CHANDRAYAAN TO LAND TODAY
India is on the verge of making history by landing its Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft on the moon. The spacecraft is scheduled to touch down on the lunar surface on Wednesday, August 24th, at 5:45 p.m. IST (8:15 a.m. ET).
If successful, India would become only the fourth country to successfully land a spacecraft on the moon, after the United States, China, and the former Soviet Union. The landing would be a major milestone for India’s space program and would cement the country’s status as a global space power.
Chandrayaan-3 is also the first spacecraft to attempt to land near the moon’s south pole. The south pole region is considered to be a promising area for future exploration, as scientists believe it may contain water ice deposits. Water ice could be used as a resource for future missions to the moon, such as providing drinking water or rocket fuel.
The landing attempt comes just days after Russia’s Luna 25 spacecraft crashed into the moon after its engines misfired. Luna 25 was Russia’s first attempt to land a spacecraft on the moon in 47 years.
CHANDRAYAAN EXPLAINED
India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission consists of three parts: a lander, a rover, and a propulsion module. The lander, called Vikram, will make the final descent to the lunar surface. The rover, called Pragyan, will deploy from the lander and explore the surrounding area.
The lander and rover are both equipped with scientific instruments that will collect data about the lunar surface. The data will help scientists learn more about the moon’s composition and history.
The Chandrayaan-3 mission is a major undertaking for India’s space program. The success of the mission would be a major boost for the country’s scientific and technological capabilities.
The global space race is heating up, and India is determined to play a leading role. Chandrayaan-3 is a major step in that direction.
India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission is a major undertaking that has taken on even greater significance in the wake of Russia’s failed Luna 25 landing attempt. If successful, India would become the second country to land a spacecraft on the moon. China already have done so in 21st century.
GLOBAL RACE TO LAND ON THE MOON
The mission is part of a global resurgence of interest in lunar exploration. More than a dozen countries planning missions to the moon in the coming years. The United States also has plans to send three commercial lunar landers to the moon starting as early as this year. While NASA continues to work toward its Artemis III mission. This could put astronauts back on the moon as soon as 2025.
Landing on the moon is a challenging endeavor, and India’s last attempt to do so, during the 2019 Chandrayaan-2 mission, failed. However, the country is determined to succeed. Hence the success of Chandrayaan-3 would be a major boost for India’s space program and its scientific and technological capabilities.
India is also a signatory of the United States’ Artemis Accords, a document that outlines proposed rules of the road for future lunar exploration. Russia and China have not signed the accords.
The success of Chandrayaan-3 would be a major step forward for India’s space programme. This would help to solidify the country’s position as a leading player in the global space race. It would also be a major boost for international cooperation on lunar exploration, as India is a signatory of the Artemis Accords.
