In a significant stride towards lunar exploration, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) embarked on its latest lunar mission, 'Chandrayaan 3,' which was launched on July 14, 2023. The mission is poised to achieve a soft landing on the lunar surface at 18:04 Hrs on Wednesday, August 23, 2023, marking ISRO's first soft-landing attempt on the Moon's south pole region. This mission serves as a follow-up to Chandrayaan 2, aiming to showcase India's capabilities in safe landing and roving on the moon's terrain.

Cost-Effective Endeavor

Unlike its predecessors, Chandrayaan 3 stands out as a cost-effective lunar endeavor. The mission's approved budget, excluding the launch vehicle cost, is approximately Rs. 250 crore. This budget encompasses the land rover and propulsion module required for the mission. Furthermore, the launch service contributes Rs. 365 crore to the total budget, thus summing up Chandrayaan 3's financial allocation to Rs. 615 crore, equivalent to about $75 million dollars.

In December 2019, ISRO had initially requested Rs. 75 crore in funding for the mission, with a significant portion allocated towards machinery, equipment, and capital expenses. The remaining funds were sought under the expenditure head.

Comparative Analysis

When juxtaposed with the financial outlay of previous lunar missions, particularly Chandrayaan 2, Chandrayaan 3 emerges as a commendably affordable venture. Chandrayaan 2's budget accounted for about Rs. 978 crore, encompassing costs for the lander, orbiter, rover, navigation, ground support network, and the geo-stationary satellite launch vehicle.

Additionally, Chandrayaan 3's budget bears favorable comparison with Russia's Luna 25 Mission, which carried a reported budget of around Rs. 1,600 crore. Notably, Russia's lunar endeavor faced challenges and ended in a crash.

A Promising Venture

Initially scheduled for a 2021 launch, Chandrayaan 3 experienced delays due to the global pandemic. With this mission, India aspires to join an exclusive league of countries that have achieved the feat of soft-landing on the moon. As of now, only China, the US, and the Soviet Union have managed to successfully achieve this milestone.

Chandrayaan-3's journey holds promise not only for ISRO but also for India's scientific aspirations on the global stage. If successful, India will proudly stand as the fourth nation to achieve the remarkable feat of lunar landing.

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