India launched a moon landing mission

India launched an unmanned spacecraft on Friday to land on the moon's surface, marking a significant milestone in its ambitious space program that is rapidly approaching the programs of major global powers.

The Chandrayaan-3 rocket took off from Sriharikota in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh amid the applause of thousands of space enthusiasts.

If the mission succeeds, the world's most populous country will join a very exclusive club of nations that have successfully landed on the moon, including Russia, the United States, and China.

Chandrayaan carries a lander named "Vikram" and an orbiter named "Pragyan."

If all goes well, the lander is expected to touch down in a region close to the moon's South Pole on August 23 or 24.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was in France, tweeted that "the mission carries the hopes and dreams of our nation."

This new attempt by the Chandrayaan program comes four years after the previous mission failed to establish communication with the lander after it landed on the moon's surface.

However, this time, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is hopeful for success and is already planning for an upcoming manned mission to the moon.

Anil J. Verma from Godrej & Boyce, the main supplier of Indian space program engines, said, "We are confident that this mission will succeed and will be a source of pride and appreciation for those who have worked to make it successful."

The mission will last 14 days and has a cost of $74.6 million, according to Indian media reports. Its objective is to successfully land the rover and explore the moon's surface.

Large crowds gathered to witness the launch at the Satish Dhawan Space Center near Chennai in southern India.
K. Sivan, Director of the Indian Space Research Organization, told Agence France-Presse, "I am very happy and full of hope."

Friday's mission reflects India's broad aspirations in the field of space. Since launching its first orbiter into lunar orbit in 2008, India's space program has made significant advancements.

In 2014, India became the first Asian country to put a satellite into orbit around Mars, and three years later, it launched an additional 104 satellites in a single mission.

By next year, the Asian giant plans to send a three-day manned mission into Earth's orbit.

India is also striving to increase its current 2% share of the global space commerce market by offering lower prices than its competitors.

Experts suggest that India can maintain its competitive pricing advantage by replicating or adapting existing space technologies and by relying on its highly skilled engineers who receive lower salaries than their foreign counterparts.

The previous attempt to land on the moon's surface in 2019 cost approximately $140 million, nearly double the cost of Friday's mission. However, this cost is significantly lower than similar projects in other countries.



AFP