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India’s tryst with Moon began in 2008
NEW DELHI: The scheduled landing of Chandrayaan-3 on Wednesday has brought India’s decades-old ambitious Moon mission into focus. Let’s have a re-look at India’s space expedition.
Chandrayaan-1: India’s first lunar exploration
The story began in October 2008 with the launch of Chandrayaan-1, India’s inaugural mission to the Moon. This mission marked a crucial step in India’s space endeavors. Notably, Chandrayaan-1 carried an Orbiter and the Moon Impact Probe, which, at the suggestion of then-President APJ Abdul Kalam, impacted the lunar surface, making India the first country to have a direct physical presence on the Moon.
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Chandrayaan-2: A step closer
The legacy of Chandrayaan-1 was followed by Chandrayaan-2 in 2019. This ambitious mission included an Orbiter, a Lander named Vikram, and a Rover named Pragyan. While the Orbiter successfully continued its mission and provided valuable data, the Lander lost communication during its descent. Nevertheless, Chandrayaan-2’s success lies in pinpointing its challenges and taking corrective measures, as well as in the wealth of data contributed by the Orbiter.
Chandrayaan-3: Eying spot in elite group
Fast forward to the present, Chandrayaan-3 aims to build upon the lessons learned from its predecessors. The spacecraft underwent a series of orbit reduction maneuvers to position itself over the Moon’s poles. Scheduled to land on the lunar surface, Vikram and Pragyan are poised to contribute to our understanding of the Moon’s geology and evolution. The mission is particularly significant for its attempt to reach the uncharted south pole of the Moon, where water molecules were previously detected.
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Looking ahead: LUPEX collaboration and beyond
As India solidifies its expertise in lunar exploration, future missions are already on the horizon. Collaborating with Japan, India plans to launch LUPEX (Lunar Polar Exploration) in the coming years. LUPEX is set to play a crucial role in deepening our understanding of the Moon’s composition and dynamics.
