New Delhi: In a riveting turn of events, India stands on the brink of making history as its ambitious moon mission, Chandrayaan-3, prepares for a lunar touchdown this evening. The nation is awash with a mix of excitement and anxiety, with celebrations and prayers echoing in tandem. Scientists have described the moments leading up to the landing as “20 minutes of terror.”
Key Highlights of This Monumental Event
The Landing: Scheduled for 6.04 pm, the entire nation will be glued to their screens as the event is broadcasted live. Educational institutions have kept their doors open for this momentous occasion, and space aficionados are hosting gatherings to witness this landmark event. Notably, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, currently at the BRICS summit in South Africa, will be tuning in virtually.
Past Endeavours: The suspense surrounding Chandrayaan-3’s landing has intensified, especially after the unfortunate crash of Russia’s Luna-25 on the moon earlier this week. Memories of Chandrayaan-2’s unsuccessful landing attempt in a similar treacherous terrain, riddled with craters and trenches, also loom in the background.
ISRO’s Assurance: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) remains optimistic, emphasizing that the learnings from Chandrayaan-2 have been instrumental in ensuring a successful landing this time around.
Broadcast Details: ISRO will commence the live streaming of the event from 5.20 pm on its official website, YouTube channel, and DD National. The spotlight will be on the Vikram lander, which houses the rover Pragyaan, as it attempts a soft landing on the moon’s South Pole at 6.04 pm.
Significance of the Landing Site: The chosen location is of paramount importance. Previous missions detected traces of water in this region, which could unlock secrets about lunar water ice—a potential invaluable resource. The discovery of water on the moon by a NASA instrument aboard Chandrayaan-1 in 2009 further underscores its significance.
Implications of Water Discovery: The presence of water can revolutionize future lunar missions. It can serve as a source of hydration, assist in cooling equipment, and be decomposed to produce oxygen. Moreover, it might offer insights into the origins of Earth’s oceans.
India’s Stature in Space: With this mission, India aims to join the elite club of nations—Russia, the United States, and China—that have successfully landed rovers on the moon.
ISRO’s Update: On Tuesday, ISRO confirmed that the mission is progressing as planned. They shared, “Smooth sailing is continuing. The Mission Operations Complex (at ISRO) is buzzed with energy and excitement!” They also unveiled captivating images of the moon captured from approximately 70 km.
Tribute to a Visionary: The lander Vikram is a homage to Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, often regarded as the architect of the Indian space programme.
ISRO’s Upcoming Ventures: Post Chandrayaan-3, ISRO has an array of missions in the pipeline, including the study of the Sun and the Gaganyaan human space flight programme. Aditya-L1, India’s maiden space-based solar observatory, is gearing up for a launch, likely in early September.
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