Ms Imama Khan is an Islamabad-based researcher. Her articles have appeared in The News, The Pakistan Observer, Global Village Space, and Matrix Mag.
Chandrayaan-3’s Moon Landing
Just a short while after Russia’s Luna 25 ended up with a rather unfortunate lunar crash, India accomplished something truly impressive. It managed to execute a budget-friendly lunar mission that successfully made a soft landing at the Moon’s south pole. On August 23rd, India achieved a significant historic feat as it gently landed its Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft on the lunar surface. This marked India’s debut moon landing, and it happened just six weeks after the Vikram lander set off from Earth.
After the lunar dust settled, the Pragyan rover, nestled within Vikram, ventured out to explore the challenging terrain of the Moon’s southern region. Pragyan’s mission involves delving into craters, gathering essential data, and capturing images to beam back for analysis on Earth. This rover is armed with two scientific instruments to analyze the Moon’s soil and identify various minerals. Pragyan communicates its findings to Vikram, which then relays the data to the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter that’s been orbiting the Moon since 2019. As Pragyan roves across the lunar landscape, it’s leaving behind a bit of India’s footprint.
Powered by solar energy, the spacecraft chose a lunar day for its touchdown. However, when the lunar night arrives, both the rover and lander take a break – they can only function when the Sun is up on the Moon. So, they get roughly 14 Earth days to do their thing in one lunar day. What’s in store for their next lunar day? Well, that’s a mystery for now.
Objective of Chandrayaan-3
The primary objective of Chandrayaan-3 is to investigate the presence of water, a critical factor when considering the Moon’s potential suitability for human habitation. India’s success with Chandrayaan-3 not only places it in an exclusive club alongside the United States, Russia, and China as the fourth country to achieve a lunar landing, but it’s also the first time any nation has managed a landing near the Moon’s south pole – a notoriously tricky location due to all the boulders strewn around.
India’s Voyage to the Moon
India’s lunar journey started back in 2008 with Chandrayaan-1, which deliberately impacted the Moon’s south pole, confirming the presence of water ice. Then came Chandrayaan-2 in 2019, which didn’t exactly stick the landing, but its orbiter remained in the lunar orbit and now plays a role in Chandrayaan-3’s mission. The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) scored major kudos globally for this accomplishment, and rightly so.
It’s quite impressive, especially when you consider that India’s space organization pulled off a moon landing without spending as much as some of the big players like NASA, China’s space agency, or Russia’s Roscosmos. Chandrayaan-3 was carried out on a relatively tight budget of about $74.58 million. Just for comparison, Russia’s attempt cost $200 million, and NASA’s upcoming lunar mission is projected to set them back around $433.5 million. Interestingly, Chandrayaan-3’s budget even beats out the costs of some space-themed movies!
| Country | Budget (in billion USD) |
| United States | 61.97 |
| China | 11.94 |
| Japan | 4.90 |
| France | 4.20 |
| Russia | 3.42 |
| European Union | 2.60 |
| Germany | 2.53 |
| India | 1.93 |
So, how did India manage to keep the costs down? Well, they designed a compact spacecraft that weighed in at only 1,752 kilograms. S. Somanath, the head of ISRO, playfully mentioned, “We don’t want everyone else to become so cost-effective.” The success of Chandrayaan-3 showcases India’s technological prowess. This achievement is bound to swell national pride and might just inspire the younger generation to think, “Hey, maybe I could do some cool stuff in science, technology, or space.” This surge in interest could unlock numerous opportunities for India across the realms of space exploration and technological advancement.
Chandrayaan-3’s success is a catalyst that will likely speed up other space missions and projects. K. Kasturirangan, the former Chairman of ISRO, believes this accomplishment not only elevates India’s stature but also positions the country to play a crucial role in shaping discussions about space exploration and the responsible use of space resources. This newfound prominence could mean active participation in future space endeavors, forming international partnerships, and even contributing to the creation of rules for the smart utilization of space resources.
Chandrayaan-3 is a testament to India’s perseverance. It marks a significant milestone, just 15 years after India’s initial lunar attempt. In this achievement, there’s a wealth of inspiration and lessons for anyone keen to learn from its journey. India’s commitment to excellence shines brightly through its unwavering support for ISRO, building a legacy of success. India’s ambitions have now reached the lunar horizon, and with each step, they’re poised to gain even more momentum.
| Country | Organization | Mission | Expected Launch Date |
| China | CNSA | Chang’e 6 | May 2024 |
| Russia | Roscosmos | Luna 26 | 2027 |
| Privately Owned | SpaceX | #dearMoon | Late 2023 |
| United States of America | NASA | Artemis II | 2025-2026 |
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