News about Science & Future

Aldrin bats for Indian habitat on red planet

MUMBAI: As India prepares to launch an unmanned mission to Mars in October-November this year; comes a prediction that this country could perhaps be among the nations which could construct a modular habitat on Mars with US leadership in the years ahead.

And this forecast which endorses India's space capability comes from none other than the second man who set foot on the moon on July 20, 1969, Buzz Aldrin.

The veteran moonwalker made this point while addressing the 'Humans to Mars' conference in Washington DC on Wednesday organized by Explore Mars.
According to him, apart from India, the other countries which could construct a modular habitat on the surface of the red planet include China, Japan, Europe and Russia. The habitat will be used by astronauts to work and stay when they arrive on the red planet.
Aldrin, who also launched his book published by National Geographic called: " Mission To Mars: My Vision For Space Exploration", has emphasized the need for launching a manned mission to the red planet by 2035 and maintaining US leadership in human spaceflight.
The book has been co-authored by veteran space journalist, Leonard David.
In a post-launch interview to space.com and Universe Today, he said he wants to see an US presidential commitment towards a continuous manned mission to the red planet.
He said that a human landing on Mars in 2035 is not without significance because it will be 66 years after the first moon landing - the same amount of time that passed between the flight of the Wright Brothers and the landing on moon by Armstrong and him. It may be recalled that Aldrin felt sidelined that the credit for the first man on moon has gone to Armstrong.