Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Manoj Kumar
When ISRO chairman S. Somanath said, that India's technological progress is for the world, he wasn't joking. The Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) Chandrayaan-2 mission is currently playing a pivotal role in shaping international lunar exploration. Recently it guided Japan's SLIM mission to land on the Moon.
The technological advancements and experiences gained from Chandrayaan-2 have proven invaluable for SLIM. Chandrayaan-2, despite its partial success, contributed critical insights that aided Japan's lunar mission.
Japan utilized imagery gathered by Chandrayaan-2 to select an optimal landing spot for SLIM. This collaborative effort showcases the importance of international partnerships in advancing space exploration initiatives.
While Chandrayaan-2's Vikram lander faced challenges in landing on the Moon, its orbiter still remains operational, providing ongoing studies of the lunar surface's topography, mineralogy, and the search for water ice.
Weighing 3850 kg, Chandrayaan-2 represents a significant advancement from its predecessor, Chandrayaan-1. The mission was aimed to explore the moon comprehensively, surpassing the mapping capabilities of its forerunner.
The collaboration between ISRO and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) for future initiatives like the LUPEX mission, will further enhance the sharing of key technology between two countries in space exploration missions. However, before LUPEX unfolds, Japan's SLIM mission already is reaping the benefits of ISRO's experiences.
SLIM entered lunar orbit on December 25. The mission aimed for a precision landing within a 100-meter radius, demonstrating progress in lunar exploration capabilities.
Despite landing on the Moon, SLIM faced unexpected challenges as recent imagery reveals its tipped-over state, hindering solar panel access. This unanticipated scenario left the lander reliant on limited battery reserves, prompting a reassessment by the Japanese space agency to determine the mission's overall precision and performance.