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WION Edit: Chandrayaan-2 moon landing - Sky is the limit

DelhiUpdated: Sep 06, 2019, 08:27 PM IST
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File photo: Chandrayaan-2 lifted off from Sriharikota. Photograph:(Reuters)

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With this, India would become the first country to map the lunar surface in the unexplored side of the moon and study its atmosphere.

It's evident that India is within reach of the moon. That too the unexplored side of the moon.

The Vikram module of Chandrayaan-2 is scheduled to make a soft landing in the South Polar region of the moon early on Saturday.

If successful, this mission, will secure India's stature as space superpower proving that we have a capacity to soft-land on the moon.

With this, India would become the first country to map the lunar surface in the unexplored side of the moon and study its atmosphere.

Isro says that the last 15 minutes of the touch down with the Vikram lander will be '15 minutes of terror'.

If Vikram module of Chandrayaan-2 passes critical minutes of the touchdown, the lander will measure the quakes in the moon and the rover will analyse the soil.

Such studies will enhance our understanding of the moon.

Besides this, the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter will circle around the moon for one year and collect information on minerals in the moon and search for water.

This would be the most sophisticated search for water in the moon. Chandrayaan-2 is equipped with infra-red imagers and radars. Put simply, Chandrayaan - 2 heralds a new era in India's space exploration.

Overall, this mission has the potential to make India a leader in lunar research. And this is a huge achievement. 

The US, the then Soviet Union and China had a headstart in space missions. In a little over 5 decades since the establishment of ISRO, India is on its way to lead the world when it comes to the moon.

Then comes the issue of cost-efficiency. This mission has cost India only $150 million which is cheaper than the budget of Hollywood film 'Interstellar'.

Successful landing would be a testimony to ISRO's growing expertise. In science, India has been a heavyweight - contrary to popular perception.

Chandrayaan-2 will be a glittering achievement in that proud tradition.

(Disclaimer: WION Edit is the channel's take on the big events of the world)