In recent news, Russia’s lunar mission faced a tragic end, crashing onto the moon’s surface after 47 years. Meanwhile, India’s own lunar mission, Chandrayaan-3, has moved into its prelanding orbit. This development has stirred a mix of excitement and nervousness within India’s space community. Excitement over the prospect of India potentially becoming the first country to successfully land on the moon’s south pole, and nervousness about the mission’s potential pitfalls.
Indian space officials have been careful to downplay any competition with Russia, but there’s no denying the unspoken space race between these two nations, as well as with China and the United States, both of which have advanced lunar ambitions.
Since its launch on July 14 from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh, India’s mission has encountered no major glitches. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has expressed confidence in a successful landing.
Recently released images showcase lunar craters captured by ISRO’s lander hazard detection and avoidance camera. This camera is instrumental in locating a safe landing spot for the spacecraft.
If all goes according to plan, ISRO’s successful landing will represent a significant milestone for Indian science, engineering, technology, and industry, symbolizing the nation’s progress in space exploration. However, underlying this optimism is a palpable anxiety.
Landing in the moon’s south pole region is a challenging endeavor due to the rugged terrain. India faced a setback four years ago when a software glitch caused its lander to crash into the moon at an excessive speed.
If India accomplishes this mission, it will become the fourth nation, following the United States, the former Soviet Union, and China, to achieve a soft landing on the lunar surface, and the first to land in the south pole region.
Before Russia’s attempt, Japan, Israel, and the United Arab Emirates had all tried and failed to land in this challenging area, underscoring the difficulties India faces.
Success would be a moment of national pride, signifying India’s emergence as a space power. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken a keen interest in the project and is exploring investment in private space travel.
During his visit to the White House in June, the U.S. and India issued a joint statement emphasizing the importance of space collaboration.
Should the landing succeed, India’s mission is expected to deploy a rover for a two-week period of experiments. These experiments hold significance as the moon’s south pole remains largely unexplored but is believed to contain frozen water, potentially serving as a valuable resource for fuel, oxygen, and drinking water, offering the possibility of sustaining human life.
ISRO scientists have incorporated lessons from the previous lunar mission’s failure, making adjustments to Chandrayaan-3 to enhance the chances of a successful landing. These enhancements include the ability to land safely in adverse conditions across an expanded landing zone and increased fuel capacity, solar panels, and sturdier landing legs.
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