CHANDRAYAAN-3’S MOON MISSION

Fazmina Imamudeen explores India’s space mission and its global importance

From the very dawn of our existence, the insatiable human desire to explore the universe has been a defining characteristic. This innate curiosity has driven us to gaze at the night sky in wonder and eventually embark on space missions to distant planets.

However, our quest for space exploration has not been without its controversies.

The moon landing, most notably the iconic Apollo 11 mission in 1969, has long been a subject of intrigue and scepticism. Conspiracy theories have swirled, alleging that this historic achievement was nothing more than an elaborate hoax staged by the US government during the intense space race with the former USSR.

Fast forward to the present day and India has captured the world’s attention by achieving an extraordinary feat in lunar exploration. It has made history by becoming the first nation to land a lunar mission near the enigmatic south pole of the moon.

This remarkable mission, which is named Chandrayaan-3, consists of a lander named Vikram and a rover called Pragyan. These intrepid robotic explorers spent some 10 days in the uncharted lunar south pole region, and collected invaluable data and images that have far-reaching implications for scientists on Earth.

So why is the Chandrayaan-3 mission so important?

The Chandrayaan-3 mission adds to our growing knowledge of the moon’s secrets. By conducting experiments, collecting data, and analysing lunar soil and surface conditions, the mission contributes to our understanding of its geological history and evolution.

This knowledge isn’t only about our lunar neighbour; it has broader implications for planetary science too. And as we delve deeper into the significance of Chandrayaan-3’s mission, several crucial findings come to light.

Pragyan (which means ‘wisdom’ in Sanskrit) is the six-wheel lunar rover that covered an impressive distance of over 100 metres and also demonstrated its ability to navigate the challenging terrain of the moon.

This achievement is especially remarkable given its leisurely pace of one centimetre a second. Equally noteworthy is Pragyan’s skill in safely avoiding the numerous craters that mark the moon’s south pole.

Chandrayaan-3’s measurements of lunar surface temperatures have revealed a stark contrast between the surface and subsurface. This finding underscores the moon’s regolith as a remarkable insulator with the potential to be used in the construction of space colonies.

Such lunar habitats would naturally regulate temperature and provide a shield against radiation.

Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) S. Somanath says that a location near the equator is more likely to be suitable for human settlement. He emphasises the importance of factors such as temperature excursions (deviations) and availability of solar energy for power generation.

From this perspective, an equatorial location could be more ideal for human beings to settle, should a human habitat be established on the moon.

In the global arena, India’s achievements in space exploration elevate its international standing. Chandrayaan-3 provides a platform for teamwork with other spacefaring nations by fostering international partnerships and knowledge exchange.

This feat also highlights the nation’s growing technological capabilities in space exploration. The mission – which demonstrates India’s prowess in spacecraft design, navigation and precise execution – has firmly established it as a key player in the global space exploration arena.

With the success of ISRO, NASA is not the only buzz word in relation to space anymore.

As India – now one of the world’s top five economies – continues to advance with its space programme and more, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration is keen to showcase the country’s strengths in security and technology.

This successful mission is the result of India’s scientific pursuit, and a clear demonstration of its competence and aspirations in space exploration.