India to become the 4th country to land on the moon

Three countries, U.S., Soviet Union and China, have managed to land a spacecraft on the moon's surface. On early Saturday (local time), September 7, 2019, India will attempt to become the 4^th nation to accomplish such an achievement.

The Indian Chandrayaan-2 mission was launched on July 22, 2019, from the Satish Dhawan Space Center located in Sriharikota Island. It is the nation's 2^nd space mission after the Chandrayaan-1 which was launched in 2008, an operation that provided significant evidence concerning the presence of ice on the moon, a fact that was announced by NASA in 2009.

The mission consists of 3 parts: An orbiter, a lander called Vikram and a rover called Pragyan. Earlier in August, Chandrayaan-2 spacecraft entered the orbit around the moon in an attempt that lasted almost half an hour. "Our hearts almost stopped today until it completed its job. But still the landing is the terrifying moment... because that is a phase that we are doing for the first time," Kailasavadivoo Sivan, chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), stated.

On September 2, 2019, the mission's lander and rover were separated from the orbiter, according to The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). Vikram has started lowering its orbit around the Moon and it will continue until it is about 100 kilometers above the surface. Vikram will be in this position at 1.40 a.m. local time on September 7. Then, a descent will begin and, hopefully, the lander will touch the lunar surface approximately 15 minutes later. The landing position is located in the moon’s polar region. It will be the first mission landing so close to the South Pole.

Landing on the moon is a challenging task. The lander has to use its own rocket engines to reduce its velocity and avoid crashing on the moon's surface. Common techniques applicable on Earth (such as parachutes) do not function due to the lack of atmosphere. In an approach known as soft landing, the vehicle will simultaneously descend and move horizontally across the lunar surface. Its horizontal velocity must be reduced to zero before it touches the surface.

The total cost of the mission will reach $150 million. 

The operation will be broadcasted by National Geographic and Hotstar. The live coverage will begin at 11.30 p.m. Indian time on September 6, 2019.