In the early hours of a September morning, millions of Indians and space enthusiasts worldwide held their breath as India’s ambitious Chandrayaan-2 mission attempted a historic soft landing near the moon’s south pole. Named after the Sanskrit word for moon vehicle, Chandrayaan-2 represented a significant leap forward in India’s space exploration efforts, building upon the success of its predecessor, Chandrayaan-1.

Launched aboard the powerful GSLV Mk-III rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Chandrayaan-2 embarked on a 48-day journey covering nearly 384,400 kilometres to its lunar destination. The mission was meticulously planned by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), known for its ability to achieve impressive feats on a comparatively modest budget.

Each step has been carefully planned and executed by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) on a tight budget. The Chandrayaan-2 mission comes at less than half the amount spent on the recent Hollywood blockbuster “Avengers: Endgame,” which cost $356 million to make.

The objectives of Chandrayaan-2 were ambitious: to demonstrate India’s capability to soft-land on the moon, operate a robotic rover named Pragyan to explore the lunar surface and conduct scientific studies ranging from mineralogy and elemental abundance to the search for water ice. The mission consisted of three components: the Orbiter, designed for a year-long scientific mission in lunar orbit; the Vikram lander, named after Dr. Vikram A. Sarabhai, a pioneer of India’s space program; and the Pragyan rover, poised to traverse the moon’s surface.

However, the world held its breath as the final moments of the landing phase approached. At ISRO’s Mission Control Centre in Bengaluru, Prime Minister Narendra Modi joined scientists and engineers in witnessing this historic event live. The atmosphere was tense yet hopeful, reflecting the culmination of years of hard work and dedication.

Sadly, as the Vikram lander descended to its final approach, communication with the spacecraft was lost just 2.1 kilometres above the lunar surface. The collective disappointment was palpable, yet amidst the setback, the orbiter continued its mission successfully, capturing high-resolution images and conducting scientific observations.

The challenges of lunar exploration are immense and fraught with risk. As noted by National Geographic, the majority of lunar landing attempts throughout history have faced difficulties, highlighting the complexity and unforgiving nature of space missions.

Nevertheless, Chandrayaan-2’s journey is not defined solely by its landing attempt. It stands as a testament to India’s growing prowess in space technology and its commitment to pushing the boundaries of scientific exploration. The orbiter continues to orbit the moon, sending valuable data back to Earth, including insights into lunar topography, mineral composition, and potential water resources.

National Geographic writes: Like any voyage to a world beyond Earth, Vikram’s flight was a risky endeavour, requiring the lander to slow itself down to a near standstill, autonomously scan for surface obstacles, and then take steps to avoid them during touchdown. The majority of attempts to land robots on the moon have ended in failure, either during launch or on the way to the surface.

In the wake of the Vikram lander’s loss, Prime Minister Modi praised the efforts of ISRO scientists, emphasizing resilience and the spirit of exploration. His words resonated deeply across the nation and beyond, rallying support for India’s scientific community and reinforcing the country’s determination to continue its space exploration endeavours.

As we reflect on Chandrayaan-2, we are reminded of the inherent risks and rewards of exploring the cosmos. Despite the setback, the mission has sparked a renewed enthusiasm for space exploration in India and underscored the importance of international collaboration in scientific endeavours.

The success ratio of lunar missions undertaken in the last six decades is 60 per cent, according to the US space agency NASA’s ‘Moon Fact Sheet’. Of the 109 lunar missions during the period, 61 were successful and 48 had failed, it stated.

Looking ahead, Chandrayaan-2’s legacy will endure as a symbol of India’s scientific ambition and determination to unravel the mysteries of the cosmos. While the quest for a soft lunar landing continues, the journey of Chandrayaan-2 remains a source of inspiration for future generations of scientists, engineers, and dreamers worldwide.

As Prime Minister Modi aptly tweeted, “India is proud of our scientists! They’ve given their best and have always made India proud. These are moments to be courageous, and courageous we will be!”

Space is hard. We commend @ISRO’s attempt to land their #Chandrayaan2 mission on the Moon’s South Pole. You have inspired us with your journey and look forward to future opportunities to explore our solar system together. https://t.co/pKzzo9FDLL

NASA (@NASA) September 7, 2019

Indeed, Chandrayaan-2 embodies the spirit of courage and exploration that defines humanity’s quest to reach beyond the skies and touch the stars.

Let us continue to dream, explore, and reach for the moon and beyond.