Chandrayaan 3: India’s Historic Moon Landing
On August 23, India celebrated a historic milestone as Chandrayaan 3 successfully landed on the moon, marking a significant achievement for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). This remarkable feat was even more extraordinary as Chandrayaan 3 touched down at the uncharted south pole of the moon, making India the first country in the world to accomplish such a landing.
The Masala Dosa Revelation
“We cracked it by offering a free masala dosa and filter coffee at 5 pm every evening,” reveals Venkateshwara Sharma, a mission scientist.
This achievement, however, came with an intriguing revelation – a masala dosa played a crucial role behind Chandrayaan 3’s success. Journalist Barkha Dutt, in an opinion piece for The Washington Post, provided insights into what kept the ISRO team motivated during this challenging mission.
The result of this unique motivation strategy was an abundance of determination and dedication among the team members. “Suddenly, everyone was happy to stay on longer,” says Sharma. When times were tough and Chandrayaan 3 faced the daunting task of achieving the impossible, there were no financial incentives. Instead, a simple masala dosa came to the rescue.
Live Broadcast and Lunar Exploration
The moon landing of Chandrayaan 3 was a momentous event broadcasted live on ISRO’s YouTube channel, its Facebook page, and the DD National TV channel. This successful landing marked a significant milestone for ISRO, as Chandrayaan-3 became the third lunar exploration mission planned by the organization, following the unsuccessful Chandrayaan-2 mission. Chandrayaan-3 serves as a continuation of the Chandrayaan-2 mission that took place in 2019, aiming to showcase the complete capability of safe landing and roving on the lunar surface.
Cost-Efficiency in Lunar Endeavors
One of the most impressive aspects of this achievement is the cost-efficiency of India’s lunar endeavors. Chandrayaan-3’s budget amounted to Rs 615 crore, significantly lower than the total cost of Rs 978 crore for the Chandrayaan-2 mission. This demonstrates India’s commitment to space exploration while efficiently managing financial resources.
In conclusion, India’s successful landing of Chandrayaan 3 on the moon is a moment of pride and inspiration for the nation. This remarkable achievement not only solidifies India’s position in the field of space exploration but also highlights the innovative approaches taken by ISRO, including the unexpected motivation provided by a humble masala dosa.