The Shattered Sky

Artist's concept of Chandrayaan-1 in lunar orbit

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has lost contact with its Chandrayaan-1 lunar orbiter. Chandrayaan-1 was launched in October 2008 as India’s first lunar probe, carrying aboard it eleven (11) scientific instruments from partners in the United States and Europe.

As part of its mission, the probe carried out  mapping of the lunar topography in 3D and identification of its chemical characteristics. Data beamed back to Bangalore has provided information on the formation of the moon and the possible presence of water frozen in the lunar regolith. The presence of water has serious implications for a manned presence as it will reduce any outpost’s reliance on raw material from Earth.

Contact was lost on the night of Saturday 29th August 2009. As of yet no reason has been given for the loss of contact, but it may be noted that other problems have been had with the spacecraft before. Any space mission carries with it considerable risk. The important part is that even though its mission may have been cut short, Chandrayaan-1 has been an enormous success.

In 2012, the ISRO intends to launch the Chandrayaan-2 mission which will include both an orbiter and a lunar rover. Both missions will provide invaluable science and should aid NASA’s eventual return to the lunar surface via the Constellation programme circa 2020. Constellation will involve a series of landings at the south pole’s Shackleton Crater culminating in a permanent moon base at that location.