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India has been innovating ever since it gave the world the zero and it is innovating something right now while you are going through this article. India still counts as the first nation to have successfully made it to Mars in its maiden attempt and that too at a fraction of the cost incurred by other countries.

Chandrayaan-1 is also considered as a successful mission as it survived for almost 8 months in the lunar atmosphere. While India is gearing up to launch the second mission, I believe the western countries of the world already know by know that we’re no longer a land of snake charmers.

After the success of Chandrayaan-1, ISRO is pondering the use of nuclear technology to increase the life span for complete safety and an extended life span of Chandrayaan-2.

“We are thinking of powering some parts of Chandrayaan-2 with nuclear power,” former ISRO Chief Madhavan Nair had earlier told the media.

However, after 6 years the plan is finally being implemented. BARC director Sekhar Basu confirmed that his organization has already initiated studies regarding the use of nuclear technology in this mission.

This is what he had to say to TOI:

“We have to start from the scratch as the required nuclear material is not available and nobody will give it to us. We have to develop them on our own in our reactors and produce them artificially.”

Now, let’s take a look at India’s first scientific mission to the moon which was a major boost to India’s space program.

What is Chandrayaan?

Indians were always fascinated by the Moon from ancient days and 21st century India wants to land on the moon. Chandrayaan is the mission towards that dream.

India’s first lunar probe – Chandrayaan-1

Chandrayaan-1 is India’s first unmanned lunar probe. This mindblowing piece of technology was successfully launched on October 22, 2008, from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.

This spacecraft was successfully inserted into the lunar orbit on November 8, 2008. On November 14, 2008, it separated from the orbiter and struck the south pole of the Moon in a controlled manner. This made India the fourth country to hoist its flag on the Moon.

Chandrayaan-1 achieved 95 percent of its planned objectives during its lifetime. Among its many achievements was the discovery of the widespread presence of water molecules in lunar soil.

India’s second lunar probe – Chandrayaan-2

India’s second lunar exploration mission, Chandrayaan-2, an advanced version of the Chandrayaan-1 mission, is slated for lift-off in 2017. The Chandrayaan-2 happens to be an ISRO mission aimed at placing an orbiter around the moon and sending a lander and a rover to its surface.

There might be a lot of things wrong with our country, but we can always feel proud about our progress in science and the people who make that possible. Isn’t it?

News Source: Defence News