Replacing MS Windows

Have you ever thought of replacing your MS Windows ? May be,  on various reasons !
OK, but what will you replace your MS Windows with ??   May be the old DOS, or the new LINUX , or something of that sort.
But ISRO would replace their MS Windows with Aluminium Windows !  That's what a recent advt of ISRO says !!

Arch-Idiotic OR Myopic

Here are a few quotes, often used by people  to explain how stupid or myopic some of the "big" people were. These are mostly related to Computers, and the pre-IBM-PC era. However, it says a lot about how even the so called leaders think. How foolish (idiotic) they are / were !

"There's no need for any individual to have a Computer in their home " 
"The only legitimate use of a Computer is to play games"
"640 K ought to be enough for anybody" 
"There is a world market for maybe five Computers"
"Everything that can be invented has been invented"

But  it's not about those myopic, "big businesses". Even today, 'inability to understand business of  their own ' or forecast is a BIG issue.  It's nothing less than the title above.

Joke of the decade

When Dr.Manmohan Singh speaks Economics, the whole world listens. But if he speaks politics, it raises a smile only.
When LaluPrasad speaks on cattle feed, everyone listens. But when he speaks on Management, everyone smiles (no ..., laughs).
This is true with Mr. Madhavan Nair, Chairman, ISRO, too. When he speaks on "Space", may be the whole of India would listen. But, if he talks on 'education', people would do what they do to Lalu on Management.

There was a press report, last day, that he spoke on Indian Education system and 'how poor it is '. It seems he is 'not happy' with our education system. He also said that 'the applicants to ISRO did not score even 50% of marks in the entrance tests'.

What else can one do, other than to laugh it off ? He forgot how much he scored in his BSc Electrical Engineering.

No one else in this world would say that there's a dearth of talent in our country. Probably, he didn't understand what's wrong with his "entrance exams", and unsure of what he should have tested.
Please ask Mr. Mohandas Pai, whether there's any problem with the talents (that includes knowledge, skills, and attitudes) of our youth. Ask him if there's any dearth of talent here.

Certainly, there's scope and need for improvement, which anyone would agree.

ISRO - Superstitions and Success

I have a few quotes from the latest 'Yahoo India news'.

"

Wed, Sep 23 12:05 PM   ISRO launches 7 satellites in 1200 seconds

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched PSLV C-14 which carried 7 satellites into the outer space.

Rs.70-crore PSLV rocket carried the Rs.130-crore Oceansat2 -- India's remote sensing satellite on Wednesday afternoon from Satish Dhawan Centre in Sriharikota.  The PSLV carried six other nano satellites. PSLV will place India's OCEANSAT 2 satellite in orbit.
The Indian satellite will be ejected into a sun-synchronous orbit 720 km above the earth and it will cover the whole earth as the coverage strip will be moving.
The orbit is designed in such a way that the satellite will cross the Equator at 12 noon near India.
A global leader in remote sensing data, India has till date launched 15 remote sensing satellites of which nine are still in operation.
Even the Oceansat1 launched in 1999 is in service and will go into oblivion slowly. The design life of Oceansat2 is five years and it may outlast that period like its earlier version.

Thu, Sep 24 07:50 AM Chandrayaan-1 finds water on moon.

Chandrayaan-1, India's first lunar mission, has found evidence of large quantities of water on its surface, The Times newspaper reported on Thursday.

Data from the spacecraft also suggests water is still being formed on the moon, the British newspaper said.

Wed, Sep 23 04:32 PM ISRO superstitious before rocket launch?

Sriharikota (Andhra Pradesh), Sep 23 (IANS)   Scientists at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) do not just rely on scientific calculations before a rocket launch - they also seek divine help.

Prior to every launch, the scientists make a visit to Tirupathi to have a 'darshan' of Lord Balaji seeking his blessings by placing a replica of the rocket to be launched.
It seems the superstition extends to numbers as well.
After the 12th commercial launch of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle termed PSLV-C12 from the spaceport here, ISRO has jumped one number and called its next rocket, that launched Oceansat-2 and six European nano satellites, as PSVL-C14.
Queried about the fate of PSLV-C13, a high ranking ISRO official told IANS: 'There is no such rocket designated with that number.'
He declined to comment when queried whether ISRO considered 13 an unlucky number.
"

Two GREAT successes. An excellent performance. We are proud of you , ISRO !

Though the experiment (in Chandrayaan ) was NASA's, it's ISRO's effort too.

And finally it's about the superstitious Scientists of ISRO. Well...what's wrong ? Almost everyone is religious here. Prayers have their good effects. Beliefs have their roles in human thinking. So, if it does good, then that's right. Are not the Americans superstitious ?

Number 13 ! What's wrong if we skip that number ? Nothing ... It's just perfectly OK.

Visiting the temples ? Before the launch ? Yes they must have gone to the temples. What's wrong ? Even otherwise, most of those Scientists do go to temples / churches/ mosques.

When I have been a part of such scientific programmes, (running for weeks ), I used to go to the local temple there, and pray, everyday. For myself and also for the success of the programme I was involved in. I think that's sincerity, and honesty.
How can one be religious without being religious in their work too ? That's a good thing,  and I believe so.

Electron's salute to ISRO

I salute ISRO, for all their recent achievements.
I am proud of having been an electron of ISRO for over 33 years.

Beyond the stars

I am thrilled. Not only at the Chandrayaan and MIP, but also at NASA's new findings. Beyond the solar system ...
May I suggest you to visit my blog "Science Today". I have a lot of stuff put there about this.

http://scienctoday.blogspot.com

Chandrayaan, M I P , ISRO

And it's done !
photos..

Chandrayaan, M I P, and Moon Missions

Today, at about 8.30 PM, Chandrayaan will drop the Moon Impact Probe on to the Moon. A major milestone in our Technological progress. Let's wish ISRO all success !

I just had a bit of research into the 1960s ! With the valuable articles appeared in Science Today (2001) magazine, it's great to know about the earlier Moon missions. Please have a look into my blog : "Science Today - Science and Technology for all "

Indian Space Traveller

Anthanaut or Indianaut ?
Last day news papers report that the ‘ignited minds’ of Trivandrum were quizzing the Chairman, ISRO, on Indian space activities (ISRO). To a question “What would you call an Indian Space traveler ?’, Chairman, ISRO said that its going to be a students level competition to suggest a suitable name.
To the readers of my earlier posts here, the answer is already known. I had suggested a name ( I think that’s very appropriate !) – “Anthanaut’. May be I can propose some more names…
Indonaut
Indianaut
Akashnaut
Gaganachary
Akashyathri ....... And so on…

But I feel Anthanaut is the right one !! Do you ?

ISRO and society

I have today, something on “Telemedicine’. Infact, I wish to tell you about one of the star contributions of ISRO to the society. I am quoting a few points from an article titled “Healthcare for the other India”, appeared in the Business Today magazine ((Aug 10, 2008 issue).
Telemedicine is the delivery of health services through telecommunication networks. 

Certainly, ISRO is indebted to the society. This is one of the ways in which ISRO pays back. This should be a convincing answer to the public who had commented earlier (a few years ago)   "You ISRO fellows, are throwing public money, as rockets, into the Arabian sea". 

“
Six years since ISRO launched a national Telemedicine project to reach quality healthcare to rural India, there are four states that have “wired up” all their district hospitals. So, what has been the impact on the lives of the poor in these states ?
Now, patients from Lakshadweep, effortlessly, albeit virtually, walk into Amritha Institute of Medical Sciences at Kochi, and meet up with specialist doctors. 

ISRO’s telemedicine project has benefited three lakh people. ISRO’s capability to provide connectivity to far-flung and remote places through satellites has been effectively utilized. ISRO is driving the project by providing software, hardware, communication equipment and satellite bandwidth, all free of cost. As many as 263 district/taluk hospitals across the country are linked to 43 super-speciality hospitals via ISRO’s satellite based network, and the benefit has reached three lakh people. 
Kerala, Chattisgarh, Rajasthan, and Karnataka stand out because all their district hospitals are under this network.
Kerala : first in Telemedicine. Yet, the project is limping or dysfunctional in districts such as Idukki, Wayanad, Aalappuzha, Kasargod, etc. ISRO’s equipments are available in all places, but it is often not put to the best use. *
Andhra Pradesh : Eight years on, after 40,000 consultations, telemedicine in AP is a resounding success. 
Chattisgarh : The telecom facilities remain idle because the Naxals threaten doctors and there is no power supply.
“