When I visited India this summer, I had the opportunity to be a spectator of the launch of the country’s first lunar lander, developed by the Indian Space Research Organization. Named Chandrayaan-2, meaning “moon craft” in Sanskrit, the lander is India’s second lunar exploration mission, the first being the lunar orbiter Chandrayaan-1 launched in 2008. After orbiting Earth five times, Chandrayaan-2 began its moon-ward journey today and will perform a soft landing in the south polar region of the moon on September 7th. This will make India the fourth nation to perform a soft landing on the moon, and the first in the south polar region. Before reaching the moon, Chandrayaan-2 will separate into the orbiter and the Vikram Lander, named after Indian scientist Vikram Sarabhai. Once the lander reaches the moon, it will deploy the artificial intelligence powered rover named Pragyan, meaning wisdom in Sanskrit. Pragyan will then collect data on the topography and mineralogy of the moon, the elemental abundance, the lunar exosphere, and the presence of water ice.
Beyond learning the scientific achievements of ISRO, being a spectator of the launch in India allowed me to experience the sentiments of the Indian people. The news media began providing updates and information about Chandrayaan-2 weeks before the launch date. As the day got closer, every channel had large countdown clocks on their screen with devoted on location reporters at the Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota. On July 22nd, I remember counting down to the launch with those around me, and as the clock hit zero, applause erupted. ISRO had done it once again, launching their mission successfully in their first attempt, just as they did with Mars orbiter Mangalyaan in 2013. It became a week of celebration for the Indian people. It placed India as a country with a developed space program, not far behind the US, Russia, and China.
What I glimpsed was a revival of the Indian spirit. India is the home of the ancient medical science of Ayurveda, the country of the first accurate astronomers, and the birthplace of the number zero. However, science in India came almost to a standstill after repeated invasions by the Arabs, the Turkish, the Mongols, the Mughals, and then lastly the oppressive 200-year occupation by the British. Now, after 72 years of independence, India finally returns to science, advancement, and development. And this time, the Indian people move with full enthusiasm and spirit, striving to no longer be known as a country of snake charmers and spices, but instead as a country of developed infrastructure and technological advancements.