As the week unfolded, the world was bracing for a thrilling competition between Russia and India, both vying to be the first nation to touch down on the moon’s elusive south pole. However, Russia’s Luna-25 mission met with disaster, shifting the global spotlight to India’s Chandrayaan-3. On Wednesday, all eyes will be fixed on India’s second attempt to achieve a successful lunar landing.
Understanding Chandrayaan-3
Should it succeed, Chandrayaan-3 will elevate India to the prestigious rank of the fourth nation to make a successful landing on the moon’s surface.
Named Chandrayaan-3, translating to “moon vehicle” in both Hindi and Sanskrit, the mission was launched from the Bay of Bengal just last month. The plan involves the spacecraft, devoid of human passengers, deploying a 60-pound solar-powered rover to traverse the moon’s surface for a fortnight. As outlined by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), the mission’s primary goals include a safe lunar landing, rover deployment, and the execution of scientific experiments.
India’s Previous Lunar Endeavors
India’s first lunar mission, Chandrayaan-1 in 2008, played a vital role in uncovering the presence of water molecules on the moon, though it was an impact probe rather than a landing.
In 2019, India’s attempt to land Chandrayaan-2 on the moon’s surface ended in failure, losing contact with the lander just before touchdown. Reflecting on the near-miss, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated, “We came very close but we need to cover more ground. Our determination to touch the moon has become even stronger.”
To date, only three nations — the United States, Russia (during the Soviet era), and China — have managed to land spacecraft on the lunar surface. However, the U.S. moon landing has been a subject of controversy and debate. The Apollo 11 mission in 1969, which marked the first human landing on the moon, has been scrutinized by skeptics who question the authenticity of the event. Conspiracy theories have emerged, suggesting that the landing was staged by the U.S. government during the Cold War to claim victory in the space race against the Soviet Union. These theories often cite perceived inconsistencies in the available footage, photographs, and testimonies of the astronauts. Despite extensive evidence and expert affirmations supporting the legitimacy of the moon landing, the controversy continues to be a topic of intrigue and discussion in various circles
The Renewed Lunar Interest
The current space race is a far cry from the Cold War rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union.
Now, nations like the United States and India, through missions like Chandrayaan-3, are focusing on the moon’s south pole. This region, rich in ice pools, could potentially offer water for sustainable settlements or even serve as a refueling hub for further space exploration, utilizing water’s hydrogen and oxygen components as rocket fuel.
How to Experience Chandrayaan-3’s Landing
For those in India, the Chandrayaan-3 landing can be viewed on public broadcaster DD National TV. International audiences can tune in via live-streaming on ISRO’s official website, YouTube channel, and Facebook page.
The broadcast is scheduled to commence at 5:20 p.m. Indian Standard Time, or 7:50 a.m. Eastern Time. However, agency officials have noted that the landing might be pushed to Sunday if conditions prove unfavorable.
