Did you know that Chandrayaan 3 was a follow-up mission to Chandrayaan 2? What were the chances of a successful lunar landing this time? Can you imagine that the total cost of Chandrayaan is less than the budget of the movie “Interstellar” by Christopher Nolan?
Please read this article to find out how it all started! The history of Indian Space Research, Lunar missions, and Chandrayaan 3. I will discuss the tweet where the budget of a real space mission and its interpretation in a movie will be compared.
Apart from that, I will also inform you about how Chandrayaan-3 has been one of the most cost-effective lunar missions compared to India’s previous mission and Russian Luna 25 mission. Other significant updates will also be provided in this article.
Did You Know Chandrayaan 3’s Budget Was Half Of Nolan’s Interstellar?
It was a tweet that started it all! The comparison between Interstellar, one of the best cinematic renditions of a space mission directed by Christopher Nolan, and the actual mission, Chandrayaan-3, was drawn on the social media platform ‘X’ previously known as Twitter, by an account Newsthink.
Apart from the comparison between reality and rendition, another significant budget gap is present between Chandrayaan 2 and Chandrayaan 3, with approximately 300 crores. Isn’t that a stark contrast? Aren’t you curious about what other cost-efficiency strategies have been implemented by Chandrayaan 3?
India has made history with the soft landing of the Vikram Lander on the south pole of the lunar surface in the Chandrayaan 3 mission. It was days after Russia’s lunar mission failed, and clearly, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) had successfully carried out the mission by being cost-efficient.
Prime Minister Of India Responding On Chandrayaan 3!
On the success of Chandrayaan 3, Indian prime minister Narendra Modi Tweeted, “Feeling the fervor all the way from Johannesburg for Chandrayaan-3!
The enthusiasm of our diaspora in South Africa for India’s achievements in the space sector is truly gladdening.”
In the virtual address of the nation regarding ISRO’s success about Chandrayaan 3 mission, he said, “Kabhi kaha jata tha chanda mama bahut door ke hain, ab ek din wo bhi ayega jab bacche kaha karenge chanda mama bass ek tour ke hain (Earlier children used to say Moon is far, but now they will the Moon is just a tour)”. He also said after the successful soft landing that it is the “dawn of a new era”!
Modi was elated and informed that ” India is on the moon! We have our national pride placed on the moon.” The prime minister has been very supportive throughout the missions that has been planned by ISRO and his excitement has been equally shared by the people of India and scientist at ISRO!
What Is Chandrayaan-3?
A follow-up mission to Chandrayaan 2, Chandrayaan 3 was finally successful, and ISRO worked hard to achieve it. 14 July 2023 was Chandrayaan-3 launch date where the spacecraft left the Sriharikota Range (SHAR) in India at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC).
It took the spacecraft 40 days to reach the moon, achieving a safe and secure soft landing on the lunar surface. India becomes the 4rth member of this elite club, inclusive of China, Russia, and the US, to successfully make a landing on the moon.
The Chandrayaan 3 project director is P Veeramuthuvel. Chandrayaan 3 has made it possible for India to be the first country to land on the moon’s south pole. The mission has ensured that it is possible to land and rove across the moon’s surface safely.
The spacecraft consists of a rover and a lander configured for 100 km of the lunar orbit. The Spectro-polarimetry of the Habitable Planet Earth (SHAPE) payload is present in the propulsion module to study polari and spectral metric measurements from the lunar orbit of Earth.
There are three objectives of the mission, namely:
- Demonstrating a soft and safe landing on the lunar surface
- Demonstration of Rover roving the moon
- Conducting in-situ scientific experiments
Budget Comparison With Interstellar: A Tweet!
How much did Christopher Nolan spend on his movie Interstellar, a successful rendition of a space mission? The iconic film costs around $165 million, and why not? The lavish space romp was one of the most ambitious representations of space but as realistic as possible.
And yet, real science has been much cheaper financially than filmmaking. It is a hard fact to swallow regarding economic involvement but also a reality that ISRO has been much more cost-efficient, with its total budget of $ 75 million to land on the moon successfully.
The comparison was first highlighted on ‘X,’ a social media platform previously known as Twitter. Former journalist Cindy Pom addressed this fact, which garnered much attention on X, including the owner of X, Elon Musk.
The fact was shocking, even to one of the worldwide billionaires, Musk, who commented on the post, “Good for India,” along with the Indian flag emoji. It can also be interpreted as a snub or sarcasm, especially with India reaching for the moon.
Comparison With Other Lunar Missions!
When comparing with other lunar missions, the first comparison arises between the Chandrataan 2 and ISRO Chandrayaan 3, considering Chandrayaan 2 was India’s first attempt at soft lunar surface landing. Apart from Chandrayaan 2, I will address Chandrayaan 1 and Luna 25 mission of Russia.
According to the reports, the total budget of Chandrayaan 2, including rover, orbiter, lander, ground support network, and navigation, was approximately $7.27 billion. However, the cost of the geostationary satellite launch vehicle is not included in it. Overall, the total budget was $9.78 billion! We can clearly identify the difference between Chandrayaan 2 and Chandrayaan 3!
Another significant statistical gap is when Chandrayaan 3 is compared to Chandrayaan 1! Even Chandrayaan 1 budget was more than Chandrayaan 3, considering the budget was approximately $80 million. Imagine the cost efficiency of the current scientists involved in Chandrayaan 3!
Let’s not stay limited to India’s lunar mission because, as per the reports, Russia spent almost $16 billion on its Luna 25 mission. However, Russia has not made any public accounts of acceptance regarding the steep budget of Chandrayaan-3.
The Intrigue That Is Chandrayaan-3!
After the successful soft landing on the lunar surface, Chandrayaan 3 marked India’s name on the world map! ISRO highlights success and talent by placing India in the few countries to land on a celestial body.
Science and technology have allowed India to explore and uncover the moon’s secrets. The purpose of Chandrayaan 3 has been to unfold the Vikram lander from the side panel of the Chandrayaan 3.
The lander is supposed to create a ramp intended for the rover. The rover is situated at the belly of the lander, which will emerge and drive across the ramp on the lunar surface. The rover will be exploring the lunar surface and environment of the moon.
Purpose Of The Lander And Rover!
The lander and the rover are both solar-powered and designed for two weeks to evaluate the lunar surface’s mineralogical composition and chemical elements. The chilly lunar nights are so difficult that the land or the rover might not survive long once their purpose is completed.
The lander communicates directly with ISRO on Earth, while the rover communicates with the lander. Another added advantage is that the orbiter of Chandrayaan 2 is still circling the moon, so the orbiter can also be used for any backup or contingent communication.
Another purpose of the rover is to determine the elemental composition of the lunar surface. ISRO has also designed the rover specifically to hunt for magnesium, titanium, calcium, potassium, silicon, iron, and aluminum.
Finishing Up!
ISRO has created an Indian mark on the world with its achievements of Chandrayaan-3! Being the first at the lunar south pole, India aims to evaluate the lunar surface concerning future moon missions, frozen water, water ice, source of oxygen, or a moon colony!
Evaluating Chandrayaan 3 as a mission along with its objectives and success, you will read about how, statistically, the real space mission is way more cost-efficient than a film rendition of a space mission in the movie Interstellar!
Comment below to let us know what you consider a successful, cost-efficient space mission or more resources for space exploration!
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