials don’t usually have sway with NASA. It’s true that foreign astronauts do fly with NASA (including an Israeli and a Japanese citizen on the last two missions), but in recent years they have almost all been from countries which have a stake in the International Space Station. India is not one of those countries. Israel isn’t either though. Israel is however a strategic partner with whom we share a lot of technology. Given that Bush is a big supporter of space exploration and a recent supporter of technology transfer with India, maybe it’s not so far-fetched after all. My personal attitude (obviously for selfish reasons) is that there are plenty of good Indian American candidates already. Hmmmm, maybe now would be a good time to apply for that dual-citizenship 
. On the flip-side the Russians took up Rakesh Sharma over two decades ago. It may be time for an Indian citizen to make the trip again.
Ahoy there Abhi, I have a question. Like you, I too am obsessed with all things space – I did my intercalated BSc (a BSc in the middle of the MBBS) in Space Medicine in the hope that one day I can steal your berth on the Mars Mission. I was going to come out to spend some time in Houston on a study programme, but sadly I don’t have the space dollars. So my question is – when do you think the Mars mission will be? The way I see it, if you’re going to be away for 2 years, losing half your skeleton in the process, you’re gonna need a doctor…
I was also reading about Virgin Galactic or whatever Branson’s called it, and all his competitors today. I can’t believe the prices they’re proposing eventually – about $70,000. I was expecting WAY more than that. I could just sell a few kidneys and Bob’s your uncle I’m a space cadet. But then again it’s meant to only be a 2Å“ hour flight, tethered to your seats. Where’s the fun in that?
On a somewhat-unrelated-but-sorta-related note, I was wondering if the US offers dual citizenship with India. I’m a greencard holder right now so I wasn’t sure.
Please visit
http://www.state.gov/ http://www.indianembassy.org/
Rules change quite often, and rather than depending on blogs (or me or buddies or anyone else), please consult an attorney.
This is one of the topics where little or outdated knowledge can be really dangerous.
BB, My best guess is that a Human Mars Mission won’t happen until at least ~2025 unless something miraculous happens (politically and not technologically miraculous). As much as I despise Bush, he has been great for Space. The crew will most likely be comprised of 40-60 years olds and so I am still holding out hope. ItÂ’s kind of sad since we were supposed to have landed there in the early 80s according to the early plans.
You would need a doctor on a Mars mission, but the doctor would have to be cross-trained. Most M.D. astronauts are often military pilots, engineers, scientists, or something else as well. One guy had 6 degrees on top of his M.D., (but he was just a badass).
As far as Virgin Galactic, I went to the first launch of the ship that put that idea in motion. Trust me, $70,000 is worth it. There is no greater feeling than being weightless and I’d imagine a ride on a stick of dynamite would be even better. Also I’ve heard that seeing the curvature of the Earth changes you. The people I’ve met that have been to the Moon are definitely not normal. But maybe they never were.
Woot? You’ve a c t u a ll y met peepul who have been on the Moon!
That’s the closest I have came to anything space-y. If you dont mind my asking this, what/where are you studying/doing Abhi?
I had the pleasure of meeting Rakesh Sharma in Bangalore when I was growing up (I think I was about 8). I remember running up to him when he visited a friend of his who lived next door to us, asked for his autography and then ran away in triumph. He was a really cool dude and he didn’t mind me interrupting him for his autography. 🙂
That is so cool – seriously cool.
What? A discussion about space travel on a liberal blog and not one comment like “Do we really need to go to space when there are millions of hungry and poor?”!!! They certainly don’t make liberals like they used to sigh!
Not sure if India is doing any work on bio-med research in space, like growing stuff in zero-gravity etc. That will probably yield a better return on investment.
M. Nam
MoorNam, my Cambridge interview consisted mostly of me justifying space research and exploration in light of people starving and dying of cancer etc, simply because I mentioned an interest in cosmology on my form. Sure it’s a difficult quandry, but my response in a nutshell boiled down to the human race having an immense desire to know the unknown. I truly believe the space race was more about learning about the solar system we live in, as opposed to getting one over on the Soviets. Sure that sped things up, but I think space brings out the best in the human race. I don’t think stopping famines and visiting Mars are mutually exclusive. If you’re so worried about diverting money away from the needy, how come you took that stance on Big Pharma? But let’s not re-open that can of vermiculation here! Some may say why did China send a man into space or why is India planning a Moon landing? But I don’t think the mentality is all that different to understanding why India got the bomb. One is far more belicose than the other, but both are about stamping your position in the global hierarchy. I’d be happy to discuss this more if you like, I find it a very complex situation.
Cheers Abhi. I’ve heard dates between 2015-2035. I still think 2025 is too early a guesstimate. So 2025 would make me…43, perfect. Better keep in shape. Can I fit six more degrees in before then?! That’s crazy.
About Virgin Galactic – I read there’s a race to be the first honeymoon couple in space. I’m going to do my best to make that me and the girlfriend! What’s £40,000 on top of my gargantuan student loan? Hell I’ve been living off my gf for 2 years already, she can pay!
Punjabi Boy – yeah it was great. It was at UCL, we had video linkups to NASA and ESA, very cool. It also had some high altitude medicine which was equally interesting as it’s something most of us can experience without a rocket!
Nice pix Abhi.
BongBreaker: >>If you’re so worried about diverting money away from the needy…
What, me worry?
Heck, I think they should expand space exploration, although I’m not sure that government will do a better job than the private sector. The Explorer in me wants the government to fund a Mars expedition, where as the Libertarian in me wants the government to get out of the space business and let private initiative take its course.
There are too many variables between now and then. The world will most like see a massive recession in a few years – the excesses of the 90’s have not been corrected yet. Then we have the social-security and medicare/pension quagmires which will be a drag on government finances. And then we have terrorism. These will all take up a lot of government resources, and considering that the Mars expedition will cost close to half-a-trillion, I don’t see it happening until all these are sorted out. I would say 50 years from now…
But the Optimist in me has hope.
M. Nam
Suhail, I work for NASA and I met them when I was still in Houston. I’ve met Buzz Aldrin and John Young. Buzz pitched us several of his ideas on the orbital mechanics associated with his idea of how to get to Mars cheaply. Young is a great guy. Totally full of energy even though he is up there in age.
Nope, that’s far-fethced number. Given a streamlined business style management structure and a political mandate you could do it with less that a 100 billion (multiple missions), which is tiny compared to military expenditure. Spreading the cost with International Partners would probably end up costing more and not less because of shifting politics. Most of the cost goes into vehicle development. Delayed schedules and requirments changes allow the contractors to penalize the government. That is what drives the runaway cost.
Abhi writes: >>you could do it with less that a 100 billion (multiple missions), which is tiny compared to military expenditure.
Then the Libertarian in me wins – I prefer private expeditions since they can afford it.
M. Nam
You are a hero. Thats great.
hello! i am 14yr. old and i am from delhi india and i want to become the first child who will be go moon.there for i want help for do this work.who read this comment of my so if you have contact of nasa and another places.so please help me. thankyou,