The Impact and Pride of Chandrayaan-2's Vikram Lander Failure

I had mixed feelings about this. Frankly, being from a country where many things often donrsquo;t go right, ISRO has been a shining beacon of hope and cheer. For many years, they have been our heroes, punching way above its weight by often doing what would seem impossible. So, yes, to me, they are our heroes, more than even our cricket team which I admit I adore.

So when the lander failed, it was like being punched in the stomach for a while. Not for myself, but in association as I could just imagine how much pain and hard work these heroes had put into this mission, and how crestfallen they would be. BUT… Yes, there is a but. I felt proud too. Because even if it failed, it was a wonderful and awe-inspiring achievement, and a great miracle that ISRO has pulled off.

Understanding the Next Steps in Space Exploration

Let me explain why I felt proud. Humanity is just taking its first baby steps into space, and like any baby, it is going to fall a few times. Every time it falls, it learns something, so a great failure is as important to learning and achieving space exploration as a great success. So, congratulations ISRO for your achievements thus far. Keep doing whatever you are doing, because you are doing it extremely well.

My Personal Stake in the Success

I had asked my wife to cook Halwa on a successful landing, even if the lander showed us a single picture of the moon. The fear of failure was palpable as the Israeli mission had failed a few months ago. The feeling after this failure occurred was moving my entire body like I myself lost some important milestone. It was like a loss of self-pride. How great that day could have been.

Can you imagine the respect as an Indian that could have been achieved with that success? It is alright to look forward to the next time. Yes, the last-minute failure was a shock, but these things do happen, and we will certainly do it better next time.

Lessons from Beresheet's Failure

The Beresheet lost contact with mission control just minutes after it began its descent. Then communication was lost at just 150 metres from the ground. The failure was blamed on the gyroscope engine, and the spacecraft fell too fast onto the moon's surface, turning a soft landing into a hard one. Despite the setback, this highlights the learning curve that comes with space exploration and encourages perseverance in the face of challenges.

In conclusion, while the loss of the Vikram Lander is a significant setback, it is also a testament to our continual progress and an inspiration to persevere. ISRO's achievements thus far cement their status as trailblazers in the field of space exploration, and we eagerly await their next successful mission.