Author: Arun Radhakrishnan

“Those who fail to learn from history are condemned to repeat it.” This quote from the UK’s wartime Prime Minister Winston Churchill is relevant today. In these times of unpredictability, when all nation-states align with geopolitical power blocs, there is no doubt that the world is becoming more fragmented and is likely to be a playground for conflict. Let’s rewind the clock to the 1950s when the world was degenerating into a battlefield between two superpowers – the US and the Soviet Union. Both superpowers had weapons stockpiles to take the planet into a nuclear winter. Both superpowers created power…

India possesses, without a doubt, a deep antiquity with an opulent cultural history. What makes India’s heritage even more intriguing to the world is that it has its roots in astronomy and is reflected in India’s temple architecture, calendar, and festivals. Many of India’s annual celebrations are based on astronomical events and are held at specific times of the year according to the positions of the planets and stars. In India, astronomy is a way of life. Its profound cultural integration is directly related to how mythological and historical texts incorporate astronomical concepts and ideas as a means of storytelling…

India is a rapidly developing economy with a rising interest in space travel, and it has already achieved great strides with its first few planetary exploration missions. In the past ten years, many Indian space companies have shown tremendous interest in participating in the global commercial space sector, offering solutions with unique selling aspects. However, despite a national call, as mentioned during the announcement of 2020 space reforms, an awakening to ignite interest in commercial interplanetary missions is yet to happen. Going beyond the sphere of influence of the Earth can present India’s economy, technological growth, and scientific research with…

It is no secret that the Moon has captivated humanity since time immemorial. Often dubbed the most romantic object in the night sky, the Moon has been a subject of folklore and adventures across cultures. It is also no secret that several artists and organisations have proposed creating artwork on the moon over the years. There are many uniquely creative and exciting aspects to it. Let’s imagine for a moment how priceless a work of art would be if made from a piece of the Moon. It isn’t easy to quantify in terms of value. What about using the lunar…