On the evening of Wednesday, August 23, India ventured where no nation has ever gone before. Its Chandrayaan-3 lunar mission accomplished a soft landing on the south pole of the Moon. The lander, Vikram, with a rover, Pragyan, inside it, touched down after making a tricky descent.
Only three countries – the US, China and the former Soviet Union – had previously pulled off Moon landings. But all of them landed on its equator. Until India did so last week, no country has accomplished the immensely more difficult feat of landing on the satellite’s pole.
Only days ago, the Russian spacecraft, Luna-25, attempted a similar landing and crashed into the surface of the Moon. Luna-25 cost $250 million. Chandrayaan-3, on the other hand, worked on a much lower budget of $75 million.
That budget is not merely a fraction of what the US or Russia have spent on specific space programmes. The budget is far less than that of Christopher Nolan’s 2014 sci-fi, space hit, Interstellar, which cost $165 million. One of this summer’s big film hits, Oppenheimer, had a budget of $100 million, while another, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One, cost $291 million to make.
A combination of using homegrown components and technologies instead of relying on expensive imports and a vast pool of dedicated and talented space engineers and scientists have kept the cost of the lunar mission markedly low.
This low-cost landing will achieve a number of things, both scientific and economic.
The rover will do a walkabout on the Moon’s surface. It will send back images that will help scientists study its geology. There is the prospect of finding water on the surface – frozen water that has been untouched by the Sun’s radiation in the cold polar regions. If this water can be extracted, it is good news for future manned lunar missions.
As many as 54 women scientists and engineers were part of the mission
The water can be used for drinking and sanitation instead of carrying huge loads of it from the Earth. The more load one carries from the Earth, the more fuel one needs, leading to the escalation of the cost of the mission. Water can also be broken down into atoms of hydrogen and oxygen, both of which can be used as propellants to fire rockets.
In economic terms, India will now have to be taken seriously as a space power.
The landing will strengthen India’s hand in international space collaboration. Having mastered a feat that none of the traditional space giants could, the country’s stocks will soar in the space exploration market and the space economy. In the light of this low-cost mission, it will be no surprise to see others knocking on India’s door for the wherewithal and expertise in the field.
Another remarkable aspect of Chandrayaan-3 has been the wholesome participation and contribution of women. As many as 54 women scientists and engineers were part of the mission, although none helmed it. In a walk of life that has been traditionally dominated by men, it is heartening to see the presence of such a large number of women in such an epochal mission.
There will be another fallout from this remarkable achievement. The governing Bharatiya Janata Party is nothing if not a master at appropriating and cultivating a narrative. The narrative that it has, by dint of this landing, turned India into a global space superpower is sure to find many takers across the length and breadth of the country.
“This is a victory cry of a new India,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said as he watched the landing, waving the Indian flag, while attending the Brics summit in South Africa. What remained implicit in Mr Modi’s quote, but will be teased out in the days and months ahead, is that the BJP is the custodian and creator of this “new India”.
As the general election – scheduled for 2024 – draws closer, a muscular, aggressive nationalism is likely to be closely allied to this unprecedented achievement.
More from Soumya Bhattacharya
Millions of Indians watched the Moon landing – in schools, shops, at home, in hotels. As many as seven million watched the live YouTube stream. People prayed for a successful landing at temples, mosques and churches. The interest in the lunar mission was at a frenzied, high pitch.
The BJP has already positioned itself as the agent that is leading India to dine at the world’s top table. It projects itself as the architect of India’s eminence in the wider world. The presidency of the G20 has been used as shining evidence for that prominence.
The BJP will undoubtedly use the lunar landing as further confirmation of its hand in making India a superpower – even if such missions are not planned overnight but are in the works over decades. This staggering scientific breakthrough is likely to turn into an election campaign plank.
For the moment, though, one ought to cherish this world-historical event. The landing on the south pole of the Moon is a giant step for India. Just as much, it is a giant leap for humankind.
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
THE BIO
Ms Davison came to Dubai from Kerala after her marriage in 1996 when she was 21-years-old
Since 2001, Ms Davison has worked at many affordable schools such as Our Own English High School in Sharjah, and The Apple International School and Amled School in Dubai
Favourite Book: The Alchemist
Favourite quote: Failing to prepare is preparing to fail
Favourite place to Travel to: Vienna
Favourite cuisine: Italian food
Favourite Movie : Scent of a Woman
Cricket World Cup League 2
UAE results
Lost to Oman by eight runs
Beat Namibia by three wickets
Lost to Oman by 12 runs
Beat Namibia by 43 runs
UAE fixtures
Free admission. All fixtures broadcast live on icc.tv
Tuesday March 15, v PNG at Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Friday March 18, v Nepal at Dubai International Stadium
Saturday March 19, v PNG at Dubai International Stadium
Monday March 21, v Nepal at Dubai International Stadium
War
Director: Siddharth Anand
Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Tiger Shroff, Ashutosh Rana, Vaani Kapoor
Rating: Two out of five stars
If you go
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Funchal via Lisbon, with a connecting flight with Air Portugal. Economy class returns cost from Dh3,845 return including taxes.
The trip
The WalkMe app can be downloaded from the usual sources. If you don’t fancy doing the trip yourself, then Explore offers an eight-day levada trails tour from Dh3,050, not including flights.
The hotel
There isn’t another hotel anywhere in Madeira that matches the history and luxury of the Belmond Reid's Palace in Funchal. Doubles from Dh1,400 per night including taxes.
THE BIO
Family: I have three siblings, one older brother (age 25) and two younger sisters, 20 and 13
Favourite book: Asking for my favourite book has to be one of the hardest questions. However a current favourite would be Sidewalk by Mitchell Duneier
Favourite place to travel to: Any walkable city. I also love nature and wildlife
What do you love eating or cooking: I’m constantly in the kitchen. Ever since I changed the way I eat I enjoy choosing and creating what goes into my body. However, nothing can top home cooked food from my parents.
Favorite place to go in the UAE: A quiet beach.
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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Mental%20health%20support%20in%20the%20UAE
%3Cp%3E%E2%97%8F%20Estijaba%20helpline%3A%208001717%3Cbr%3E%E2%97%8F%20UAE%20Ministry%20of%20Health%20and%20Prevention%20hotline%3A%20045192519%3Cbr%3E%E2%97%8F%20UAE%20Mental%20health%20support%20line%3A%20800%204673%20(Hope)%3Cbr%3EMore%20information%20at%20hope.hw.gov.ae%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
Company profile
Name: Fruitful Day
Founders: Marie-Christine Luijckx, Lyla Dalal AlRawi, Lindsey Fournie
Based: Dubai, UAE
Founded: 2015
Number of employees: 30
Sector: F&B
Funding so far: Dh3 million
Future funding plans: None at present
Future markets: Saudi Arabia, potentially Kuwait and other GCC countries
U19 WORLD CUP, WEST INDIES
UAE group fixtures (all in St Kitts)
Saturday 15 January: v Canada
Thursday 20 January: v England
Saturday 22 January: v Bangladesh
UAE squad
Alishan Sharafu (captain), Shival Bawa, Jash Giyanani, Sailles Jaishankar, Nilansh Keswani, Aayan Khan, Punya Mehra, Ali Naseer, Ronak Panoly, Dhruv Parashar, Vinayak Raghavan, Soorya Sathish, Aryansh Sharma, Adithya Shetty, Kai Smith
Four-day collections of TOH
Day Indian Rs (Dh)
Thursday 500.75 million (25.23m)
Friday 280.25m (14.12m)
Saturday 220.75m (11.21m)
Sunday 170.25m (8.58m)
Total 1.19bn (59.15m)
(Figures in millions, approximate)
How England have scored their set-piece goals in Russia
Three Penalties
v Panama, Group Stage (Harry Kane)
v Panama, Group Stage (Kane)
v Colombia, Last 16 (Kane)
Four Corners
v Tunisia, Group Stage (Kane, via John Stones header, from Ashley Young corner)
v Tunisia, Group Stage (Kane, via Harry Maguire header, from Kieran Trippier corner)
v Panama, Group Stage (Stones, header, from Trippier corner)
v Sweden, Quarter-Final (Maguire, header, from Young corner)
One Free-Kick
v Panama, Group Stage (Stones, via Jordan Henderson, Kane header, and Raheem Sterling, from Tripper free-kick)
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
What is Genes in Space?
Genes in Space is an annual competition first launched by the UAE Space Agency, The National and Boeing in 2015.
It challenges school pupils to design experiments to be conducted in space and it aims to encourage future talent for the UAE’s fledgling space industry. It is the first of its kind in the UAE and, as well as encouraging talent, it also aims to raise interest and awareness among the general population about space exploration.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Innotech Profile
Date started: 2013
Founder/CEO: Othman Al Mandhari
Based: Muscat, Oman
Sector: Additive manufacturing, 3D printing technologies
Size: 15 full-time employees
Stage: Seed stage and seeking Series A round of financing
Investors: Oman Technology Fund from 2017 to 2019, exited through an agreement with a new investor to secure new funding that it under negotiation right now.
The specs
Engine: 4-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: nine-speed
Power: 542bhp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: Dh848,000
On sale: now
Abu Dhabi card
5pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 2,400m
5.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000 2,200m
6pm: Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic Prestige (PA) Dh110,000 1,400m
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Colts Classic Prestige (PA) Dh110,000 1,400m
7pm: Handicap (PA) Dh85,000 1,600m
7.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m
The National selections:
5pm: Valcartier
5.30pm: AF Taraha
6pm: Dhafra
6.30pm: Maqam
7pm: AF Mekhbat
7.30pm: Ezz Al Rawasi
