Chandrayaan-2: A Statement of Intent in the Asian Space Race

July 20^th 2019 marked the 50^th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, which happens to be one of the most celebrated moments in human history. Two days later, the Chandrayaan-2 mission took off at 14:43 IST from Satish Dhawan Space Centre located in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh with the intention to add a new chapter to humanity’s lunar adventures. 11 years after the success of Phase I of the Chandrayaan programme that launched the first lunar orbiters, the launch of Chandrayaan-2 is a demonstration of Indian commitment and capabilities directed towards space exploration, with the objective being touching down on the moon’s surface. The successful soft-landing, scheduled to be on September 6^th, would be a significant milestone for India, being its first landing on any non-terrestrial body and making the country the fourth to accomplish the feat following the United States of America, the Soviet Union and the People’s Republic of China.

Chandrayaan-2 was scheduled for launch in 2014 following the success of the first phase. It was supposed to be a joint project with Russia, with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) receiving the lander and rover system from the Russians. However, the Russians were compelled to back out of the project owing to issues within their own space programme, causing a delay for the phase. Some could consider it as a blessing in disguise considering it led to the innovation of an indigenous rover, Pragyan, which is supposed to land in the moon’s South Polar region unlike any of the lunar missions that preceded it. Despite a more recent postponement from 16^th July due to a technical issue, ISRO’s efficiency in ensuring the launch took place on 22^nd July is a statement of intent from a nation that is on the right track to establish itself as a recognisable and revered space power.

The mission is headed by Muthyya Vanitha (Project Director) and Ritu Karidhal (Mission Director) who have been associated with ISRO for over 20 years. K. Sivan, the Chairman of ISRO, said in a press conference that 30% of the Chandrayaan-2 team, which consists of thousands of scientists, were women. The leadership and composition of the team promise to serve as an encouraging success story for Indian science, with ISRO’s ambitions coming to fruition based on the excellence of the people associated with its projects.

Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan, a Distinguished Fellow and Head of the Nuclear and Space Policy Initiative at Observer Research Foundation, believes that there are two fundamental reasons for India’s pursuit of its space exploration programme: the growing practical value of space missions and the ‘renewed space race.’

The first reason is clear from the objective of Chandrayaan-2 which is aiming to map the location and abundance of lunar water, clearly because it is viewed as a valuable resource. The success of a lunar mission at present would be massive for India. The space race of the Cold War revolved around the determination of the United States and the Soviet Union to best each other but a renewed interest in the moon has been caused by the discovery of lunar water which has encouraged multiple countries to view lunar expeditions as a potential investment. The recent failure of the Beresheet lander that crashed onto the moon after being successfully launched by SpaceIL, an Israeli organization, indicates that both state and non-state actors have taken an active interest in the Earth’s celestial companion but interest is not merely enough to achieve the desired outcome. The overall success of Chandrayaan-2 would highlight India’s technological advancements and capabilities, serve as an encouragement for the pursuit of other interplanetary projects and lead to the discovery of further information related to lunar water.

The promise of space mining has gained traction in the recent past, with NASA taking the lead and claiming that the investments are worth the returns. While actual projects related to mining may not have materialized yet, it is important for India to take the initiative to establish itself as a space power and stay at the forefront in what can be considered the formative years of space exploration.

The other reason is a rather interesting aspect of geopolitics of the 21^st century that has not been given adequate attention. Rajagopalan’s ‘renewed space race’ largely surrounds China’s rise as a space power in its attempt to increase its global standing by matching the American and Russian accomplishments. Estimates indicate that China has spent an amount significantly larger than ISRO’s costs for its space programme, which has resulted in positive takeaways. Space missions like Chang’e-3 (2013) and Chang’e-4 (2019) demonstrate that China has a very clear agenda in mind related to space exploration and has the capabilities in terms of technology, resources and finances to support such projects. Since conducting an anti-satellite (ASAT) test in 2007, China had firmly put itself on course for becoming one of the pioneers in space exploration and treating it much like it treats its neighbourhood.

It is no secret that India would like to challenge and keep Chinese influence in check. While traditionally this can be observed in the Asian mainland and in the maritime sphere, the competition seems to have reached space as well. China has a well-structured space programme in place and India does have a lot of catching up to do, as Rajagopalan points out. However, the recent past has shown that the Modi administration is dedicated to the cause. The launch of Chandrayaan-2 marked the successful indigenous developments of the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark-III, the lander (Vikram) and the rover (Pragyan). The landing of the rover in an unexplored region of the moon will not only demonstrate ISRO’s ability to navigate the lunar surface but will be a step forward in learning more about the moon. The testing of the anti-satellite missile earlier in March made it clear that India was the fourth nation to deploy arms in space. Mangalyaan made India the first Asian nation to reach the Martian orbit and the only nation in the world to do so in its maiden attempt in 2014. The investments made by the Indian government in research and development in this sphere seem to be paying off so far and the clear determination to stay in the race should be complemented by the exercise of fiscal prudence and an active commitment to the space programme.

The launch of Chandrayaan-2 marks an important juncture in human history and it is a matter of pride for Indians. The relevance of such a project in the context of geopolitics cannot be overlooked, especially considering the Modi administration’s clear desire to challenge Chinese influence in Asia and the world. Not only does Chandrayaan-2 demonstrate Indian ability to establish itself as a space power, it also signals the Indian intent to not fall behind Chinese advances whether it is on land, the seas or space.

Rahul Das

Intern, AGA