From the Editor in Chief


	July 03, 2000

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From deep in the oceans to out there in space, mankind has constantly charted new frontiers and explored new territory. It is a spirit of adventure that dwells within some of us, the power of ideas and a defiance that no journey is truly impossible. When Neil Armstrong stepped gingerly on to the moon's surface it was a moment of wonder, and of breathtaking audacity. Imagine then, an Indian on the moon!

Space has never been foreign to us, for it surrounds and swirls around much of our mythology. It is also part of our reality. We are, after all, one of only a handful of nations which have built and launched satellites. For a bullock-cart land whose technological progress is seen to proceed at similar pace, it is a rather exclusive club to belong to.

But launching satellites carries with it no drama any longer. The idea is to keep journeying further, and for Indian scientists a mission to the moon -- and perhaps much later a manned mission -- is merely a logical corollary. Of course, as Deputy Editor Raj Chengappa, who researched and wrote the cover story, discovered, it is hardly a project with unanimous approval. Debate has been lengthy, and raucous, and understandably so. Let the big boys fly to the moon, insist critics, while we use our scarce resources to build superior satellites necessary for our development. Others see it differently. Such an adventure promises to capture public imagination and there is the promise of new discoveries on the moon. Most of all, they argue, it will allow Indian technology to push the envelope of possibility a little further.

Our cover story tackles these questions and takes an exclusive peek into the heart of India's proposed lunar mission. As Chengappa, who spoke at length to the mission team and other scientists, says, "In the past, India had a spirit of exploration but it has since died. This project is special because it has the potential to reignite the explorer in us."

It's not just a small step for India, it could be a giant leap.

(Aroon Purie)

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