The world's first education satellite

On monday, India launched the world's first education satellite - a two tonne (~2000 kgs) satellite using a home-built rocket. The Indian space program has come a long way from 1975 when it built a satellite that was sent piggyback to space on a Soviet rocket. The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) soon built its own rockets, but for a long time it did not have the capability to launch the heavier satellites and was dependant on the European Union's Ariane rockets. With this satellite launch, India has finally dumped the Ariane rockets for its home-brewed GSLVs (Geostationary Satellite Launch Vehicles).

Why is this newsworthy? It's not just about the technological achievement (which is impressive since ISRO manages to work wonders with its miniscule budgets and limited access to technology, thanks to periodic US sanctions). The thing that I love the most is that money is being spent on technology that brings education to millions of Indians without access to proper schools, instead of spending it on weaponry and wars. It's always sad when schools have to beg for money when billions are spent on missiles and warships that only mess up the world.