THIS is historic movement and sounds the bugle for a developed India”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first reaction on India’s successful landing on moon echoed the feeling of every Indian.
As the Vikram lander of Chandrayaan-3 tunnelled through the wispy atmosphere of the moon to land on its dark South side on the evening of August 23, the world was left stunned.
To re-paraphrase Neil Armstrong, the first man on the moon in 1969, it was a small bounce for the lander, a giant surge for India.
Indian scientists, particularly Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), deserve fulsome praise for making this possible four years after the miss by a whisper by Chandrayaan-2.
Praise from world
But it was a mission for India. Entire India waited with baited breadth till the last moment and Prime Minister himself watched the historic moment from Johnsburg in the midst of the BRICS summit.
The sense of jubilation was greater because the success of the mission made India the world’s first country to land on the South side of the moon. Only three other countries have conducted a lunar soft-landing in history.
Lavish praise from top world leaders was music to Indian ears. “From the seabed to the heavens, the US and India are a powerful force to move this world,” US President Joe Bidden said.
From Johannesburg, the host of the BRICS summit that witnessed India’s space triumph, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa described it as “a momentous moment for the five- nation family.”
India the frontrunner
That Chandrayaan-3 has rekindled the dormant moon race is a testament to human curiosity, ambition, and technological prowess. India’s journey into the moon race is characterised by a steadfast resolve to be a frontrunner rather than a mere participant.
Undeterred by the passage of time, India’s goal is two-fold: to ensure it doesn’t lag behind and to showcase its formidable potential and technological advancements.
The Chandrayaan 3 mission embodies this spirit, a beacon of India’s prowess in space exploration. India has now clearly established its place as a space-powered nation among the comity of nations.
This would also boost India’s future endeavours in outer space such as Mission Gaganyaan, which will be India’s first attempt to have a human space flight mission. It was supposed to be conducted in 2022, during India’s 75th year of Independence, but has now been postponed to 2024 in order to focus on Chandrayaan-3. Scientific triumphs Outer space is not a friendly environment organically made for human endeavours or conquests. Setting its sights on the lunar South Pole, Chandrayaan-3’s mission is intertwined with India’s narrative of scientific triumphs.
Chandrayaan-1’s ground-breaking discovery of water molecules on the lunar surface sent ripples across the scientific community. And, despite the miss by a whisper of Chandrayaan-2 four years ago, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) did not give up chasing the moon.
Success and failures are two sides of the same coin. ISRO proved it when they enabled the Indian flag to fly on the moon this time. The new historic feat has cemented India’s status as a global superpower in space.
