Chandrayaan-3 lands on the Moon: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) demonstrated the capability of a soft landing on the lunar surface at approximately 6:04 PM IST on Wednesday (23 August), thereby cementing ISRO’s and India’s place in history. India made history when its Vikram Lander became the first to touch down on the lunar south pole.
As a whole, India joins the ranks of the former Soviet Union (Russia), the United States, and China as the only other countries to successfully complete a soft landing on the moon. The equator was the landing spot for every previous spacecraft mission that was successful, including Apollo and Surveyor from NASA and the Soviet Luna missions.
As a result, the landing locations chosen by prior successful missions were a few degrees north or south of the lunar equator. When comparing the equatorial area of the moon to the moon’s dark side, which is invisible from Earth, the equatorial portion’s topography is generally flatter and more lander-friendly.
An Indian Express article claims that NASA’s Surveyor 7 is the farthest spacecraft from the equator. On January 10, 1968, it touched down on the moon at a location of 40 degrees south latitude. Recent lunar space missions have struggled to achieve a smooth landing in locations closer to the highly sought-after lunar South Pole.
Here are a few examples:
The Israeli lunar mission that was supposed to land in the South Pole in April 2019 crashed instead.
The 2019 Indian Chandrayaan-2 mission also aimed to touch down at the Moon’s south pole. Unfortunately, the lander that was supposed to deliver the rover to the moon’s surface crashed during the mission’s final phases. A software glitch, among other things, prevented Chandrayaan-2 from achieving its objective, as was eventually disclosed.
But in the same year, the Chinese Chang’e 4 mission arrived on the moon’s far side, at a latitude of about 45 degrees north.
The Luna 25 and Chandrayaan-3 moon missions have been in a much-publicized friendly competition this week. The Russian space mission Luna-25 needed to land softly on the south pole area of the moon quickly. Unfortunately, it failed and crashed to the surface of the moon.
It begs the question, then, of why so many missions have failed to achieve what has been accomplished at other locations on the moon’s surface. Why is it so challenging to land softly on the lunar south pole? The difficulty arises because of the unforgiving aspect of the Antarctic landscape. This area is more rugged, crater-strewn, and trench-cut than the surrounding areas. It doesn’t help that the area isn’t getting enough light, thus temperatures might drop below -230°C. Because of the difficulties that these conditions have caused for previous missions, ISRO’s achievement is all the more remarkable.
It is now abundantly evident that the south pole of the Moon offers enormous interest for governments around the world, notwithstanding the risks involved. Considering the difficulty of the task at hand, one might wonder why the population in this area continues to grow.
Exploring the lunar south pole is crucial for numerous reasons:
A possible clue to mysteries locked away for billions of years: The Moon’s south pole is the only place on the Moon where day and night are reversed. Because of the angle at which the sun shines here, the lunar craters are cast in long shadows. Some craters are always in the dark because the sun never reaches their interiors. Because of this, these craters are suspected of harbouring hidden ice deposits from billions of years ago. This practically frozen region may also include information on the formation of the Solar System.
Traces of hydroxyl (OH) and water have been identified on the Moon by previous lunar orbiters, such as India’s previous pair of Moon orbiters (Chandrayaan-1 and Chandrayaan-2). This indicates that there is a high probability that ice molecules exist at the lunar south pole. If there is enough water, it could be used by explorers for both drinking and keeping their gear cold. Future planetary excursions and the development of a “space civilization” may therefore depend critically on the availability of water.
Insights regarding lunar volcanoes and the first oceans may also be gleaned from the ancient water ice:
The water might be used to produce hydrogen and oxygen, which would have far-reaching consequences for future Mars and other space exploration expeditions.
The lunar south pole may be a repository for volatiles such as ammonia and methane.
Insights into the Moon’s geology: The Moon’s southern pole is fascinating. The South Pole-Aitken basin is the largest impact basin on the Moon and is located here. The South Pole-Aitken basin holds a wealth of information about the moon’s history and development, and it has only recently become the subject of scientific inquiry.
Observations in the cosmos:
The lunar south pole is an excellent observing location for the stars. It is protected from the Sun’s rays by the persistent shadows cast by some of the craters. Due to the absence of the Earth’s atmosphere, they are ideally suited for the study of radio waves and other forms of radiation.
There are no provisions in the United Nations Outer Space Treaty of 1967 that would prevent commercial activity related to lunar mining.
The United States has spearheaded a cooperative effort, the Artemis Accords, which has been endorsed by 27 countries. The primary objective is to lay out a set of guidelines for the ethical exploration and utilisation of the Moon’s resources. China and Russia have not signed the document.
Despite setbacks and failures before the Chandrayaan-3’s successful demonstration, several countries are now in line to explore the lunar south pole.
Since the Luna 25 mission was unsuccessful, Russia plans to try again at a soft landing on the moon’s surface near the south pole at a later date. In addition, both the United States and China are planning trips to the lunar South Pole.
The United States is aiming to beat India to the site of a soft landing by landing astronauts there in 2025 on a crewed Artemis III mission. India was the first country to demonstrate such a landing. China, like the United States, hopes to land softly on the South Pole by 2026.
TNG Times is proud of team ISRO!
Our deepest respect and gratitude go out to the incredible ISRO team that planned and executed Chandrayaan-3’s successful landing on the moon’s mysterious south pole. Your dogged determination, unmatched skill, and unflinching dedication have not only left an indelible mark in the history of space travel, but have also served as an inspiration to people all across the world.
Your careful planning, thorough calculations, and dogged persistence have helped us unravel the mysteries of our nearest star, opening up new realms of information and deepening our comprehension of the cosmos. Your work exemplifies the potential of human cooperation, creativity, and curiosity in the face of the unknown.
By safely touching down Chandrayaan-3 on the moon’s uncharted surface, you have elevated India to the forefront of scientific achievement and shown the world India’s prowess in space research. Your persistence in breaking new ground and striving for excellence sets a fantastic precedent for future generations.
Your accomplishment reflects not just your technical prowess, but also your enthusiasm for discovery, your resilience in the face of adversity, and your unwavering faith in the possibilities of human ingenuity. With Chandrayaan-3 safely on the ground, we have a shining example of what is possible when people dream big and put in a lot of effort to make their dreams a reality.
As we commemorate this monumental event, may we take this opportunity to thank you for your tireless work in increasing our understanding of the cosmos and to marvel at your astounding achievement. Your life’s work will always be a beacon of hope, showing people everywhere that anything is possible with enough hard work and creative thinking.
