As India prepares to script another chapter in space exploration, the success of these missions will not only enhance technological capabilities but also cement the country’s reputation as a leader in space science. For the millions following these developments, 2025 promises to be a landmark year for ISRO and Indian science.
Currently orbiting the Moon, NASA spacecraft sent laser beams to ‘Vikram Lander’, and received reflected beams. Thus, it verifies the possibility of a new way to precisely locate objects on the Moon. Chandrayaan-3 lander Vikram is now firmly established as a landmark on the Moon.
When Vikram lander of Chandrayaan-3 touched down on the Moon’s surface, it resulted in a lunar phenomenon called ‘ejecta halo.’
Scientists from the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) have published a paper highlighting the significance of ‘ejecta halo’, which has helped the space agency understand more about the lunar surface.
According to a post by the ISRO on X, scientists have “estimated that about 2.06 tons of lunar epi regolith were ejected and displaced over an area of 108.4 m² around the landing site”.
Epi regolith is nothing but the top layer of the lunar surface, which is made out of lunar rocks and soil, commonly known as moon dust.
The Vikram lander, which softly touched down near the lunar South Pole on August 23, 2023, is uniquely positioned as the only miniature version of an LRA near this strategically important area.
The LRA-a sophisticated instrument comprising eight corner-cube retroreflectors mounted on a hemispherical support structure, is now serving as a fiducial point — a precisely located reference marker — on the Moon’s surface. This will now be used to conduct precise location tracking on the Moon.
Retroreflector: The compact device, measuring only 5 cm wide, serves as a simple but robust method to reflect incoming light from any direction back to its source, minimizing scattering. Requiring no maintenance and power-free, this retroreflector boasts a long lifespan lasting for decades.
The Lander was named ‘’Vikram after Dr Vikram A Sarabhai, the Father of the Indian Space Program. It was designed to function for one lunar day, which is equivalent to about 14 Earth days.
Chandrayaan-3 is now serving as a fiducial point — a precisely located reference marker. It is designed to endure the harsh lunar environment for decades. It will provide a lasting legacy of the Chandrayaan-3 mission. After completing its historic mission on the Moon, India’s Chandrayaan-3 has successfully positioned its Vikram lander as a new beacon on the lunar surface that will help future astronauts.
Nasa’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) in a joint experiment with the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) used the Laser Retroreflector Array (LRA) on the Vikram lander to perform precise laser range measurements.
This technological marvel, weighing a mere 20 grams, is designed to endure the harsh lunar environment for decades, providing a lasting legacy of the Chandrayaan-3 mission.
During a lunar night-time observation, with the LRO ascending east of Chandrayaan-3, the Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter (LOLA) onboard the LRO successfully detected signals reflected by the LRA.
This experiment not only demonstrates the capabilities of international collaboration in space but also marks a significant advancement in ability to conduct precise location tracking on the Moon.
The Vikram lander’s presence is pivotal for current and future lunar missions, as it will serve as a long-term geological station and a vital location marker on the lunar surface.
LRA: Only 2 inches, or 5 centimetres, wide, NASA‘s Laser Retroreflector Array has eight quartz-corner-cube prisms set into a dome-shaped aluminum frame.
The implications of this successful experiment are far-reaching. The data obtained from these laser measurements will enhance understanding of the Moon’s dynamics, internal structure, and gravitational anomalies.
It will also aid in the precise determination of spacecraft orbital positions, thereby refining the lunar geodetic frame.
As Artemis mission gains pace, the Vikram lander’s LRA will be an essential tool in guiding astronauts and spacecraft to safe landings in low-light conditions and marking the positions of existing spacecraft for further exploration.
NASA’s Artemis I mission is the first integrated flight test of the agency’s deep space exploration systems: the Orion spacecraft, Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, and ground systems.
In fact, Chandrayaan-3 is the third mission in the Chandrayaan program, a series of lunar-exploration missions developed by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). The mission consists of a Vikram lunar lander and a Pragyan lunar rover was launched from Satish Dhawan Space Centre on 14 July 2023.
The spacecraft entered lunar orbit on 5 August, and India became the first country to touch down near the lunar south pole, at 69°S, the southernmost lunar landing on 23 August 2023 at 18:04 IST (12:33 UTC), ISRO became the first agency to land near the south pole of the moon in its first attempt and overall, the fourth space agency to successfully land on the Moon, after USSR, NASA and the CNSA.
Presently, ISRO‘s 2025 Space missions include “uncrewed” mission under ‘Gaganyaan’.
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology; Earth Sciences and Minister of State for PMO, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Dr. Jitendra Singh, chaired a high-level review of ISRO’s major upcoming space missions for 2025, alongside outgoing Chairman Dr. S. Somnath, his successor Dr. V. Narayanan, and other senior officials, including Mr. Pawan Kumar Goenka, Chairman of IN-SPACe.
With ambitious projects on the horizon, including the first “uncrewed” orbital mission under “Gaganyaan”, India’s space exploration efforts are poised for groundbreaking achievements.
ISRO is gearing up for a busy first half of 2025, with a lineup of significant missions showcasing technological prowess and international collaboration. Among the highlights is the launch of Gaganyaan’s uncrewed orbital test mission. This critical endeavor will pave the way for India’s human spaceflight program, aiming to validate systems for crew safety and recovery.
In addition, two GSLV missions, a commercial launch of LVM3, and the much-anticipated ISRO-NASA collaboration on the NISAR satellite are slated for the coming months. The GSLV-F15 mission in January will carry the NVS-02 navigation satellite to augment the NavIC constellation, bolstering India’s positioning and navigation capabilities with indigenously developed atomic clocks.
In February, the GSLV-F16 mission will launch NISAR, a sophisticated Earth observation satellite co-developed with NASA. Equipped with advanced radar imaging technology, NISAR will provide critical data on agriculture, natural disasters, and climate monitoring.
The commercial LVM3-M5 mission, set for March, will deploy BlueBird Block-2 satellites under a contract with the U.S.-based AST SpaceMobile. This underscores ISRO’s growing stature in the global space market.
Dr. Jitendra Singh lauded ISRO’s strides in fostering innovation and advancing India’s position as a space-faring nation. He emphasized the importance of public-private collaboration in fueling the country’s space ambitions. Dr. S. Somnath, reflecting on his tenure, expressed confidence in the upcoming missions, while Dr. V. Narayanan outlined a strategic roadmap for expanding ISRO’s global footprint.
Educationist/Administrator/Editor/Author/Speaker
Commencing teaching in his early twenties, Prof Aggarwal has diverse experience of great tenure in the top institutions not only as an educationist, administrator, editor, author but also promoting youth and its achievements through the nicest possible content framing. A revolutionary to the core, he is also keen to address the society around him for its betterment and growth on positive notes while imbibing the true team spirit the work force along with.
Comments