What became of Pakistan’s space programme?

[Raul_AD]

Create your own strawmen, then tear away at it all day, buddy.

Don't worry we will export it through "DUBAI ROOT" ON 3TIMES COSTS.

 

[IND151]

Nearly 20 years ago, I remember walking through the packed halls of the then Taj Mahal hotel in Karachi where the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Commission (Suparco) had set up a magnificent display of the cosmos and their crowning jewel, the first Pakistani satellite Badar-1.

I remember, though young I was, how it captured the imagination of the young and old alike. How travel to the galaxy of stars, which at the time was only felt to be a figment of Hollywood’s unrestrained imagination, seemed like a reality to us.

The Mars rover programme of Nasa in 1998 threw the world into frenzy as they watched the first ever set of photos from the Red Planet’s surface. In Pakistan though, we continued to grapple with the uncertainty of our political and economic future.

Fast forward to present day, space is once again capturing our attention with neighbouring India managing a successful programme of not just launching into space but orchestrating the highly complex mission of sending a satellite to Mars– and that too on a shoestring budget.

It speaks volumes about their focus and of the capacity they have managed to build.

Suparco, initially formed under Pakistan’s sole Nobel laureate Dr Abdus Salam, seems to be creaking along to its Indian counterparts. Starved of funds, its focus has been limited to communication satellites, tracking weather in addition to working on specific military applications.

From being at the forefront of space exploration and development in Asia with the launch of Rehbar-I in the early 1960s, Pakistan today is far behind its neighbours including Iran, India and China.

The government, which gave impetus to our space programme by putting ink to a 30-year programme in 2011 in concert with the launch of our first communications satellite, needs to expand that to work with our educational institutions and expatriates. It must focus on building our capacity to produce the kind of minds which can help expand our capacities at a much faster pace and secure the space future of our country.

Perhaps, Suparco should hold more events such as the one in the Taj Mahal around the country to generate greater interest in the public to help take our space programme beyond the stars.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 29th, 2014.

Their problem seems to be lack of funds, but then India was very poor when it undertook space program.

So the real reason seems lack of visionary leaders.

 

[hunter_hunted]

Mars is out there and will remain there such 'Journeys' can be made later first thing first. We are solving our internal issues here like kicking the booties of terrorists and sending them to hell and stabilizing economy

 

[Ra'ad]

What a BS article and thread! Completely out of touch with reality. Random rants of a kid.

 

[IPL5]

What a BS article and thread! Completely out of touch with reality. Random rants of a kid.

what BS is there in the article, suparco is just failed as your country.
Fragile States Index

 

[Ra'ad]

what BS is there in the article, suparco is just failed as your country.
Fragile States Index

ShutUP....i didn't know you cared about our country more than us. Bigot! Focus on your own country..you got a long way to go. We got our own priorities.

 

[IPL5]

ShutUP....i didn't know you cared about our country more than us. Bigot! Focus on your own country..you got a long way to go. We got our own priorities.

looser

 

[Ra'ad]

^ Exactly the reason you started this thread. Picking up constructive self-criticism from pakistan to bash pakistanis. Theres is no point of this thread. You couldn't do any more than that. You're an embarrassment to Indians and all forum members. I don't detect any sign of intelligence from you.

 

[IPL5]

^ Exactly the reason you started this thread. Picking up constructive self-criticism from pakistan to bash pakistanis. Theres is no point of this thread. You couldn't do any more than that. You're an embarrassment to Indians and all forum members. I don't detect any sign of intelligence from you.

I think you are more frustrated with your own failure. don't show your frustration on me. Personal attacks -- your contribution.

 

[Ra'ad]

I feel like i'm talking to a wall >.<

 

[IPL5]

my belief is individuals are not that important, agree they are important, but process and institutions are more important. people come and go but institutions survive. one of the most important reason for the failure of pakistan as a state.

 

[jarves]

Take it easy @IPL5.Be cool.

 

[IPL5]

Take it easy @IPL5.Be cool.

I'm cool bro. thanks.

 

[Missile]

its not/should not be our priority so Pakistan space program is still there.