The Promising Trajectory of the Indian Space Research Organisation
With the resounding success of the Chandrayaan-3 mission on 23 August 2023, India has once again asserted its prowess in space exploration by becoming the first nation to land a probe on the enigmatic dark side of the moon.
Reflecting on the journey that led to this remarkable feat, it’s worth recalling that India’s venture into lunar exploration began with Chandrayaan-1, elevating it to the prestigious ranks of nations capable of reaching the moon’s surface. Notably, this mission unveiled the presence of water molecules on the lunar terrain, a discovery that ignited new possibilities for sustained space exploration.
The subsequent milestone of reaching the orbit of Mars with the Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), affectionately dubbed ‘Mangalyaan,’ further demonstrated India’s prowess. In achieving this, India not only became the fourth nation to orbit Mars but also the first Asian nation to mark this achievement.
A defining aspect of these accomplishments is the remarkable cost efficiency — Chandrayaan-1 ($88.73 million), Chandrayaan-2 ($142 million), Chandrayaan-3 ($75 million), and the Mars Orbiter Mission ($74 million) operated at budgets far less than half that of the Hollywood blockbuster “Interstellar,” highlighting ISRO’s frugality in delivering stellar results.
As we stand on the precipice of the future, the question that arises is: “What lies ahead for the Indian Space Research Organisation?”
Collaboration continues to be the key as ISRO, in partnership with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), forges ahead with the Lunar Polar Exploration Mission (Lupex), hopefully going to be known as Chandrayaan-4. While mission specifics are yet to be unveiled, the name itself alludes to an expedition to explore the moon’s polar regions, potentially unveiling new dimensions of lunar secrets. Additionally, the horizon features Mars Orbiter Mission 2 (MOM 2), anticipated to be another orbital mission dedicated to the comprehensive study of Mars’ intriguing crust.
One of the most compelling factors underlying these aspirations is India’s unparalleled efficiency and cost-effectiveness. The prospect of India achieving these feats at a fraction of the cost incurred by space superpowers like NASA is tantalising. Notably, NASA’s Apollo program, conducted between 1960 and 1973, consumed a staggering $25.8 billion ($257 billion adjusted for inflation in 2020). Similarly, the endeavour to land the Perseverance rover on Mars in 2021 accounted for $2.7 billion. This comparison fuels our imagination about ISRO’s potential with comparable resources. Indeed, the trajectory of India’s space journey is exhilarating, promising to redefine efficiency and innovation in space exploration.
As we gaze ahead, a compelling question beckons: Which monumental achievement piques your curiosity more — ISRO sending a ‘vyomanaut’ to the moon’s surface or dispatching a rover to navigate the Martian landscape?
The possibilities are boundless, and the answers, as they unfold in the cosmos, will undoubtedly shape the tapestry of our collective future.
