With reference to the editorial, "Isro's cryogenic leap" (September 14), our Pokhran initiative was used as a fig leaf by the major powers to deny us transfer of advanced propulsion technology in space exploration.
A two-decade delay thus ensued in our developing these engines. But then it gave us an edge on two counts: a vastly improved "technology to payload ratio" and cryogenic engine-building skills. Both have helped us in reducing the "cost per fling" as also enviable mission accuracies.
Outer space is too vast for mankind to fritter away its composite knowledge and acumen in either mutual envy or a national ego. The success or failure of missions by one is that of the global scientific collective. Too much holding back of cutting-edge technologies in space exploration from one another may be of transient help in spurring self-sufficiency of a nation, but the human collective then loses precious time in reinventing the wheel, perhaps much too frequently.
An otherwise intelligent planet Earth then lets slip opportunities so hard to come by in the complex quest of outer space.
R Narayanan, Ghaziabad
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