FUELLING INDIA'S FLIGHT IN SPACE

The success of ISRO's Chandrayaan strengthened India's position among nations leading in space capabilities. Besides, its frugal spending too made international headlines

- Nandini Keshari

The failure of the Chandrayaan 2 mission weighed heavily on the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) when it was preparing for Chandrayaan 3. The touching down of the Vikram lander became a national event, with people from different corners of the country logging in to witness what they hoped would be a historic moment. ISRO did not disappoint. On August 23, Vikram made a soft landing on the lunar south pole, making India the first country to do so.

“Mastering the technology of safe and soft landing is of paramount importance. It is not just the achievement of the scientific and technical community, but has become the country’s achievement,” says P. Veeramuthuvel, project director of Chandrayaan 3. He says that it will give boost to the Indian space industry. Top space agencies are now reportedly lining up to procure technology from India.

Veeramuthuvel points out that NASA has shown interest in procuring laser-based instruments used in the mission, while other space agencies have requested data about how ISRO operated the rover.

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