Chandrayaan-2: India’s Historic Leap to the Moon

In 2019, India made history by reaching for the Moon—not with an astronaut crew, but with a bold robotic mission called Chandrayaan-2. This wasn’t just about planting a metaphorical flag on the lunar surface; it was about scientific ambition, national pride, and pushing the boundaries of exploration. While the mission faced challenges, its achievements were nothing short of monumental, cementing India’s place in the elite club of lunar explorers.

Let’s explore the story of Chandrayaan-2, from its ambitious beginnings to its legacy as one of India’s proudest space achievements.

What Is Chandrayaan-2?

Chandrayaan-2, which translates to “Mooncraft 2” in Sanskrit, was India’s second lunar exploration mission. Following the success of Chandrayaan-1 in 2008, which discovered water molecules on the Moon, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) set its sights on a more complex mission: not just orbiting the Moon, but also landing on its surface.

The mission had three main components:

1. The Orbiter: Designed to circle the Moon and gather data with high-resolution cameras and scientific instruments.
2. The Vikram Lander: Named after Vikram Sarabhai, the father of the Indian space program, this was meant to make a soft landing near the Moon’s south pole.
3. The Pragyan Rover: A six-wheeled robotic explorer equipped to study the Moon’s surface and composition.

Chandrayaan-2 was launched on July 22, 2019, aboard a GSLV Mk III rocket, India’s most powerful launch vehicle. The destination? The Moon’s south pole, a region rich in scientific mysteries and untapped potential.

Why the South Pole?

Unlike the Moon’s equatorial regions, which have been well-studied by previous missions, the south pole is a lunar frontier. This area has:

• Permanently Shadowed Craters: These craters might contain water ice, a critical resource for future human missions.
• Extreme Temperatures: With temperatures ranging from scorching sunlight to freezing shadow, the south pole offers a unique opportunity to study the Moon’s environment.
• Untouched Terrain: No lander or rover had explored this region before Chandrayaan-2.

By targeting this uncharted area, ISRO aimed to make significant contributions to our understanding of the Moon.

The Journey to the Moon

Chandrayaan-2’s journey wasn’t just about rockets and science—it was a testament to perseverance and ingenuity. Here’s how it unfolded:

1. Launch Day
   On July 22, 2019, Chandrayaan-2 blasted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, India. The launch was flawless, and the spacecraft entered Earth’s orbit, ready for its multi-week journey.
2. Lunar Orbit Insertion
   On August 20, 2019, Chandrayaan-2 successfully entered the Moon’s orbit. This crucial step involved precise calculations to slow the spacecraft down enough to be captured by lunar gravity.
3. The Descent of Vikram
   On September 6, 2019, the Vikram lander began its descent toward the lunar surface. For a few heart-stopping moments, all seemed to be going well. But at an altitude of about 2.1 kilometers, ISRO lost contact with Vikram. The lander crashed on the surface, ending its part of the mission.

The Crash Heard Around the World

The loss of the Vikram lander was a blow to the mission, but it didn’t overshadow Chandrayaan-2’s incredible achievements. The Orbiter continued its work, proving to be a scientific powerhouse. And let’s not forget: landing on the Moon is hard. Out of 109 lunar missions attempted since the 1960s, nearly half have failed. Even NASA and the Soviet Union faced numerous setbacks before their successes.

The Indian public, instead of dwelling on the disappointment, rallied behind ISRO, celebrating the effort and determination of the scientists involved. Social media lit up with messages of support, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the mission as a stepping stone to greater achievements.

What Did Chandrayaan-2 Achieve?

Despite Vikram’s crash, Chandrayaan-2’s Orbiter continues to make groundbreaking contributions to lunar science. Here are some of its key accomplishments:

1. Mapping the Moon in High Resolution
   The Orbiter’s cameras have captured stunningly detailed images of the Moon’s surface, helping scientists identify landing sites for future missions and study lunar geology.
2. Water Molecule Detection
   Building on Chandrayaan-1’s discovery, Chandrayaan-2 has provided more data on the presence of water molecules in the Moon’s polar regions. This information is crucial for future human exploration.
3. Studying the Moon’s Exosphere
   The Orbiter is studying the Moon’s tenuous atmosphere, known as the exosphere, to understand how it interacts with solar radiation.
4. Mineral Mapping
   Chandrayaan-2’s instruments are analyzing the Moon’s surface composition, identifying minerals and elements that can reveal insights about its history.
5. Global Collaboration
   The mission’s data has been shared with scientists around the world, fostering international collaboration and advancing lunar research.

Why Chandrayaan-2 Matters

Chandrayaan-2 wasn’t just a scientific mission—it was a symbol of India’s growing capabilities in space exploration. Here’s why it matters:

1. Pioneering Spirit
   Targeting the Moon’s south pole was an ambitious choice that pushed the boundaries of lunar exploration. Chandrayaan-2 showed the world that India wasn’t afraid to aim high.
2. Inspiring a Nation
   The mission captured the imagination of millions, inspiring young scientists, engineers, and dreamers across India. ISRO became a source of national pride, proving that space exploration isn’t just for the superpowers.
3. Laying the Groundwork for Chandrayaan-3
   Lessons learned from Chandrayaan-2 are shaping India’s next lunar mission, Chandrayaan-3, which will aim for a successful landing.

What Lies Ahead for Lunar Exploration?

Chandrayaan-2’s legacy is still unfolding. The data it collects will shape future missions not just for India, but for the global scientific community. And with Chandrayaan-3 on the horizon, ISRO is poised to make another historic leap.

As we look to the future, one thing is clear: the Moon is no longer a distant dream—it’s a stepping stone to even greater exploration. From Mars to asteroids and beyond, the spirit of Chandrayaan-2 will continue to inspire humanity to reach for the stars.

Final Thought

If you could send a message back to the team behind Chandrayaan-2, what would you say? Maybe you’d thank them for their courage and ambition. Maybe you’d cheer them on for the future. Or maybe you’d suggest adding a selfie camera for the next mission—because who wouldn’t want more lunar close-ups?