The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has achieved success after a long journey, from transporting rocket components by bicycle and ox-drawn carts to the Chandrayaan-3 mission.
The first rocket component of ISRO was transported to the launch site by bicycle. Photo: ISRO.
August 23 was a significant day for India and space exploration. The Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft from the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) successfully landed on the Moon, making India the fourth country after the United States, the Soviet Union, and China to softly touch down here with an autonomous spacecraft, according to Space News.
The smooth landing also made Chandrayaan-3 the first spacecraft to land on the lunar south pole. India achieved this milestone not long after Russia’s Luna 25 spacecraft lost control and crashed on the Moon’s surface. Timing played a crucial role here because Chandrayaan-3 operates on solar power and is designed to survive for one lunar day, equivalent to 14 Earth days. During this period, the spacecraft is expected to conduct a series of experiments, including analyzing the composition of lunar surface minerals using a spectrometer before plunging into darkness at the end of the lunar day.
While both the Luna 25 spacecraft and the Vikram lander on the Chandrayaan-3 mission are equipped with instruments designed to study the lunar soil, exosphere, water, and minerals, including helium-3, the main difference between the two vehicles is that Russia’s spacecraft is scheduled to operate for one Earth year. Luna 25 is equipped with a radioisotope thermoelectric generator, providing heat and electricity, while the Vikram lander and the Pragyan rover will not survive the lunar night.
The success of the Chandrayaan-3 mission marks a significant milestone because it is the first spacecraft to land on the lunar south pole, an area containing water ice and valuable minerals. This pioneering achievement holds special significance, as data from these experiments will help support future lunar missions.
Chandrayaan-1 was India’s first lunar mission, launched in 2008, marking India’s maiden voyage beyond Earth. It was the first mission to discover water on the Moon’s surface, significantly impacting the space exploration plans of both the United States and China. The lunar south pole is also the landing site for NASA’s Artemis 3 mission. Scientists have long speculated that shaded craters in this area may contain large amounts of water, which could be extracted for various purposes. The discovery by the Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft contributed to substantiating this hypothesis.
From transporting rocket components by bicycle and ox-drawn carts to the Chandrayaan-3 mission, the story of ISRO’s development resembles a movie script. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi once shared on Twitter on July 14, “Chandrayaan-3 writes a new chapter in India’s space adventure. The spacecraft soars high, lifting the dreams and ambitions of all Indians. This monumental achievement is a testament to the relentless dedication of our scientists.”
The history of ISRO is characterized by perseverance, innovation, and collaboration. Established in 1969, ISRO has maintained a remote sensing program since 1988, providing valuable Earth observation data at various temporal, spatial, and spectral resolutions through a range of instruments. Their PAN camera was once the highest-resolution civilian camera before the U.S. DigitalGlobe’s Ikonos satellite launched in 1999.
ISRO has launched 124 spacecraft, including three to the Moon and one to Mars, while also supporting the launch of 424 satellites from other countries. Their PSLV rocket is a top choice for ride-share services, having deployed 104 satellites in a single launch in 2017, setting a world record until SpaceX’s Transporter-1 mission surpassed it in 2021.
In 2018, ISRO completed the NavIC indigenous navigation system, joining the select few countries with this capability (the United States, Russia, China, the European Union, and Japan). NavIC was created due to concerns that foreign-controlled global satellite navigation systems might not provide service in certain situations. For example, in 1999, the United States refused India’s request for GPS data in the Kargil region along the India-Pakistan border.
The Chandrayaan missions represent a continuation of this tradition. The successful launch of the GSLV Mk-III rocket carrying the Chandrayaan-2 spacecraft in July 2019 marked a significant shift, showcasing ISRO’s ability to master heavy payload technology. Building on that achievement, Chandrayaan-3 has taken technology to new heights, revealing India’s potential to fully develop lunar missions within their capabilities.
ISRO’s annual budget for 2023 – 2024 is $1.5 billion, an 8% decrease from the previous budget estimate, including scientific costs for missions like Chandrayaan-3 and the upcoming Aditya L1 mission to study the Sun. In comparison, NASA will receive $25.4 billion in funding in the fiscal year 2023, a 5.6% increase from 2022.
ISRO’s technological prowess drew global attention in 2013 with the success of the Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), also known as Mangalyaan. What made MOM stand out was not only that it was India’s first successful attempt to send a spacecraft