India on the Moon: Chandrayaan-3 makes a successful landing

Bengaluru: In a giant leap for its space programme, India's Moon mission Chandrayaan-3 touched down on the lunar south pole at 6.04 pm on Wednesday, propelling the country to an exclusive club of four and making it the first country to land on the uncharted surface.

India scripted history as ISRO's ambitious third Moon mission Chandrayaan-3's Lander Module (LM) touched down on the lunar surface on Wednesday, making it only the fourth country to accomplish the feat, and first to reach the uncharted south pole of Earth's only natural satellite.

In a big boost to India's space prowess, the LM comprising the lander (Vikram) and the 26 kg rover (Pragyan), made the soft landing near the south polar region of the Moon at 6.04 pm,,less than a week after a similar Russian lander crashed.

With this touchdown on Moon in second attempt in four years, India has become the fourth country to master the technology of soft-landing on the lunar surface after the US, China and the erstwhile Soviet Union.

Chandrayaan-3 is a follow-on mission to Chandrayaan-2 and its objectives are to demonstrate safe and soft-landing on the lunar surface, roving on the Moon, and to conduct in-situ scientific experiments.

Chandrayaan-2 had failed in its lunar phase when its lander 'Vikram' crashed into the surface of the Moon minutes before the touch down following anomalies in the braking system in the lander while attempting a landing on September 7, 2019. Chandrayaan's maiden mission was in 2008.

The Rs 600 crore Chandrayaan-3 mission was launched on July 14 onboard Launch Vehicle Mark-III (LVM-3) rocket, for a 41-day voyage to reach near the lunar south pole.

The soft-landing took place days after Russia's Luna-25 spacecraft crashed into the Moon after spinning out of control.

The lander and the six-wheeled rover (with total mass of 1,752 kg) are designed to operate for one lunar daylight period (about 14 Earth days)

The lander with four legs, had multiple sensors to ensure a safe touchdown, including an accelerometer, altimeters, Doppler velocimeter, inclinometer, touchdown sensor, and a suite of cameras for hazard avoidance and positional knowledge. The lander carries the rover in a compartment with a ramp for deployment onto the surface.

A Triumph Over Challenges

Chandrayaan-3 journey to the Moon was not without its challenges. It followed the partial success of Chandrayaan-2, which involved a successful orbiter but an unsuccessful landing attempt. Learning from past experiences, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) left no stone unturned in ensuring the success of Chandrayaan-3. The mission's Vikram Lander, equipped with advanced technology, navigated the complexities of space travel with precision.

The Soft Landing

The crowning moment of Chandrayaan-3 occurred during its soft landing on the Moon. This phase, often referred to as the "20 or 17 minutes of terror," demanded a high degree of autonomous decision-making by the spacecraft. Vikram Lander's engines had to ignite at precisely the right altitudes and times to ensure a gentle touchdown. The success of this phase was crucial, given the challenges faced during Chandrayaan-2's landing attempt.

Scientific Significance

Chandrayaan-3's landing holds immense scientific importance. The Moon, Earth's closest celestial neighbour, continues to be a subject of fascination and scientific inquiry. The mission aimed to gather critical data about the lunar surface, its geological composition, and its history. Such information can shed light on the Moon's formation and evolution, offering insights into our own planet's past.

Global Collaboration

Chandrayaan-3's success is not just a national achievement but also a testament to international collaboration. Space exploration is a global endeavor, and the data collected by Chandrayaan-3 will contribute to the broader understanding of the Moon's geology, atmosphere, and potential resources. This collaborative spirit highlights the unity of purpose that transcends borders when it comes to exploring the cosmos.

What does this monumental success mean for India’s space Industry?

The successful landing of Chandrayaan 3 on the Moon's south pole has not only raised India's prestige but is also anticipated to catapult the country's developing space sector to new heights.

Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is attempting to open up its space sector to outside investment in order to more than fivefold its share of the worldwide launch market over the next decade.

India's present space sector is valued at roughly $8 billion and has been rising at a rate of about 4% per year in recent years, compared to 2% globally.

According to economists, India's space industry is predicted to reach $40 billion by 2040, and the success of the Chandrayaan-3 mission will help India accomplish that goal much sooner, as more countries are now expected to approach India for satellite launches.

With the success of Chandrayaan-3, observers anticipate India's space sector to build on its reputation for cost-effective engineering. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) allocated around $74 million for the project.

NASA, on the other hand, is on schedule to spend nearly $93 billion on its Artemis moon mission through 2025, according to the US space agency's inspector general.

"The moment this mission became successful, it raised the profile of everyone associated with it," said Ajey Lele, a consultant with the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses in New Delhi.

A new space race has begun

After the United States, Russia, and China, India is the fourth country in the world to successfully land on the Moon.

India is also the first country to set foot on the Moon's south pole.

Russia has been racing India, and more broadly, China and the United States, both of which have advanced lunar ambitions, to land on the Moon's south pole, which is of particular interest to scientists due to the presence of water ice, which could play a critical role in future human exploration missions.