Finally, India is on the Moon: A Journey through Chandrayaan Missions

PTC News Desk: From the vast expanse of space to the lunar surface, India's Chandrayaan missions have taken the nation on a remarkable journey of scientific discovery and technological prowess. These missions, namely Chandrayaan-1, Chandrayaan-2, and the latest Chandrayaan-3, have cemented India's position in the realm of space exploration.

Let's delve into the significance and accomplishments of each mission

Chandrayaan-1:: Unveiling Lunar Mysteries

Back in 2008, India embarked on an exciting journey to the moon with its first mission, Chandrayaan-1. It was a groundbreaking moment for the country's space exploration efforts, managed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The mission had a clear aim: to uncover the moon's hidden secrets.

Armed with state-of-the-art scientific tools, Chandrayaan-1 set out to create a detailed map of the moon's surface, analyse its mineral makeup, and confirm the presence of water molecules. The astonishing discovery of water on the lunar surface defied our previous beliefs and opened up exciting possibilities for future moon exploration.

Chandrayaan-2: Ambition and Resilience

Fast forward to 2019, and we witnessed an even more ambitious endeavor: Chandrayaan-2. Building on the success of the first mission, Chandrayaan-2 comprised three parts: an orbiter, a lander named Vikram, and a rover named Pragyan. The primary goal was to explore the moon's southern region and showcase India's ability to safely land on the lunar surface.

The entire world watched as the Vikram lander aimed to make a soft touchdown, aiming to become the fourth nation to achieve this feat. While the landing didn't go exactly as planned, the orbiter's success in entering lunar orbit was a huge achievement. It's still up there, circling the moon, gathering essential information about the moon's geology, surface properties, and atmosphere.

Chandrayaan-3: Triumphant Touchdown

Amidst resounding cheers within ISRO's mission control room, the touchdown was successfully accomplished at 6.04 pm. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who participated in the event virtually from South Africa while attending the BRICS Summit, expressed, "This is a priceless and unparalleled moment. It signifies the triumph of the new India. This instant embodies the collective strength of 1.4 billion heartbeats."

On July 14, the lunar lander was launched atop an LVM 3 heavy-lift launch vehicle. Subsequently, on August 5, it was successfully positioned in the lunar orbit. The lander, named Vikram, pays homage to Vikram Sarabhai, often hailed as the pioneer of India's space programme.

Post the lunar mission, ISRO has an array of projects lined up, including a mission to study the Sun (Aditya-L1) and the ambitious human space flight programme, Gaganyaan. Aditya-L1's launch is anticipated in the first week of September and will mark India's first space-based solar observatory.