New Delhi: Exactly 16 years ago, ISRO launched the Chandrayaan 1 mission to the Moon, which was the first spacecraft to reach the south pole of the Moon. While the Vikram lander on the Chandrayaan 3 mission executed a soft, controlled landing on the lunar surface last year, the Chandrayaan 1 mission had an impact probe, that tumbled through space while spinning and observing the lunar surface. The data radioed back by the spacecraft has driven lunar science for decades. The Chandrayaan 1 mission has confirmed the widespread presence of water on the Moon and found evidence indicating water may be generated on the Moon by electrons on Earth
Scientists had already worked out the conditions necessary for water ice to exist on the surface of the Moon, when NASA’s Celementine spacecraft found these expected conditions in the form of permanently shadowed craters in the highlands around the south pole of the Moon. These craters are believed to contain ancient ice delivered to the inner terrestrial worlds by comets and icy asteroids in the infancy of the Solar System. The light from the Sun never reaches the deep, dark floors of these craters, which is why the south pole of the Moon is a target for exploration by all major spacefaring nations. Chandrayaan 1 heralded humanity’s push to the south pole of the Moon.
ISRO is returning to the Moon
ISRO is continuing the incredible success of its Chandrayaan lunar exploration programme with the Chandrayaan 4 sample return mission that will attempt to scoop and drill up about four kg of lunar material, followed by the Chandrayaan 5/LUPEX precision landing mission, which is a collaboration with the Japanese Space Agency. These will be followed by at least two Chandrayaan missions to demonstrate additive manufacturing using locally sourced regolith, and a nuclear power source. ISRO plans to build up the capacity and capabilities with the Chandrayaan and Gaganyaan programmes to land an Indian on the Moon by 2040.
