The successful launching of Chandrayaan, India’s moon mission rocket has placed India in the sixth place in the prestigious lunar club. Other members of this elite group are US, Russia, the European Space Agency, Japan and China. India can be proud of the launch, as it happens to be the its first mission to the Moon on the international scene.

The take-off was superb, turning out to be a magical moment for many bystanders, who were waiting anxiously to see the rocket being launched. At dawn, in Sriharikota, the majestic looking white and brown 44.4 metre in height Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), carrying the 1,400kg spacecraft took off smoothly. The spacecraft is being carried about 384,00km away from Earth, closer to the Moon.

Performing several orbital manoeuvres, the spacecraft will get closer to the Moon within a fortnight. Subsequently, the Indian Payload, weighing 29 kg, known as Moon Impact Probe along with the Indian tricolor will detach itself from the mother craft and then land on the Moon after a flight of 17- minutes.

The efforts to undertake a mission to the moon were much encouraged by the former Indian president, A P J Abdul Kalam.

The moon mission begins a new chapter in the space programmes of India. It is indeed a giant leap, jumping from an orbit of 36,000 km around the earth to 3,84,000 km away, orbiting closer to the Moon. India will now undertake more interplanetary missions in the coming future to Mars and other planets.

Source:TOI Oct.23rd 2008