Bengaluru: India on Friday launched its latest attempt at an uncrewed moon landing, the next frontier of a burgeoning, cut-price aerospace programme rapidly closing in on the milestones set by global superpowers.
If successful, the mission would make the world’s most populous nation only the fourth country after Russia, the United States and China to achieve a controlled landing on the lunar surface.
The latest iteration of the Chandrayaan (“Mooncraft”) programme comes four years after an earlier attempt failed, with the ground crew losing contact moments before landing.
This time, there is optimism that the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will succeed as it sets its sights on a future manned lunar mission.
“We’re sure this one will be successful and will bring pride and recognition to everybody who has worked for it,” Anil G. Verma of Godrej & Boyce, ISRO’s principal engine and components supplier, told AFP.
