Chandrayaan-3: The crash of Russia’s lunar mission Luna-25 during a soft landing on the moon has proven once again that no country has yet surpassed it. Russia’s failure has also brought up the dangers of a soft landing on the moon. Let us tell you that between 1963 and 1976, 42 attempts have been made to land on the moon. Half of these attempts were not entirely successful. Let it be known that 21 successful landings were made on the moon. In six of these missions, humans also landed on the moon. In the decade between 1966 and 1976, there were 17 successful moon landings.
China is the only country that has successfully landed on the moon three times in the last 10 years. America has so far successfully landed six crewed missions on the lunar surface. At the same time, even after all the failed attempts, the major countries of the world keep trying to reach the moon again. Now even the most successful America is starting from scratch. After all, what is it that makes a soft landing of a spacecraft on the lunar surface so dangerous? Why is there uncertainty about a successful landing even after many attempts?
Heaviest last 15 minutes of landing
The then Chairman of Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) K. In 2019, Sivan described the last phase of Chandrayaan-2’s landing as ’15 minutes of terror’. This makes it clear that the last 15 minutes of a spacecraft’s soft landing on the Moon are the most critical and dangerous. Also, it is known that the last phase of Mission Moon is the most difficult. According to an Indian Express report, in the last four years, along with India, Israel, Japan and Russia have also attempted to land a spacecraft on the lunar surface. None of these succeeded. It is noteworthy that all the countries faced problems at the last moment of landing. Spacecraft from all countries crashed on landing.
Russia’s space agency Roscosmos said Luna 25 hit the moon and crashed. (Image: AP)
Everyone’s problems are different, but the result is the same
The exact cause of the crash of the Russian lunar mission Luna-25 has not yet been revealed. However, Russia’s space agency Roscosmos said the spacecraft lost its way while entering orbit before landing. After this it collided with the moon and crashed. Before this, ISRO’s Chandrayaan-2, Israel’s Bearsheet and Japan’s Hakuto-R could not land successfully. All of these had different problems, but the result was the same in the form of a spacecraft crash.
China often buries a flag on the moon
China has emerged as an exception in terms of successful lunar landings. In its first attempt in 2013, China successfully landed the Chang’e-4 on the lunar surface. He then repeated his feat with Changi-5. India is the only country in the recent past, which is trying to land on the moon again in a very short time. ISRO has learned from its past mistakes and made many security arrangements in Chandrayaan-3. It is expected that on August 23, India will create history by successfully landing Chandrayaan-3 on the southern side of the Moon.
Old technology causes problems
Some countries are now worried about the old technology, with the help of which earlier successful landings on the moon were carried out. However, even then no country had fully mastered the landing technology. Between 1963 and 1976, landings were attempted 42 times. Only 21 of those attempts were successful. At the time, the US and the Soviet Union were competing to send spacecraft to the Moon in an attempt to gain geopolitical leverage and Cold War rivalry. Moon missions at that time were very dangerous and very expensive. However, both countries also achieved major achievements due to some successful missions.
The technology used in Chandrayaan-3 is extremely safe, cheap and fuel efficient. (Image: Shutterstock)
The technology used in the mission changed
According to Mayalaswamy Annadurai, who played a major role in Chandrayaan-1, the risks involved in sending the lunar mission at that time were no longer acceptable. According to a report in Indian Express, the cost incurred on previous missions to the moon can no longer be justified. The technology currently in use is extremely safe, cheap and fuel efficient. Today’s technology cannot be compared to the 1960s and 1970s. That is why America has started afresh by sending an orbiter into a new era. Also, America did not start the Artemis program by sending humans.
,
Tags: Chandrayaan-3, ISRO, Mission Moon, NASA, Russia, Space News
First published: August 21, 2023, 20:49 IST