The Chandrayaan-3 mission’s objectives were unequivocally outlined: to achieve a secure and gentle landing on the lunar surface, facilitate the rover’s traversal of the moon’s barren expanses, and conduct in-situ scientific explorations. Following a successful landing, both the lander and the rover were scheduled to operate for a lunar day, equivalent to 14 Earth days.
The developmental phase for Chandrayaan-3 commenced in January 2020, originally targeting a launch in 2021. However, the unforeseen disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic introduced an unanticipated delay to the mission’s timeline. The approved budget for Chandrayaan-3 stands at Rs 250 crores, exclusive of the launch vehicle expenses.
The Chandrayaan-2 mission previously achieved partial success, as the lander’s communication was lost after an unfortunate hard landing. However, this week witnessed ISRO’s triumphant re-establishment of a two-way communication link between the Chandrayaan-3 lander module and the still-orbiting Chandrayaan-2 orbiter.
Vikram Sarabhai, the visionary behind India’s foray into space exploration, eloquently emphasized that India must lead in the application of cutting-edge technologies to address society’s pressing challenges. His vision crystallized with the establishment of ISRO, an institution that embodies his vision and accomplishments. He successfully persuaded the government to recognize the significance of a space program in the context of a developing nation like India.
