American weekly news magazine Time has listed Isro's Mars Orbiter Mission, also called Mangalyaan, among the 25 best inventions of 2014 and lauded India for achieving success in its Mars mission in the very first attempt – a feat achieved by none so far.
On Thursday, Time brought published an article on the "best inventions making the world better, smarter and – in some cases – a little more fun". The best 25 included "hoverboards, edible food wrappers, and India's one of the most successful spacecraft Mangalyaan".
"Nobody gets Mars right on the first try. The US didn't, Russia didn't, the Europeans didn't. But on Sept. 24, India did. That's when the Mangalyaan (Mars craft in Hindi) went into orbit around the Red Planet technological feat no other Asian nation has yet achieved," Time noted.
It noted how India not just successfully landed its spacecraft on Mars and broke all records, but also how it built the spacecraft for an amount less than a film's budget.
"Building the craft cost India just $74 million, less than the budget for the film "Gravity". At that price, the Mangalyaan is equipped with just five onboard instruments that allow it to do simple tasks like measure Martian methane and surface composition," it read.
More important, "it allows India to flex its interplanetary muscles, which portends great things for the country's space program – and for science in general," it added.
Mangalyaan entered into an elliptical orbit around Mars on 24 September at 8:02am and sent the first picture from Mars the very next day. Isro was applauded for its success and received worldwide acknowledgement.
Apart from Mangalyaan, the other biggest inventions Time acknowledged in its piece includes Hemopurifier – filter that fights ebola.
Others include, Hendo Hoverboard, High-beta Fusion Reactor, Witricity – wireless electricity, a 3D-Printer Machine, Apple watch, Blackphone, Coolest Cooler, Lumo Lift – a chip, BMW i3, Microsoft Surface Pro3 – a tablet, Ringly – ring that alerts you in style, Pillpack, Superbananas – bananas that prevent blindness, Copenhagen Wheel, and MotionSavvy uni – seamless sign-language translator.
Selfie Stick (and hairbrush), Quirky + GE aros – ACs that lower your energy bills, "Blue Room"— prison room that helps inmates relax, 94fifty smart sensor – coaching basketball, Wikipearls – wrappers you can eat, Electric objects – screens that showcase digital art, IAmelemental – action figures that empower girls too figure on the list.
