Chandrayaan-3 will help know where humans can settle on Moon, says former NASA official

Chandrayaan-3 will gather invaluable data to help drive understanding where humans will be establish settlements, according to a top former official of NASA. Mike Gold, a former NASA official now associated with Redwire Space, said,"This (Chandrayaan-3) mission will gather invaluable data to help drive our understanding of the Moon, our ability to utilise resources and ultimately where we're going to establish settlements on the Moon. Whether the mission succeeds in landing or not, the mission itself, in my opinion, is an overall success...," in a recent interview with ANI.     

Gold's role in space exploration, particularly in creating responsible lunar exploration guidelines, made his praise of India's space efforts more significant. He hailed India's pioneering role in the field, noting, India has been leading the way, certainly from a government policy perspective.

Commending Prime Minister Modi in terms of enacting bold visions and programmes in a fashion that have been very affordable and India’s clarity on successfully leveraging its incredible human capital.

As the Chandrayaan-3 mission prepares to touch down on the Moon, the anticipation is mounting. Gold highlighted the significance of this milestone, stating, "We are entering into a new era, the Artemis era of exploration of the Moon where we're going not just once, not just twice but to establish a permanent presence on the Moon." This vision aligns with the Artemis agreements and heralds a new chapter in human and robotic space exploration.

The fervour surrounding Chandrayaan-3's impending lunar landing is not confined to India. In the United States, the Indian diaspora came together for a havan ceremony at a temple in Virginia. Dr. Madhu Rammoorthy, an attendee at the temple, disclosed his personal involvement in aerospace and defence materials, stating, "I've been personally working in the area of advanced materials that go into aerospace and defence for a very long time now... I'm really hoping that all goes well, and I'm sure it will..."

Radhika Narayan, another participant in the ritual, echoed the sentiment of excitement, saying, "We are watching eagerly every mission that they undertake. And I want to wish them the very best. And I'm sure there'll be many, many more such successful missions."

Former ISRO scientist YS Rajan provided insights into the progress of Chandrayaan-3's development, revealing that approximately 80 percent of the necessary modifications have been implemented, showcasing the mission's steady advancement.

The live broadcast of the Lunar landing operations is scheduled to commence at 5:20 PM IST on Wednesday. The real-time coverage of the landing process will be accessible through various platforms, including the official ISRO website, the organisation's YouTube channel, as well as its Facebook page. Additionally, public broadcaster DD National TV will also air the live event starting from 5:27 PM IST on August 23, 2023.

( With Inputs from agencies)