Corporate Citizen Claps for the Scientists who made india’s Moon Mission Chandrayaan 2- etched in history!

However, lauding an entire team of scientists needs an understanding of their tenacity and stoic partnerships that lead to such ‘out of the world’ experiences. Their contributions in developing satellite launching vehicles (rockets), configuring and assembling of spacecraft systems cannot be justified by mere words, especially as it did re-ignite a curiosity for space science and research amongst young minds. The success of the historic Chandrayaan-2 narrative is led by none other than Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) own Chairman K Sivan, a PhD in Aerospace Engineering (IITMumbai), is an Alumni of IIT Madras (Aeronautics Engineering) and holds a master’s in aerospace from IISc (Bengaluru). His innovation in designing ISRO’s PSLV rocket programme has heralded the development of larger rockets – the likes of GSLV Mk II and Mk III. The ‘Launch Vehicle Team’ was guided by S. Somanath, Director, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre and V Narayanan, Director, Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre. Besides, the spacecraft team comprised of women who displayed their mettle too. Project Director, Chandrayaan-2, M Vanitha and Ritu Karidhal, Mission Director, formed an integrated team along with P Kunhikrishnan, Director, U R Rao Satellite Centre and V. V. Srinivasan, Director, ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC). Chandrayaan-2 makes Vanitha the first-ever woman project director for any ISRO planetary mission. She is also the proud recipient of the best woman scientist award - 2006 (Astronautical Society). Ritu has shouldered the responsibility of guiding Chandrayaan-2 in its trajectory-placing of the spacecraft into the lunar orbit, and for its final descent on the moon. She was also Operations Director, assisting Mission Director, V Kesava Raju for the 2013-14 Mars’ Mission. Somanath is the ‘mind’ behind the throttle-able engine technology on Chandrayaan-2’s Vikram lander; programmed to reduce the lander’s velocity before it landed on the Moon. Narayanan, is an expert on cryogenic propulsion; a technology denied to India in the past. These scientists are the ‘real’ superheroes’ and beat any ‘reel’ ones in their contributions that go beyond our ‘bitesize’ applauses.

Corporate Citizen Slaps the absurd reasoning that “accidents are caused by “good and safe” roads and not by bad ones”, as implied by govind Karjol, deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka

This was said in the backdrop of the recent levy of steep fines by the Centre for traffic-related violations. With some state governments assessing whether they should reduce the charges proposed by the Central Government in order to reduce the fine liabilities of its citizens, is an issue that needs to be sorted out. But, definitely not at the cost of bad roads, non-conformity to traffic rules and human lives! Gujarat was the first to have announced a cut that ranged from Rs.1,000 to Rs.10,000 as penalties for violating traffic rules as envisaged under the amended Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019. However, the logic behind the hiked fine, according to Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, is that “He hopes for a time when no one would be penalised, and everyone will follow the rules.” Soon after the amended Act came into play, a drunk autorickshaw driver was fined Rs.47,500 for driving without a valid permit, licence, and registration as per the new rules and a two-wheeler rider in Gurugram was issued a challan of Rs.23,000 for multiple violations under the amended Motor Vehicle Act. Experts in the government said that “With states considering a reduction in penalties for traffic rule violations, the Road Transport and Highways Ministry has sought a legal opinion on whether the states can reduce fines below the minimum penalty fixed in the amended Act. Why is this fear of challans if one is following traffic rules. People should rather be happy that India’s roads will become safer like abroad where people strictly abide by traffic norms. Is human life not precious?,” said Gadkari. While the debate and legalities take its course, shouldn’t we as citizens also buckle up-not under the pressure to pay hefty fines but sort ourselves in how we abide by safety rules for ‘safe drives to ensure methods that save lives!