India’s cost-effective lunar mission success is a testament to its self-reliance. Chandrayaan-3 stands out as the most economical and successful lunar mission to date, with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) having spent just USD 75 million. This remarkable achievement has not only boosted India’s standing in the global space industry but has also ignited a surge in space-tech startups, with more than 140 emerging in India. Concurrently, international businesses are exploring opportunities in commercial lunar activities
India’s success in getting its Chandrayaan-3 landed on the moon at a cost lower than the space movie Interstellar has stunned the world, bringing unexceptional talent in the country to the fore. The path of self-reliance India embraced by the developed nations denied technological support is the biggest reason for the country’s progress in the fields of space exploration, atomic energy, and computer sciences.
Soon after Chandrayaan-3 touched the lunar surface, India erupted in rapturous celebrations, and many shared 40-year photographs of Indian scientists ferrying the nose cone of a rocket on a bicycle rocket. It was a reminder of the painful yet fulfilling struggle India faced to enter the elite club of lunar nations, especially, when access to required technology was blocked.
This however drove scientists at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and other Indian agencies to become self-sufficient. Former ISRO chairman K Kasturirangan said the moon landing has given India a very important capability that came after sufferings in the past.
India made its way despite the imposition of sanctions three decades ago. “We have been denied access to technology — in atomic energy, in space, and other critical areas. We were kept out because we did not have our own capabilities and were, in some ways, dependent. The Moon landing changes that permanently,” he said.
India now has become a crucial part of the club that formulates future space policies. Josef Aschbacher, the director general of the European Space Agency, said “What a way to demonstrate new technologies and achieve India’s first soft landing on another celestial body. Well done. I am thoroughly impressed.”
US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said “We look forward to deepening our partnership with India on space exploration in the years ahead.” Calling the landing of Chandrayaan-3 historic, UN General Assembly President Csaba Korosi said “A giant step for humanity, science, and innovation.”
India is the first country to land on the south pole of the moon, which is mountainous, less illuminated, difficult terrain with water ice. Martin Barstow, director of strategic partnerships at Space Park Leicester, said India achieved what the US could not. “Landing at the poles is much more difficult than landing at the equator. The US hasn’t landed anything at the poles on the moon.”
Andrew Coates, professor of physics at London-based Mullard Space Science Laboratory, said the Chandrayaan-3 landing “cements their (India’s) position as one of the key spacefaring nations and is an impressive scientific and engineering achievement.”7 A few days before the Chandrayaan-3 landed, the Russian mission Luna-25 had crashed while touching down on the moon. Praising the Indian mission, Russian President Vladimir Putin said “This is a big step forward in space exploration and of course a testament to the impressive progress made by India in the field of science and technology.”
India has become an inspiration to many developing and even developed countries to achieve their space dreams. Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is set to send its lunar mission named ‘Moon Sniper’ soon. The Chandrayaan-3 success is set to fuel economic growth in India by creating employment, boosting private investment, and driving technological advancements. It going to be very important for the world as well. The new information gathered from the large craters near the lunar south pole may help understand the composition of the early Solar System.
Indian President Droupadi Murmu asserted that the Indian lunar mission will be of great help to the global scientific community. “New information would be obtained from the lunar land which,” she said.
The Chandrayaan-3 is the cheapest successful lunar mission ever. ISRO spent just USD 75 million. India’s achievement has driven world space business. At least 140 space-tech start-ups are set up in India even as international businesses are exploring commercial lunar activities. Interestingly, the Chandrayaan-3 will help the US in its planned Artemis project that aims to send astronauts to the lunar surface.16 United State Department said, “Your success will power the imagination and light the future of people around the world.”