India's ambitious Lunar Mission set to elevate Space prowess | Fusion - WeRIndia

India’s resounding success in launching Chandrayaan-3 on July 14 marked a moment of immense national pride.

This monumental achievement holds the potential to usher in a multitude of advantages for the country, particularly if the anticipated soft landing unfolds smoothly.

With only Russia, China, and the United States having achieved soft lunar landings, this mission’s accuracy is crucial due to the moon’s atmosphere-free surface, often dubbed the 15 minutes of terror.

A triumphant mission outcome could signify a new era for India’s space industry, sparking technological innovations and scientific breakthroughs that are poised to enrich the nation and its people.

Presently, 5,465 functional artificial satellites are orbiting the Earth as of April 30, 2022.

Among major nations, the United States leads with a staggering 3,433 satellites, dwarfing China’s tally of 541 satellites.

Guided by ISRO, Chandrayaan-3 serves as a pivotal endeavour for India’s space exploration journey, following the setback of Chandrayaan-2’s landing attempt.

The mission’s core goal is to successfully deploy a lander and rover onto the lunar surface, where they will operate for approximately one lunar day, equivalent to about 14 Earth days.

With a mere weight of 26 kilograms, the rover will be nestled within the lander, equipped with tools for thorough lunar exploration.

This cost-effective moon mission, launched on July 14 and poised to touch down on the moon’s surface on August 23, boasts a remarkably modest budget of ₹615 crore.

Before its launch, the Chandrayaan-3 module successfully endured over 3,000 wind tunnel tests.

ISRO’s threefold objectives for the Chandrayaan-3 mission are clear:

• To establish a model for safe and successful lunar landings.
• To showcase the rover’s mobility capabilities.
• To undertake on-site scientific research.

Comprising a Rover, Propulsion Module (PM), and indigenous Lander Module (LM), this mission serves as a platform for pioneering technologies essential for future interplanetary expeditions.

In the context of the expanding global space economy, the Space Foundation’s annual report reveals its value reached $546 billion in Q2 2023, reflecting a remarkable 91 per cent growth over the past decade.

Participation in this nascent space economy promises substantial downstream benefits for countries, catalyzing economic growth and inspiring a new era of space exploration.

In line with these trends, India’s space economy is projected to reach a value of $13 billion by 2025.

Notably, a triumphant lunar landing would undoubtedly showcase India’s technological prowess, solidifying its position on the global space stage.

Image Credit: 2240459preethiM, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Image Reference: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%E0%B2%9A%E0%B2%82%E0%B2%A6%E0%B3%8D%E0%B2%B0%E0%B2%AF%E0%B2%BE%E0%B2%A8-3_%E0%B2%B0%E0%B3%8B%E0%B2%B5%E0%B2%B0%E0%B3%8D.png