Space race: For ISRO, Chandrayaan 2 is not the end, Mission Gaganyaan next priority
New Delhi, Sep 22: For Indian Space Research Organisation, it may be the last chance to establish some form of communication with the Chandrayaan 2 lander Vikram on lunar night, however this wouldn't stop them space race that threatens regional security.
On Sept. 7, India's Chandrayaan-2 lunar mission deployed its Vikram lander for an attempted landing at the Moon's south pole. Communications with the lander were lost just minutes prior to the scheduled landing. Recent imaging suggests that Vikram may have survived the landing intact, but it might be unable to communicate. No matter the outcome, the mission has already proved successful as Chandrayaan-2 continues to orbit the Moon.
Chandrayaan-2 adds to the list of India's recent accomplishments in space.
This probe was sent on a scientific mission, but India's achievements in space include other military developments, all of which reflect a challenge to China. Though some are warning of a space race between the US and China, I suggest the real space race is happening in Asia.
Space
race:
This
year
alone,
both
China
and
India
have
landed,
or
attempted
to
land,
probes
on
the
Moon.
These
types
of
missions
are
one
way
to
achieve
international
prestige.
But
they
also
peacefully
demonstrate
capabilities
that
could
be
used
in
conflict.
From
my
perspective
as
a
space
policy
analyst,
India's
space
activities,
combined
with
its
escalating
tensions
with
Pakistan,
contribute
to
increasing
regional
tension.
Mission
Gaganyaan
K.
Sivan
on
Saturday
said
that
Chandrayaan-2
has
achieved
98
per
cent
of
its
objectives.
However,
their
next
priority
would
be
Mission
Gaganyaan.
"There are 8 instruments in the orbiter and each instrument is doing exactly what it meant to do. Regarding the lander, we have not been able to establish communication with it. Our next priority is Gaganyaan mission," he said in Bhubaneswar, reports ANI.
The ISRO chief said that organization was trying to set the target of achieving this mission (Gaganyaan) by next year. "For this, we are working on different options," he added.
What
is
the
Gaganyaan
project?
The
Gaganyaan
is
a
crewed
orbital
spacecraft
that
is
expected
to
carry
three
astronauts
into
space
for
at
least
seven
days.
The
project
was
first
announced
by
Prime
Minister
Narendra
Modi
during
his
2018
Independence
Day
speech.
The spacecraft is likely to consist of an Orbital Module which will have a service and a crew module. The mission is estimated to cost around Rs 10,000 crore.
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How
are
the
astronauts
being
selected?
The
Indian
Air
Force
has
completed
the
first
level
of
selecting
astronauts
for
the
ambitious
Gaganyaan
mission
from
its
pool
of
test
pilots.
According to the Air force, the pilots underwent necessary physical exercise tests, lab investigations, radiological tests, clinical tests and evaluation on various aspects of their psychology.