About the Episode 🎙️
In this episode, Michael Babarro and Kenneth Chang discuss India's recent mission to land a spacecraft on the moon, the changing landscape of the international space race, and the significance of the discovery of water ice on the moon.
Key Takeaways 💡
- India's recent mission to the moon aimed to explore a different part of the moon, near the South Pole, offering new scientific opportunities and mysteries.
- The discovery of water ice on the moon in the mid-1990s sparked renewed interest in lunar exploration. Water ice can be used as a resource for astronauts, providing air to breathe and fuel for rockets or fuel cells.
- The presence of water on the moon makes it easier to set up a lunar base and enables longer stays on the moon.
- Two missions in 2008 and 2009 confirmed the presence of water ice on the moon, sparking a new race to the moon with countries and organizations competing to explore and utilize its resources.
- China has had a steady program of lunar exploration and has become the first country to land a space probe on the moon in 37 years. They have successfully landed a robot spacecraft on the far side of the moon three times and are planning to explore the South Pole in the future.
- Other countries and companies have also attempted to reach the moon but have faced challenges and failures. This includes an Israeli nonprofit, a Japanese company called ISpace, and Russia.
- India successfully landed near the South Pole of the moon in a recent mission after a previous attempt in 2019 ended in failure.
- One of the challenges in reaching the South Pole of the moon is the need for sustainability. Newer players in the space race are trying to achieve their goals on a much cheaper budget, which compromises the amount of technology and testing they can employ, leading to a higher failure rate.
- The motivation for these countries and companies to reach the moon goes beyond national pride. It is about projecting strength and power on the world stage and establishing themselves as major players in the space arena.
- The moon has always held a special fascination for people, and the challenge of reaching it adds to its allure. It is a symbol of the impossible, and being able to say "we made it" is a testament to human achievement.