[noisy_boy]

With exception of the Iraq War and Universal Healthcare websites, pretty much everything was an accident.

Sending an orbiter to Mars is advancing science and knowledge. Aside from the fact that this was an unmanned mission, ambitious projects mostly have an extra element of risk by definition. Inactivity due to that would be stopping advancement.

Besides, India spent USD 75 million on it. It's GDP is 1.877 trillion USD approx. Its peanuts[1].

[1]: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8361505

[ceejayoz]

> With exception of the Iraq War and Universal Healthcare websites, pretty much everything was an accident.

Off the top of my head: Titanic's water bulkheads didn't go all the way to the tops of compartments, Hindenburg didn't use non-flammable helium, and Challenger had known issues with O-rings at low temperatures.

[intended]

In context, many early stage startups are (or hope to be) valued more than a probe to mars.