India continues to position itself to be among the elites in the space world; See “India Accelerates into the Cosmos.” “This year we hope to send an Indian spacecraft, Chandrayaan, to the Moon,” announced Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on August 15, who called it “an important milestone” for India (Press Trust of India). If successful, India will join an elite club of countries (5 so far; China recently joined) who have orbited a spacecraft around the Moon.

The Indian Space Research Organization, based in Bangalore, plans a two year orbital mission for this robotic spacecraft and has integrated 11 scientific sensors into Chandrayaan-I, includng 5 from outside India (e.g. Europe, U.S.), to study lunar surface chemistry and possibly locate lunar polar ice deposits. Any subsurface lunar lakes will be of inestimable importance to future Moonbases, especially those planned for the Moon’s strategic polar areas that feature continuous sunlight. The follow-on mission will include a surface rover to collect Moon rocks and is under development with Russia.

These types of ebullient plans for deep space (at the Moon!) bespeak the approach of the spectacular 2015 Maslow WIndow, but for India, come at a time when the engine of its impressive economic growth (8+% annually) is slowing down. The Wall Street Journal (8/20/08) reports that after a decade of 40+% annual growth rates, India’s information-technology industry is decelerating rapidly partly due to reduced demand in the U.S. and its own increasng labor expenses.

In the current environment some have questioned the spending on India’s space program — a typical pre-Maslow Window concern; such questions usually recede during Maslow Windows due to societal ebullience as the population ascends Maslow’s heirarchy. Indian visionaries such as former Indian science minister M.G.K. Menon respond that the Moon program “will excite the younger generation” and incease national prestige and confidence. The Prime Minister wants to “…see a modern India, imbued by a scientific temper, where the benefits of modern knowledge flow to all sections of society.”

Indeed, international recognition of India’s high-tech prowess and its close relationship with the United States are evidenced by the pending nuclear deal where the U.S. will supply India with nuclear fuel and technology for civilian power purposes (WSJ, 8/20/08). Like France, which produces almost 90% of its electricity from nuclear plants, India wants a nuclear solution to its surging (9% annual) demand for electricity — resulting in 15+ hours per day of power cuts in some rural areas. The 45 nation Nuclear Suppliers Group is expected to approve the deal which is supported by Germany and Japan, and incidentally, also by both McCain and Obama.

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