India's Mars mission: Picture that spoke 1,000 words (BBC)

[eppur_se_muova]

Soutik Biswas
Delhi correspondent

When the crowded command control room of India's Mars mission exploded into applause after it successfully put a satellite into orbit around the Red Planet, photographer Manjunath Kiran of the AFP news agency clicked this remarkable image of scientists congratulating each other.

Wednesday's picture arrived with a rather anodyne caption saying "staff from the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) celebrate after the Mars Orbiter Spacecraft (Mom) successfully entered the Mars orbit".

But in reality, the picture was about much more than that - a bunch of smiling Indian women resplendent in gorgeous saris greeting each other as their male colleagues look on admiringly at mission control in Bangalore.

"The women were leading the applause when the good news arrived. They were celebrating more than men. Who said men are from Mars and women are from Venus?" says senior science journalist Pallava Bagla, who was present in the control room.

The picture - which brightened up my manic morning writing up the Mars mission story - went viral and became the event's image of the day.



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more: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-29357472




The mars orbiter spacecraft is known as "Mom" ?

[Fred Sanders]

1. Far, far too much bad news gets coverage compared to much, much good news in the world.

Kicked to the moon and recommended on planets everywhere.

India has more genuine high level scientists than Americans have guns.

"Nandini Harinath, 44, a physicist and a mother of two, was the deputy operations director of the Mars mission - in other words, she was the person "operating" the spacecraft between Earth and Mars. "It's easier to bring up children than to control the Mars orbiter," she told the NDTV news channel. Minal Sampath and her team built three instruments for the spacecraft and she wants to become "the first woman director of a space centre".

[randome]

2. India has a hell of a lot of discrimination and subjugation, as well.

Celebrate the good but don't gloss over the bad.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]A 90% chance of rain means the same as a 10% chance:
It might rain and it might not.[/center][/font][hr]

[Fred Sanders]

5. You could put that generic and meaningless tag on any country.

This is a fantastic technological accomplishment, with women at the forefront, there is no other point to be made.

I think some folks are just jealous.

[randome]

7. Hardly jealousy.

I was just struck by the congratulatory accolades being exchanged by women forced to wear the clothing that men dictate.

Notice the men are all dressed in less formal attire.

I agree the accomplishment is something to celebrate.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]Aspire to inspire.[/center][/font][hr]

[BrotherIvan]

13. Wow, you really don't know what you're talking about

Most women still wear saris in India. They are cool, light and comfortable. Western dress for women is hardly regular. They aren't burkas.

[BrotherIvan]

6. Upper class women have been able to obtain high levels of education for a long time

The lower classes do not enjoy the same freedom. Education, especially science and medicine is highly prized and encouraged in India. That's what separates it from other developing countries that are hampered by religion. But it also has many obstacles to face in its own tradition for moving it into the first world, much like China.

[Fred Sanders]

9. I would wager that the percentage of Americans that do not value an education is higher.

[BrotherIvan]

12. I am biased, but I believe a culture or country that does not value education is doomed

The fact that education has been devalued and put out of reach for the working classes in this country should be very alarming to everyone. The tinkering with our educational system, coupled with the extreme rise in praise for things like money and fame over brains is part of the plan. The rise of fundamentalism and the ridicule of independent thinking are right on schedule.

I am sure as scientists, this must have been a thrilling moment for all. Cheers to them.

[Hekate]

10. Who's glossing over the bad? Must every story of triumph be "balanced" by agony?

Can we not have even a moment of joy?

[randome]

11. I stated the irony of the picture better in post #7. Not meaning to rain on anyone's parade.

[hr][font color="blue"][center]Stop looking for heroes. BE one.[/center][/font][hr]

[CBGLuthier]

15. Yes, but what you stated in 7 is bullshit that has no meaning, so there is no irony.

You know nothing about India, its religions, its culture or its people.

[malaise]

3. For all the problems in India

there are many women in mathematics and the sciences.

[muriel_volestrangler]

4. Mars Orbiter Mission

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2014/09/draft-indias-mom-spacecraft-arrive-mars/

[eppur_se_muova]

17. And the BBC puts acronyms in lowercase, hence "Mom". Thanks, MV. nt

[Dirty Socialist]

8. You Go Ladies!

Bite me misogynists!

[Uncle Joe]

14. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, eppur_se_muova.

[countryjake]

16. kickety