Topic 1 : Sky’s not the limit
Introduction: Preparing to join their names in history books with Rakesh Sharma, the air force captain who became the first Indian in space in 1984, are Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, Group Captain Ajit Krishnan, Group Captain Angad Pratap, and Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla — the astronaut-designates for India’s first human space flight mission, Gaganyaan.
The four forces
- Having trained in anonymity for the last four years, they received their “astronaut wings” on February 27 at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in Thumba, Kerala, from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who described them as “the four forces” representing the dreams of 1.4 billion Indians.
- What may have seemed like a dream almost too big, has acquired a human dimension.
What is Gaganyaan Mission?
- The mission was announced in 2018.
- The Gaganyaan Mission is India’s ongoing project to send a 3-day manned mission to the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) of 400 km with a crew of 3 members and bring them safely back to Earth.
- As part of this program, two unmanned missions and one manned mission are approved by the Government of India.
- The first manned spaceflight is expected to take place in 2024. The success of the Gaganyaan Mission will put India in the elite group of nations (US, Russia, and China) having human space flight capability.
Objectives of Gaganyaan Mission
The Gaganyaan Mission is an ambitious and co-ordinated project of ISRO in collaboration with other agencies, such as various research labs, Indian academia, and industries, with the following objectives:
- To undertake human space flights: Its immediate aim is to demonstrate indigenous capability to undertake human space flights.
- Space exploration: In the long run, it will lay the foundation for a sustained Indian human space exploration programme.
Significance of Gaganyaan Mission
- A successful execution would put India in the company of the US, Russia and China. As stated on the ISRO website, the short-term goal is to demonstrate human spaceflight to Low Earth Orbit, while the long-term goal is to lay the foundation for a “sustained Indian human space exploration programme”.
- Success in its ultimate objective — proving that India is capable of indigenously developing this complex technology — would be a huge boost for ISRO.
- The excitement around Gaganyaan is not only a sign of how much ISRO’s public profile has grown over the last few years, but also the increasing reach and scale of its ambitions.
- The success of recent missions like Mangalyaan and Chandrayaan, while exhilarating in themselves, can become the start of something larger.
- The demonstrations of technological capabilities must be built on, if India wishes to eventually operate in the same league as the US or China.
- This can only happen if these successes help move towards an ecosystem that is able to compete with the most advanced.
Privatisation of the space sector and way forward
- Opening up of the sector to private parties and allowing 100 per cent foreign direct investment are steps in the right direction.
- Indeed, a similar ambitious thrust is needed across sectors of scientific research.
- On several indicators, such as the share of GDP spent on research and development, nurturing universities to be centres for R&D and number of patents filed, India lags woefully.
- If putting Indians in space using made-in-India technology will be a dream come true, making Indian science and technology competitive at the highest level will mean the realisation of many more.
Conclusion: With the announcement of astronaut-designates for Gaganyaan, ISRO is a step closer to made-in-India human space flight. It should not stop there.
Topic 2 : Other side of beautiful
Introduction: The AI-generated images of celebrities reinforce the outdated western beauty standards, which generates anxiety among young people.
How AI-generated images are reintroducing beauty standards?
- One would imagine that the old stereotypes of fair and lovely, six-pack abs and chiselled jaw would have been retired by now.
- But if there weren’t enough anxieties to plague women and men about the way they look already, there is now pressure from another corner — AI-generated reinforcement of outdated Western beauty norms.
- The sophistication of this articulation and its consequences are particularly hard on the young and the impressionable.
- The idea of being outliers on a beauty index that is limited in scope to begin with, deepens feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt.
- In the US, over 12,000 parents have launched an online petition to TikTok and YouTube, voicing concerns over AI-generated influencers who promote body dysmorphia among children and teenagers.
- But the problem is pervasive across countries and cultures.
The beauty standards and its impact on mental health
- When Andrew Morton’s Diana: A True Story came out in 1992, one of the most hard-hitting revelations was the British royal’s struggle with bulimia.
- It opened up a conversation, quite possibly for the first time, on unrealistic beauty standards and the pressure of always looking well put together, no matter the state of one’s mental health or well-being.
- In the decades since, celebrities from Kate Winslet to Sonam Kapoor have spoken up about the toll that keeping up appearances takes and about the hours of make-up and the airbrushing of images.
- In recognition of the damage it causes, Winslet introduced a no-Photoshop clause in her contract for commercials, taking ownership of her age and her wrinkles.
What more can be done to reduce the impact of unrealistic beauty standards?
Empowering Individuals:
- Self-acceptance: Encourage young people to appreciate their unique qualities and recognize beauty beyond specific standards.
- Media literacy: Develop critical thinking skills to analyze media messages and recognize the manipulation (Especially AI-generated content) often used to promote certain beauty ideals.
- Positive role models: Celebrate individuals who embrace diverse forms of beauty and challenge narrow definitions. This includes showcasing role models from various backgrounds and ethnicities.
- Body Positivity: Promote healthy self-image and encourage individuals to focus on physical and mental wellbeing instead of solely on appearance.
Shifting Societal Norms:
- Representation matters: Advocate for diverse representation in media and advertising. This includes showcasing individuals of various body types, ethnicities, abilities, and ages.
- Open communication: Encourage open conversations about the harm of outdated beauty standards and the importance of self-acceptance. This can be done in schools, families, and communities.
- Challenging stereotypes: Actively challenge stereotypes and assumptions associated with certain beauty standards. For example, challenging the term “Fair is lovely”.
- Promoting inclusivity: Celebrate the beauty in diversity and create spaces where everyone feels accepted and valued for who they are.
Additionally:
- Support anti-discrimination efforts: Advocate for policies and initiatives that promote inclusivity and challenge discrimination based on appearance.
- Engage with social platforms: Encourage social media platforms to take responsibility for promoting positive body image and diverse representations.
- Government Regulation: government and consumer bodies must regulate the AI-generated hyper manipulated content which shows unrealistic standards about beauty.
Conclusion: The AI challenge to beauty norms requires a similar pushback, including the framing of a regulatory framework that makes it mandatory for users to declare its use in promotional enterprises. It also requires open conversations around why there is no one metric of beauty. As with most things in life, here, too, diversity is key.