India’s space program suffered a setback July 10 when a domestically built rocket carrying a television broadcasting satellite failed shortly after liftoff.
The Geostationary Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV), which was making its second operational flight, was ordered destroyed when it veered out of control 40 seconds after lifting off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota. The launch debris, including the $20 million Insat-4C communications satellite, fell into the Bay of Bengal.


The curry was too hot!


Joking apart, how the hell can a country who have millions BELOW any humane poverty line afford to send rockets into space? Surely their priority is the population?

Joking apart, how the hell can a country who have millions BELOW any humane poverty line afford to send rockets into space? Surely their priority is the population?
How does America or any other country differ in this respect?

I never said they didn't but at least they have the $$$ to do both, India hasn't. How the hell can they afford a space program and be on World Benefits?

Sure it wasn't a private organisation?

Full article is on www.space.com

I never said they didn't but yada yada yada..
No, that's right. They don't.

such are the risks....... and inida has now to pay....

its no big deal.... all interstellar efforts are rife with these obsticles.

it will not stop the space program.

-MT

I never said they didn't but at least they have the $$$ to do both, India hasn't. How the hell can they afford a space program and be on World Benefits?

America can't 'afford' a space program over benefits for it's own people either, not having decent welfare or healthcare. India at least acknowledges it's shortcomings in this area and allows others to help.

If you factor the politics of India and Pakistan into this you may see why we might sponsor India?

Surely their priority is the population?
Why should the priority be population?
The alternative is either military or science (most popular once surely) Military alternative would (hopefully for them) grant them new resources, which would be a good thing for the population. In the end, it would still be the general population who benefits. In the long run, is it wiser to give a starving man a fishing-rod or fish? (New technology or the dole?)

Television broadcasts are a cheap way of controlling and satisfying the population. So, one would argue that sending a satelite into space for those reasons does indicate that the priority is population.