The nation of India successfully delivered a rover to the moon. Unlike Russia, who’s lander added a new crater to the surface on impact, Chandrayaan-3 touched down light as a feather. They’re now the fourth nation to accomplish the goal. They have no intention of being left behind in the space race. Luna is potentially a lot more powerful than most people really imagine.
Rover rarin’ to go
India has successfully landed its rover equipped Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft on the moon, “becoming only the fourth nation ever to accomplish such a feat.” Such an accomplishment, the experts note, “could cement India’s status as a global superpower in space.”
That’s because before, “only the United States, China and the former Soviet Union have completed soft landings on the lunar surface.” And few of those.
India aimed for some different real estate with their mission. Chandrayaan-3’s landing site, they note, is “closer to the moon’s south pole than any other spacecraft in history has ventured.” They had a really good reason for that.
Congratulations to all the scientists at @isro as #Chandrayaan3 has successfully soft-landed on the moon. The entire country is proud. Bharat Mata Ki Jai! pic.twitter.com/i1BAyrTZK6
— Salman Khan (@BeingSalmanKhan) August 23, 2023
“The south pole region is considered an area of key scientific and strategic interest for spacefaring nations, as scientists believe the region to be home to water ice deposits.” Those are absolutely crucial and definitely not a “renewable” resource. The rover will be out mining ice cubes in no time because the stuff will be a whole lot more valuable there than oil is here on Earth.
If traces of dihydrogen monoxide can be found “frozen in shadowy craters” it could easily be “converted into rocket fuel or even drinking water for future crewed missions.” As the craft touched down, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was glued to a stream of the landing.
He’s over in South Africa at the BRICS Summit but this was worth taking a few moments to watch. Onboard is a robot rover like the Chinese Jade Rabbit which is currently hopping around up there.
A joyous occasion
“On this joyous occasion,” the Prime Minister began, “I would like to address all the people of the world. India’s successful moon mission is not just India’s alone. This is a year in which the world is witnessing India’s G20 presidency. Our approach of one Earth, one family, one future is resonating across the globe.”
India is rolling out what he likes to call a “human-centric approach.” Therefore, “this success belongs to all of humanity, and it will help moon missions by other countries in the future.” It’s enough for him that if their robot rover strikes water, they get noticed as the ones who did it.
India’s engineers did a whole lot better than Russia’s. On August 19, Russia’s Luna 25 pancaked into a crater “after its engines misfired, ending the country’s first lunar landing attempt in 47 years.”
Pragyan Rover coming out of the lander. ???? #Chandrayaan3 pic.twitter.com/BQzJGEGHvI
— Indian Tech & Infra (@IndianTechGuide) August 23, 2023
As an extra added bonus besides delivering a lunar rover to the surface, as “Chandrayaan-3 approached the moon, its cameras captured photographs.” These are close ups of the same accuracy Google Earth uses here at home and a whole lot better than you can get with a backyard telescope.
What made it safely to the surface of the moon arrived in one package but it’s three separate parts. “A lander, rover and propulsion module.” The engines were in action from Earth orbit to lunar surface.
The lander itself is named Vikram and it “completed the precision maneuvers required to make a soft touchdown on the lunar surface after it was ejected from the propulsion module.” Tucked inside “is Pragyan, a small, six-wheeled rover that will deploy from the lander by rolling down a ramp.” From there, to search for the mother lode of ice cubes.
