India’s third Moon mission, Chandryaan-3, launched on July 14 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDCC) of the Indian Space Research Organisation in Andhra Pradesh’s Sriharikota, and is due to soft-land on the moon on August 23. If all goes as planned, the mission would mark a critical turning point for India’s space industry.
The moon mission would benefit India’s space industry in the following ways:
On August 23, shortly after 6 o’clock, the Vikram lander will make an attempt to touch down on the lunar surface, according to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). If successful, India will join the United States, Russia, and China as the fourth nation to make a soft landing on the moon and establish itself as a space power.
With the recent failure of Russia’s Luna-25 mission, India has an opportunity to become the first country to achieve a soft landing on the Moon’s south pole – the Chandrayaan-3’s intended destination.
Also read: Chandrayaan 3: One Step Away From Landing On Moon, Countdown Begins
The mission would also help boost the Centre’s plan to spur investment in private space launches and related satellite-based businesses.
It would push India’s aim for its private space companies to increase their share of the global launch market by fivefold within the next decade.
When the moon mission was first announced, Prime Minister Narendra Modi claimed that ISRO was writing “a new chapter in India’s space odyssey” and lifting “the dreams and ambitions of every Indian.”
Could Chandrayaan’s moon landing be delayed?
A top ISRO scientist stated the national space agency will only proceed with the landing if conditions are “favourable” on the day of Chandrayaan-3’s gentle landing on the lunar surface. Otherwise, a further effort would be made on August 27, he said.
Also read: ISRO To Postpone Chandrayaan 3 Landing From August 23 To August 27 If…
“We will decide whether or not it will be appropriate to land Chandrayaan-3 on the Moon at that time based on the health of the lander module and the circumstances on the Moon two hours before it does so. We will land the module on the Moon on August 27 if any unfavorable circumstances arise, according to Nilesh M. Desai, director of the ISRO’s space applications center.
He did, however, also express confidence that the Vikram lander will arrive to the lunar surface on time.
