| India`s lunar odyssey– Chandrayaan-I |
By Sushmita Dutta
2008 has been year of achievements and events all over the world. The field of Science has also seen many new achievements and many barriers were broke to create new ones. Especially in the arena of space science, it was an amazing year. If India romanced with the moon, US endeavoured to make the space a little more bit luxurious. Many more such achievements have really made 2008 a memorable year.
2008 has been one the greatest yeas if India space programme is anything to go by.
Over the ages the Moon, has been the only celestial body looked utmost curiosity. With a heroic aim to map the moon, India successfully launched its maiden moon mission ‘Chandrayaan’ on 22nd October 2008. With this attempt India proved its mettle in the international space race and joined the exclusive lunar club. ISRO made every Indian proud who were waiting to get into that very elite club that only few countries have been part of.
The Chandrayaan-1, the unmanned lunar orbiter was launched by a highly-spirited ISRO team from India’s very own space center in Sriharikota. From its launch, it took five and a half days to reach to the orbit of moon. It was 1304 kg at launch and 590 kg at lunar orbit.
With the unfurling of India tricolour on the moon’s surface on 14th November 2008, India’s romance with space came to a full circle. In 1962, it was Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru who had initiated India’s space programme which culminated with Chandrayan.
According to the Indian Space Research Organization the top priorities of Chandrayaan-1 in its two-year lunar probe mission are:
1. To provide high-resolution imaging of the moon`s surface.
2. To search evidence of water or ice.
3. To identify the chemical breakdown of certain lunar rocks.
Chadrayaan will help to study in detail the various chemical and minerals on the moon’s surface that will further unfold the mystery of evolution of moon. This mission will also try to explore the permanently shadowed north and south polar regions of the moon. This mission to moon is also important for, success of Chadrayaan will help further the cause of India’s manned lunar mission. A very important payload to be carried by Chandrayaan is the MIP or the Moon Impact Probe to help in further landing missions.
According to ISRO, “Chandrayaan would lay the groundwork for future lunar missions and probe the physical characteristics of the lunar surface in greater depth than previous missions by other nations.”
India’s tryst with the moon has begun on a very high note with Chandrayaan-I, and ISRO and all Indians hope to keep up the momentum to achieve newer goals.
Full Coverage: India on Moon» |
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