India's Footprint On Moon and Beyond

-- Emaan Sarfaraz, 6A, Carmel School

Monday, January 8, 2024

India’s Space Mission, 1984: Indo-Soviet Manned Mission where Rakesh Sharma was the first Indian Citizen to flew into space Chandrayan, 2008: First lunar mission, launch from Satish Dhawan Space Centre Mangalyaan, 2014: First interplanetary mission, made ISRO be the 4th space agency to reach Mars.

The dynamics of India’s space program have transformed over the decades, reflecting not just technological advancements but also geopolitical shifts. Recent developments, like the Chandrayaan-3 mission and the signing of the Artemis Accords, mark a renewed emphasis on international collaboration, reminiscent of the early days of the Indian space journey. In only six decades, India has rapidly ascended as a global frontrunner in space technology and exploration, with much credit attributed to the ISRO. The journey commenced in 1962 under the visionary guidance of Dr Vikram Sarabhai, with the program initially falling under the purview of the Department of Atomic Energy. The overarching objective of India's space endeavour was to harness space technology for national progress, simultaneously pursuing scientific research in space and venturing into planetary exploration. Chandrayaan-3 was launched from Satish Dhawan Space Centre on 14 July 2023. The spacecraft entered lunar orbit on 5 August, and the lander touched down near the Lunar south pole[8] on 23 August,making India the fourth country to successfully land on the Moon, and the first to do so near the lunar south pole. Aditya-L1 is a coronagraphy spacecraft for studying the solar atmosphere, designed and developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and various other Indian research institutes. It will be orbiting at about 1.5 million km from Earth in a halo orbit around the Lagrange point 1 (L1) between the Earth and the Sun, where it will study the solar atmosphere, solar magnetic storms, and their impact on the environment around the Earth. It is the first Indian mission dedicated to observe the Sun.

The rewards of these collaborations aren’t limited to outer space alone. Engaging in such partnerships aids ISRO in scaling up its technological prowess. A byproduct of these alliances is the boost it provides to the Indian industry. For instance, ISRO’s technology transfer since the 1980s has empowered numerous Indian firms, especially those in specialized sectors like materials, chemicals, broadcasting, and navigation. Such collaborations not only set the ball rolling in the 1960s but, looking forward, the inherent strengths of ISRO will continue to magnetize global partners.

The Indian space program, conceived as a technological catalyst for rapid industrial transition, is on the cusp of achieving its foundational objective of becoming a beacon for technology dissemination. With successful milestones like a soft landing on the Moon, it’s clear that the program is on a trajectory of achieving and even surpassing its envisioned goals.

I WISH YOU ALL A VERY HAPPY REPUBLIC DAY!!

JAI HIND

Emaan Sarfaraz, 6A, Carmel School