1
00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,860
Imagine you're standing on the edge of a crater on the moon

2
00:00:03,860 --> 00:00:05,200
and it's freezing.

3
00:00:05,200 --> 00:00:06,040
Yeah.

4
00:00:06,040 --> 00:00:07,000
Like unbelievably cold.

5
00:00:07,000 --> 00:00:08,800
Because the sun never actually reaches

6
00:00:08,800 --> 00:00:09,920
the bottom of this crater.

7
00:00:09,920 --> 00:00:10,760
No.

8
00:00:10,760 --> 00:00:12,080
And you're looking out over a landscape

9
00:00:12,080 --> 00:00:15,480
that hasn't seen sunlight for billions of years.

10
00:00:15,480 --> 00:00:16,760
Billions of years, yeah.

11
00:00:16,760 --> 00:00:18,040
Pretty mind blowing, right?

12
00:00:18,040 --> 00:00:18,920
Absolutely.

13
00:00:18,920 --> 00:00:21,440
Now picture a spacecraft descending,

14
00:00:21,440 --> 00:00:26,000
touching down gently in this like totally unexplored region.

15
00:00:26,000 --> 00:00:27,320
That's a heck of a visual.

16
00:00:27,320 --> 00:00:29,440
It is, and that's what India just accomplished

17
00:00:29,440 --> 00:00:30,840
with their Chandrayaan program.

18
00:00:30,840 --> 00:00:33,000
It really is a remarkable achievement.

19
00:00:33,000 --> 00:00:33,680
It is.

20
00:00:33,680 --> 00:00:37,320
Welcome to Cosmos in a Podspace and Astronomy series.

21
00:00:37,320 --> 00:00:40,320
Today we're diving deep into Chandrayaan,

22
00:00:40,320 --> 00:00:44,320
which funnily enough just means moon craft in Sanskrit.

23
00:00:44,320 --> 00:00:44,960
I like that.

24
00:00:44,960 --> 00:00:46,040
Yeah, it's a fitting name.

25
00:00:46,040 --> 00:00:48,920
It's not just about planting a flag or anything.

26
00:00:48,920 --> 00:00:50,960
It's about pushing the boundaries of what

27
00:00:50,960 --> 00:00:54,320
we know about the moon, searching for resources,

28
00:00:54,320 --> 00:00:56,720
and really testing out technologies that might one day

29
00:00:56,720 --> 00:00:58,320
take us even further into space.

30
00:00:58,320 --> 00:01:00,920
What's so impressive to me is that they pulled all of this

31
00:01:00,920 --> 00:01:03,360
off with a budget that's tiny compared

32
00:01:03,360 --> 00:01:05,040
to some other space agencies.

33
00:01:05,040 --> 00:01:05,560
Right.

34
00:01:05,560 --> 00:01:07,320
Talk about ingenuity.

35
00:01:07,320 --> 00:01:10,520
OK, so before we get into the specifics of the missions,

36
00:01:10,520 --> 00:01:13,400
I got to ask, why is everyone so obsessed with the moon again

37
00:01:13,400 --> 00:01:14,520
these days?

38
00:01:14,520 --> 00:01:16,080
I mean, we've already been there, right?

39
00:01:16,080 --> 00:01:18,160
Well, you know, it might seem like old news,

40
00:01:18,160 --> 00:01:21,440
but the moon is actually like a key to understanding

41
00:01:21,440 --> 00:01:22,600
the early solar system.

42
00:01:22,600 --> 00:01:25,200
It's like a time capsule, presuming clues

43
00:01:25,200 --> 00:01:29,040
about how our planet and maybe even life itself came to be.

44
00:01:29,040 --> 00:01:31,880
OK, so it's not just some big, boring rock in the sky.

45
00:01:31,880 --> 00:01:33,440
Definitely not.

46
00:01:33,440 --> 00:01:35,760
And on top of that, there's the potential for resources,

47
00:01:35,760 --> 00:01:36,960
especially water ice.

48
00:01:36,960 --> 00:01:37,920
Oh, yeah, that's right.

49
00:01:37,920 --> 00:01:40,280
And that's kind of like finding a gold mine on the moon.

50
00:01:40,280 --> 00:01:42,680
You could use it for drinking water, oxygen, even rocket

51
00:01:42,680 --> 00:01:45,800
fuel, which would make those long-duration missions far more

52
00:01:45,800 --> 00:01:46,440
sustainable.

53
00:01:46,440 --> 00:01:48,000
Yeah, like a cosmic pit stop.

54
00:01:48,000 --> 00:01:48,640
Exactly.

55
00:01:48,640 --> 00:01:50,880
OK, I'm starting to see why there's so much buzz.

56
00:01:50,880 --> 00:01:54,020
So let's go back to 2008 Chandrayaan 1,

57
00:01:54,020 --> 00:01:56,120
India's first lunar mission.

58
00:01:56,120 --> 00:01:57,560
What was the main goal of that one?

59
00:01:57,560 --> 00:02:00,400
So Chandrayaan 1 was their debut on the world stage,

60
00:02:00,400 --> 00:02:03,600
proving that India was a major player in space exploration.

61
00:02:03,600 --> 00:02:05,000
Yeah, making a statement.

62
00:02:05,000 --> 00:02:07,840
They wanted to map the lunar surface in detail,

63
00:02:07,840 --> 00:02:11,080
study what it's made of, and of course, look for signs of water.

64
00:02:11,080 --> 00:02:12,320
And they found it right.

65
00:02:12,320 --> 00:02:13,120
That was big news.

66
00:02:13,120 --> 00:02:13,640
We did.

67
00:02:13,640 --> 00:02:14,560
It was groundbreaking.

68
00:02:14,560 --> 00:02:16,520
But how did they actually know it was water?

69
00:02:16,520 --> 00:02:18,560
Well, they used an instrument that

70
00:02:18,560 --> 00:02:21,840
was from NASA that can pick up the unique signature of water

71
00:02:21,840 --> 00:02:22,680
molecules.

72
00:02:22,680 --> 00:02:23,240
Oh, that's cool.

73
00:02:23,240 --> 00:02:24,640
And it really changed everything.

74
00:02:24,640 --> 00:02:27,720
We went from thinking of the moon as this bone-dried desert

75
00:02:27,720 --> 00:02:30,640
to realizing it might actually be more like an oasis.

76
00:02:30,640 --> 00:02:33,440
An oasis on the moon, who would have thought?

77
00:02:33,440 --> 00:02:36,600
Now, what I remember most vividly from Chandrayaan 1

78
00:02:36,600 --> 00:02:39,280
was the moon impact probe.

79
00:02:39,280 --> 00:02:42,320
This was basically a projectile that they

80
00:02:42,320 --> 00:02:44,640
crashed into the moon on purpose.

81
00:02:44,640 --> 00:02:45,640
Why did they do that?

82
00:02:45,640 --> 00:02:47,560
It does sound a little crazy, right?

83
00:02:47,560 --> 00:02:49,800
But it was all about getting as much data as possible

84
00:02:49,800 --> 00:02:51,040
during that descent.

85
00:02:51,040 --> 00:02:53,840
They wanted to learn about the super thin lunar atmosphere.

86
00:02:53,840 --> 00:02:55,540
And they were taking measurements right up

87
00:02:55,540 --> 00:02:57,040
until the moment of impact.

88
00:02:57,040 --> 00:02:58,720
Talk about a dramatic ending.

89
00:02:58,720 --> 00:03:01,480
So Chandrayaan 1 was definitely a success.

90
00:03:01,480 --> 00:03:04,040
What was the next step in their journey to the moon?

91
00:03:04,040 --> 00:03:08,000
Next came Chandrayaan 2, which launched in 2019.

92
00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:09,680
This one was even more ambitious.

93
00:03:09,680 --> 00:03:10,320
How so?

94
00:03:10,320 --> 00:03:12,720
Their goal was to land a spacecraft near the moon's

95
00:03:12,720 --> 00:03:15,560
south pole, a region that's always in shadow.

96
00:03:15,560 --> 00:03:17,120
And scientists believe it might have

97
00:03:17,120 --> 00:03:20,160
huge amounts of that precious water ice we talked about.

98
00:03:20,160 --> 00:03:22,080
Why is the south pole so important?

99
00:03:22,080 --> 00:03:23,620
I mean, the moon's a pretty big place.

100
00:03:23,620 --> 00:03:25,520
Why focus on that particular area?

101
00:03:25,520 --> 00:03:27,160
It's all about those craters that

102
00:03:27,160 --> 00:03:29,400
are in permanent darkness.

103
00:03:29,400 --> 00:03:31,160
You see, because of the moon's tilt,

104
00:03:31,160 --> 00:03:34,860
some craters near the poles never get sunlight.

105
00:03:34,860 --> 00:03:36,940
So they've been acting as like cold traps

106
00:03:36,940 --> 00:03:38,920
for billions of years.

107
00:03:38,920 --> 00:03:41,760
And water ice delivered by comets and asteroids

108
00:03:41,760 --> 00:03:44,380
has accumulated there totally untouched.

109
00:03:44,380 --> 00:03:47,240
So this ice could be what lets humans live on the moon

110
00:03:47,240 --> 00:03:47,740
someday.

111
00:03:47,740 --> 00:03:48,720
You got it.

112
00:03:48,720 --> 00:03:52,280
And Chandrayaan 2 was designed to take a closer look.

113
00:03:52,280 --> 00:03:56,040
It had an orbiter to map the surface, a lander named Vikram

114
00:03:56,040 --> 00:03:59,600
to actually touch down, and even a little rover called Pragyan

115
00:03:59,600 --> 00:04:00,560
to scout around.

116
00:04:00,560 --> 00:04:02,240
Wow, so they really upped their game.

117
00:04:02,240 --> 00:04:04,080
Did everything work out as planned this time?

118
00:04:04,080 --> 00:04:05,480
Well, the orbiter did its job.

119
00:04:05,480 --> 00:04:07,200
It reached lunar orbit perfectly,

120
00:04:07,200 --> 00:04:09,560
and it's still sending us valuable data even today.

121
00:04:09,560 --> 00:04:10,280
Well, that's good.

122
00:04:10,280 --> 00:04:13,260
Unfortunately, the Vikram lander ran into some problems

123
00:04:13,260 --> 00:04:14,820
during its descent, and it wasn't

124
00:04:14,820 --> 00:04:16,480
able to achieve a soft landing.

125
00:04:16,480 --> 00:04:16,960
Oh, no.

126
00:04:16,960 --> 00:04:17,800
What happened?

127
00:04:17,800 --> 00:04:19,720
It seems like there was a software glitch that

128
00:04:19,720 --> 00:04:22,000
caused Vikram to veer off course.

129
00:04:22,000 --> 00:04:23,700
They were so close.

130
00:04:23,700 --> 00:04:26,240
But in the end, they lost the lander.

131
00:04:26,240 --> 00:04:27,760
I bet that was heartbreaking.

132
00:04:27,760 --> 00:04:28,260
Yeah.

133
00:04:28,260 --> 00:04:30,600
But hey, setbacks happen in space exploration all the time,

134
00:04:30,600 --> 00:04:31,080
right?

135
00:04:31,080 --> 00:04:32,180
All the time.

136
00:04:32,180 --> 00:04:34,580
And what's important is that they learned from it.

137
00:04:34,580 --> 00:04:37,360
They applied those lessons to that next mission.

138
00:04:37,360 --> 00:04:39,520
Which brings us to Chandrayaan 3,

139
00:04:39,520 --> 00:04:41,640
the mission that made history.

140
00:04:41,640 --> 00:04:43,680
What made this one different, and what were

141
00:04:43,680 --> 00:04:45,000
they hoping to accomplish?

142
00:04:45,000 --> 00:04:48,440
Chandrayaan 3 was their chance to redeem themselves.

143
00:04:48,440 --> 00:04:51,000
They wanted to prove they could stick that landing.

144
00:04:51,000 --> 00:04:53,200
They took what they learned from Chandrayaan 2,

145
00:04:53,200 --> 00:04:55,560
improved their technology, and they went for it again.

146
00:04:55,560 --> 00:04:56,880
This time, they nailed it.

147
00:04:56,880 --> 00:04:59,480
I'll say, the whole world was watching

148
00:04:59,480 --> 00:05:01,960
as that lander came down.

149
00:05:01,960 --> 00:05:03,280
It was such a nail-biter.

150
00:05:03,280 --> 00:05:04,740
Can you walk us through that landing?

151
00:05:04,740 --> 00:05:05,800
What made it so tricky?

152
00:05:05,800 --> 00:05:09,360
So landing on the moon is hard, like really hard.

153
00:05:09,360 --> 00:05:10,020
I can imagine.

154
00:05:10,020 --> 00:05:12,080
There's no atmosphere to help you slow down.

155
00:05:12,080 --> 00:05:13,960
You're basically just using thrusters

156
00:05:13,960 --> 00:05:17,400
and a whole lot of math to lower a spacecraft onto the surface.

157
00:05:17,400 --> 00:05:17,900
Right.

158
00:05:17,900 --> 00:05:20,160
It's not like there's a landing strip waiting for you.

159
00:05:20,160 --> 00:05:20,920
Exactly.

160
00:05:20,920 --> 00:05:22,320
And in this case, they were trying

161
00:05:22,320 --> 00:05:25,240
to hit a tiny target near the South Pole, an area that's

162
00:05:25,240 --> 00:05:27,160
not only dark, but super rugged.

163
00:05:27,160 --> 00:05:29,200
OK, so how did they manage to pull it off?

164
00:05:29,200 --> 00:05:31,160
What was the secret sauce this time around?

165
00:05:31,160 --> 00:05:34,520
Well, they made some serious upgrades to the Vikram lander.

166
00:05:34,520 --> 00:05:37,080
They improved its hazard detection and avoidance

167
00:05:37,080 --> 00:05:40,120
systems, fine-tuned the landing algorithms,

168
00:05:40,120 --> 00:05:42,040
and they ran countless simulations

169
00:05:42,040 --> 00:05:43,960
to make sure they thought of everything.

170
00:05:43,960 --> 00:05:44,800
That's impressive.

171
00:05:44,800 --> 00:05:47,320
It was a real testament to their engineering skills.

172
00:05:47,320 --> 00:05:48,520
And it paid off.

173
00:05:48,520 --> 00:05:53,440
On August 23, 2023, Vikram touched down safe and sound,

174
00:05:53,440 --> 00:05:57,440
making India the fourth country ever to soft land on the moon

175
00:05:57,440 --> 00:05:59,600
and the first to do it near the South Pole.

176
00:05:59,600 --> 00:06:00,600
That was a huge moment.

177
00:06:00,600 --> 00:06:01,320
Absolutely.

178
00:06:01,320 --> 00:06:02,960
It was a big win for India, and it

179
00:06:02,960 --> 00:06:05,280
showed the world that they're not just participating

180
00:06:05,280 --> 00:06:06,160
in the space race.

181
00:06:06,160 --> 00:06:07,560
They're becoming a leader.

182
00:06:07,560 --> 00:06:08,720
So Vikram lands.

183
00:06:08,720 --> 00:06:10,400
Everyone breathes a sigh of relief.

184
00:06:10,400 --> 00:06:11,520
What happens next?

185
00:06:11,520 --> 00:06:14,440
Next up was Pragyan, the little rover.

186
00:06:14,440 --> 00:06:16,920
It spent about two weeks exploring the area

187
00:06:16,920 --> 00:06:18,920
around the landing site, running experiments,

188
00:06:18,920 --> 00:06:21,000
and beaming back tons of data.

189
00:06:21,000 --> 00:06:21,840
Like what kind of data?

190
00:06:21,840 --> 00:06:23,240
What was Pragyan looking for?

191
00:06:23,240 --> 00:06:25,400
It had special instruments to analyze the stuff that

192
00:06:25,400 --> 00:06:27,120
makes up the lunar soil.

193
00:06:27,120 --> 00:06:31,080
They found sulfur, aluminum, calcium, iron, titanium,

194
00:06:31,080 --> 00:06:33,560
all these elements that tell us about the moon's history.

195
00:06:33,560 --> 00:06:35,760
So it's like a little geologist roving around up there.

196
00:06:35,760 --> 00:06:36,760
Exactly.

197
00:06:36,760 --> 00:06:38,720
And these findings are helping us understand

198
00:06:38,720 --> 00:06:41,280
how the moon formed and how it's changed over time,

199
00:06:41,280 --> 00:06:44,040
which also gives us clues about the early solar system.

200
00:06:44,040 --> 00:06:45,480
You know what amazes me?

201
00:06:45,480 --> 00:06:50,200
It's not just about those big moments like the landing itself.

202
00:06:50,200 --> 00:06:53,280
There's so much science happening behind the scenes

203
00:06:53,280 --> 00:06:54,960
even after the main event is over.

204
00:06:54,960 --> 00:06:55,480
You're right.

205
00:06:55,480 --> 00:06:57,560
Like take the orbiter from Chandrayaan, too.

206
00:06:57,560 --> 00:06:59,560
Even though they lost the lander,

207
00:06:59,560 --> 00:07:01,600
that orbiter is still circling the moon,

208
00:07:01,600 --> 00:07:03,620
mapping the surface in high definition,

209
00:07:03,620 --> 00:07:05,680
and sending back all this valuable information.

210
00:07:05,680 --> 00:07:06,080
Wow.

211
00:07:06,080 --> 00:07:08,000
So they were able to get something really important out

212
00:07:08,000 --> 00:07:10,240
of a mission that didn't go perfectly to plan.

213
00:07:10,240 --> 00:07:13,000
Resourcefulness is key in space exploration,

214
00:07:13,000 --> 00:07:15,520
and that orbiter is still making major contributions

215
00:07:15,520 --> 00:07:17,440
to our understanding of the moon.

216
00:07:17,440 --> 00:07:19,400
It shows just how dedicated they are to making

217
00:07:19,400 --> 00:07:20,960
the most of every mission.

218
00:07:20,960 --> 00:07:23,880
It's pretty remarkable that all three Chandrayaan missions,

219
00:07:23,880 --> 00:07:26,920
even though they had different goals and different outcomes,

220
00:07:26,920 --> 00:07:30,320
have ultimately contributed to our knowledge of the moon.

221
00:07:30,320 --> 00:07:33,020
Each mission builds on the last pushing the boundaries

222
00:07:33,020 --> 00:07:34,360
a little further each time.

223
00:07:34,360 --> 00:07:34,960
Yeah.

224
00:07:34,960 --> 00:07:37,280
And that's what I love about space exploration.

225
00:07:37,280 --> 00:07:39,300
It's this ongoing journey of discovery

226
00:07:39,300 --> 00:07:42,200
where every step takes us closer to understanding

227
00:07:42,200 --> 00:07:43,120
the universe.

228
00:07:43,120 --> 00:07:45,480
It's not just about expanding our knowledge, though, right?

229
00:07:45,480 --> 00:07:49,120
It's also about inspiring the next generation of scientists

230
00:07:49,120 --> 00:07:50,120
and engineers.

231
00:07:50,120 --> 00:07:51,640
That's a huge part of it.

232
00:07:51,640 --> 00:07:54,200
These missions capture people's imaginations.

233
00:07:54,200 --> 00:07:57,080
They show what we can achieve when we set our minds

234
00:07:57,080 --> 00:07:58,620
to something ambitious.

235
00:07:58,620 --> 00:08:00,740
It's about sparking that curiosity

236
00:08:00,740 --> 00:08:03,880
and inspiring young people to pursue careers in STEM.

237
00:08:03,880 --> 00:08:05,960
And the impact goes way beyond India, right?

238
00:08:05,960 --> 00:08:07,080
It's felt around the world.

239
00:08:07,080 --> 00:08:07,580
Totally.

240
00:08:07,580 --> 00:08:09,880
ISRO has been so open to collaboration.

241
00:08:09,880 --> 00:08:12,160
They share their data with scientists everywhere,

242
00:08:12,160 --> 00:08:14,080
and they work with other space agencies

243
00:08:14,080 --> 00:08:16,320
to advance our understanding of the moon.

244
00:08:16,320 --> 00:08:17,400
It's a global effort.

245
00:08:17,400 --> 00:08:18,880
So it's not just a competition.

246
00:08:18,880 --> 00:08:19,960
Not at all.

247
00:08:19,960 --> 00:08:21,880
They're showing that in space exploration,

248
00:08:21,880 --> 00:08:24,440
we're all in this together, and that by working together,

249
00:08:24,440 --> 00:08:26,840
we can accomplish incredible things.

250
00:08:26,840 --> 00:08:30,120
Speaking of incredible things, how about the budget?

251
00:08:30,120 --> 00:08:32,280
Everyone's talking about how India's space program does

252
00:08:32,280 --> 00:08:34,100
so much with so little.

253
00:08:34,100 --> 00:08:38,160
Compared to other major players, their budget is tiny.

254
00:08:38,160 --> 00:08:39,440
How do they manage that?

255
00:08:39,440 --> 00:08:41,120
It's really impressive.

256
00:08:41,120 --> 00:08:43,160
They've figured out how to be incredibly

257
00:08:43,160 --> 00:08:45,640
efficient finding creative ways to reach their goals

258
00:08:45,640 --> 00:08:46,960
without spending a fortune.

259
00:08:46,960 --> 00:08:48,320
So what's their secret?

260
00:08:48,320 --> 00:08:50,720
Well, they're masters of frugality.

261
00:08:50,720 --> 00:08:53,480
They reuse technology whenever they can.

262
00:08:53,480 --> 00:08:55,320
They make the most of what they already have,

263
00:08:55,320 --> 00:08:57,800
and they focus on building things themselves instead

264
00:08:57,800 --> 00:08:59,800
of relying on expensive imports.

265
00:08:59,800 --> 00:09:01,460
It's a testament to their ingenuity,

266
00:09:01,460 --> 00:09:03,680
and it's an inspiration to other countries that are just

267
00:09:03,680 --> 00:09:05,800
starting to develop their own space programs.

268
00:09:05,800 --> 00:09:06,600
Exactly.

269
00:09:06,600 --> 00:09:08,960
It shows that you don't need unlimited funds

270
00:09:08,960 --> 00:09:11,920
to make big contributions to space exploration.

271
00:09:11,920 --> 00:09:14,880
It's about smart planning, efficient execution,

272
00:09:14,880 --> 00:09:18,080
and a passion for pushing the limits of what's possible.

273
00:09:18,080 --> 00:09:21,720
So we've talked about the past and the present of Chandrayaan.

274
00:09:21,720 --> 00:09:23,360
What about the future?

275
00:09:23,360 --> 00:09:28,000
What are India's plans for lunar exploration going forward?

276
00:09:28,000 --> 00:09:29,840
Well, there are rumors of a Chandrayaan 4,

277
00:09:29,840 --> 00:09:31,920
although the details are still pretty hush-hush.

278
00:09:31,920 --> 00:09:32,720
Intriguing.

279
00:09:32,720 --> 00:09:34,180
Some people are saying it might involve

280
00:09:34,180 --> 00:09:37,400
exploring parts of the moon that have never been seen before,

281
00:09:37,400 --> 00:09:40,520
or maybe even attempting a sample return mission.

282
00:09:40,520 --> 00:09:42,920
Bring a piece of the moon back to Earth.

283
00:09:42,920 --> 00:09:43,960
That would be amazing.

284
00:09:43,960 --> 00:09:45,600
What would that tell us scientifically?

285
00:09:45,600 --> 00:09:47,840
Just imagine having actual lunar samples

286
00:09:47,840 --> 00:09:48,920
to study here on Earth.

287
00:09:48,920 --> 00:09:49,480
Yeah.

288
00:09:49,480 --> 00:09:51,800
It would open up a whole new world of research.

289
00:09:51,800 --> 00:09:55,520
We could analyze those rocks and soil in much greater detail,

290
00:09:55,520 --> 00:09:57,200
look at their isotopic signatures

291
00:09:57,200 --> 00:09:59,680
to learn about the moon's formation and evolution,

292
00:09:59,680 --> 00:10:01,840
and even look for signs of past life

293
00:10:01,840 --> 00:10:03,600
or the building blocks of life.

294
00:10:03,600 --> 00:10:05,160
It would be like having a piece of the puzzle

295
00:10:05,160 --> 00:10:06,280
right here in our hands.

296
00:10:06,280 --> 00:10:07,160
Yeah.

297
00:10:07,160 --> 00:10:08,920
But sample return missions, those

298
00:10:08,920 --> 00:10:11,760
are notoriously difficult and pricey, right?

299
00:10:11,760 --> 00:10:12,320
They are.

300
00:10:12,320 --> 00:10:15,600
But ISRO has shown us they can do amazing things

301
00:10:15,600 --> 00:10:16,360
on a tight budget.

302
00:10:16,360 --> 00:10:16,680
Yeah.

303
00:10:16,680 --> 00:10:18,760
And if they pulled off a successful sample return,

304
00:10:18,760 --> 00:10:20,400
it would really cement their place

305
00:10:20,400 --> 00:10:22,240
as a leader in space exploration.

306
00:10:22,240 --> 00:10:23,880
Let's switch gears for a second and talk

307
00:10:23,880 --> 00:10:27,080
about Gaganyaan, India's human spaceflight program.

308
00:10:27,080 --> 00:10:28,400
What's the latest there?

309
00:10:28,400 --> 00:10:30,480
Gaganyaan is moving along nicely.

310
00:10:30,480 --> 00:10:32,960
They've been doing a bunch of unmanned test flights,

311
00:10:32,960 --> 00:10:35,200
putting all the systems through their paces.

312
00:10:35,200 --> 00:10:37,160
The goal is to launch their first crewed mission

313
00:10:37,160 --> 00:10:40,400
in the next few years, sending Indian astronauts into orbit.

314
00:10:40,400 --> 00:10:42,400
That's going to be a landmark event.

315
00:10:42,400 --> 00:10:44,360
And who knows, maybe those Gaganyaan missions

316
00:10:44,360 --> 00:10:47,560
will one day lead to Indian astronauts walking on the moon.

317
00:10:47,560 --> 00:10:49,080
Now, that would be something special.

318
00:10:49,080 --> 00:10:51,680
It would be a testament to human ingenuity

319
00:10:51,680 --> 00:10:53,320
and the power of dreams.

320
00:10:53,320 --> 00:10:55,280
It's not just about national pride.

321
00:10:55,280 --> 00:10:58,040
It's about showing what humanity is capable of

322
00:10:58,040 --> 00:11:00,600
and inspiring future generations.

323
00:11:00,600 --> 00:11:03,920
We touched on this earlier, but what about those permanent lunar

324
00:11:03,920 --> 00:11:05,160
habitats?

325
00:11:05,160 --> 00:11:07,680
You know, with the discovery of water ice on the moon,

326
00:11:07,680 --> 00:11:09,960
that's starting to seem like a real possibility.

327
00:11:09,960 --> 00:11:11,600
Is that a long-term goal for India?

328
00:11:11,600 --> 00:11:14,080
It's definitely something that's being discussed.

329
00:11:14,080 --> 00:11:16,560
Imagine a self-sustaining base on the moon,

330
00:11:16,560 --> 00:11:18,560
a jumping off point for further exploration

331
00:11:18,560 --> 00:11:19,800
of the solar system.

332
00:11:19,800 --> 00:11:21,880
It's an idea that sparks the imagination

333
00:11:21,880 --> 00:11:24,760
and speaks to our desire to explore the unknown.

334
00:11:24,760 --> 00:11:26,160
But what are the biggest obstacles

335
00:11:26,160 --> 00:11:27,360
to making that happen?

336
00:11:27,360 --> 00:11:28,320
There are quite a few.

337
00:11:28,320 --> 00:11:28,600
Yeah.

338
00:11:28,600 --> 00:11:30,360
We're talking about building a place where

339
00:11:30,360 --> 00:11:34,160
humans can live on a world with no air, extreme temperatures,

340
00:11:34,160 --> 00:11:38,040
and constant bombardment from radiation and micrometeoroids.

341
00:11:38,040 --> 00:11:40,320
It would take some major advances in life support

342
00:11:40,320 --> 00:11:44,160
systems, radiation shielding, and ways to extract resources.

343
00:11:44,160 --> 00:11:45,800
It sounds like a massive undertaking.

344
00:11:45,800 --> 00:11:46,640
It is.

345
00:11:46,640 --> 00:11:48,960
But like any really big challenge,

346
00:11:48,960 --> 00:11:51,680
it also presents an opportunity for innovation

347
00:11:51,680 --> 00:11:53,040
and collaboration.

348
00:11:53,040 --> 00:11:55,680
It would take the combined brainpower and resources

349
00:11:55,680 --> 00:11:59,080
of scientists, engineers, and nations from all over the world

350
00:11:59,080 --> 00:12:01,320
all working together to push the limits of what's

351
00:12:01,320 --> 00:12:02,520
humanly possible.

352
00:12:02,520 --> 00:12:04,680
It reminds us that space exploration is really

353
00:12:04,680 --> 00:12:06,280
a global effort at its heart.

354
00:12:06,280 --> 00:12:07,080
Exactly.

355
00:12:07,080 --> 00:12:09,360
And India is proven to be a valuable partner

356
00:12:09,360 --> 00:12:10,720
in this global quest.

357
00:12:10,720 --> 00:12:12,720
They're sharing their knowledge, their resources,

358
00:12:12,720 --> 00:12:15,520
their expertise, all to help us understand the cosmos a little

359
00:12:15,520 --> 00:12:16,320
better.

360
00:12:16,320 --> 00:12:18,800
As we wrap up our deep dive into Chandrayan,

361
00:12:18,800 --> 00:12:21,880
I'm just filled with this sense of awe and inspiration.

362
00:12:21,880 --> 00:12:24,640
It's a story of ambition, perseverance,

363
00:12:24,640 --> 00:12:27,040
and the incredible power of human ingenuity.

364
00:12:27,040 --> 00:12:28,480
It's a testament to what we can do

365
00:12:28,480 --> 00:12:31,440
when we set our sights on the stars and dare to dream big.

366
00:12:31,440 --> 00:12:33,680
Couldn't have said it better myself.

367
00:12:33,680 --> 00:12:36,240
And who knows what amazing discoveries are still

368
00:12:36,240 --> 00:12:38,320
out there waiting for us as we continue

369
00:12:38,320 --> 00:12:40,720
to explore the vastness of space.

370
00:12:40,720 --> 00:12:43,000
The future of space exploration is bright.

371
00:12:43,000 --> 00:12:46,600
And India is going to be a major part of shaping that future.

372
00:12:46,600 --> 00:12:48,840
It's a thrilling time to be alive

373
00:12:48,840 --> 00:12:51,280
and to witness these historic endeavors unfold.

374
00:12:51,280 --> 00:12:52,160
Absolutely.

375
00:12:52,160 --> 00:12:54,800
Don't forget to follow and subscribe to Cosmos in a Pod

376
00:12:54,800 --> 00:12:57,200
and our YouTube channel for more deep dives

377
00:12:57,200 --> 00:12:59,320
into the mysteries of the universe.

378
00:12:59,320 --> 00:13:01,840
Until next time, keep looking up and keep exploring.

379
00:13:01,840 --> 00:13:03,720
Bringing a piece of the moon back to Earth,

380
00:13:03,720 --> 00:13:04,760
that would be incredible.

381
00:13:04,760 --> 00:13:07,000
What kind of scientific value would that hold?

382
00:13:07,000 --> 00:13:08,960
Imagine having actual lunar samples

383
00:13:08,960 --> 00:13:10,200
to study here on Earth.

384
00:13:10,200 --> 00:13:10,720
Yeah.

385
00:13:10,720 --> 00:13:13,480
It would open up so many new research possibilities.

386
00:13:13,480 --> 00:13:15,760
We could analyze the composition of those lunar rocks

387
00:13:15,760 --> 00:13:19,760
and soil in much greater detail, study their isotopic signatures,

388
00:13:19,760 --> 00:13:22,520
to learn about the moon's formation and evolution,

389
00:13:22,520 --> 00:13:25,920
and even search for signs of past life or the building

390
00:13:25,920 --> 00:13:27,000
blocks of life.

391
00:13:27,000 --> 00:13:28,640
It would be like having a time capsule

392
00:13:28,640 --> 00:13:31,360
from the early solar system right here in our labs.

393
00:13:31,360 --> 00:13:31,960
Exactly.

394
00:13:31,960 --> 00:13:32,360
Right.

395
00:13:32,360 --> 00:13:34,360
But those sample return missions, they're not easy,

396
00:13:34,360 --> 00:13:34,860
are they?

397
00:13:34,860 --> 00:13:36,760
They're super complex and expensive.

398
00:13:36,760 --> 00:13:37,560
You're not wrong.

399
00:13:37,560 --> 00:13:39,280
They are a huge challenge.

400
00:13:39,280 --> 00:13:42,600
But ISRO has shown us time and time again

401
00:13:42,600 --> 00:13:44,080
that they are capable of achieving

402
00:13:44,080 --> 00:13:47,640
some pretty amazing things, even with limited resources.

403
00:13:47,640 --> 00:13:50,160
And if they pulled off a successful sample return

404
00:13:50,160 --> 00:13:52,600
mission, it would really solidify their position

405
00:13:52,600 --> 00:13:55,120
as a global leader in space exploration.

406
00:13:55,120 --> 00:13:56,480
No doubt about it.

407
00:13:56,480 --> 00:13:57,760
So let's shift gears for a minute

408
00:13:57,760 --> 00:14:01,160
and talk about Gaganian India's human spaceflight program.

409
00:14:01,160 --> 00:14:02,600
What's the latest on that front?

410
00:14:02,600 --> 00:14:04,140
Gaganian is moving along steadily.

411
00:14:04,140 --> 00:14:07,080
They've been conducting a series of unmanned test flights,

412
00:14:07,080 --> 00:14:09,360
really putting all the systems through their paces.

413
00:14:09,360 --> 00:14:09,860
Right.

414
00:14:09,860 --> 00:14:12,120
The goal is to launch their first crewed mission

415
00:14:12,120 --> 00:14:13,960
within the next few years, sending

416
00:14:13,960 --> 00:14:15,640
Indian astronauts into orbit.

417
00:14:15,640 --> 00:14:17,320
That would be monumental.

418
00:14:17,320 --> 00:14:18,480
And you know, who knows?

419
00:14:18,480 --> 00:14:20,240
Maybe those Gaganian missions could eventually

420
00:14:20,240 --> 00:14:21,760
pay the way for Indian astronauts

421
00:14:21,760 --> 00:14:23,080
to actually walk on the moon.

422
00:14:23,080 --> 00:14:24,400
Wouldn't that be something?

423
00:14:24,400 --> 00:14:25,680
It would be a dream come true.

424
00:14:25,680 --> 00:14:28,000
It would be a testament to human ingenuity

425
00:14:28,000 --> 00:14:30,960
and the power of daring to dream big.

426
00:14:30,960 --> 00:14:31,720
Absolutely.

427
00:14:31,720 --> 00:14:34,200
It's not just about national pride either.

428
00:14:34,200 --> 00:14:37,720
It's about pushing the limits of what humanity can achieve

429
00:14:37,720 --> 00:14:40,480
and inspiring generations to come.

430
00:14:40,480 --> 00:14:42,800
Earlier, we were talking about the possibility

431
00:14:42,800 --> 00:14:44,960
of permanent lunar habitats.

432
00:14:44,960 --> 00:14:46,840
With the discovery of water ice on the moon,

433
00:14:46,840 --> 00:14:48,960
that's starting to feel like a real possibility.

434
00:14:48,960 --> 00:14:52,080
Is that something India is considering as a long-term goal?

435
00:14:52,080 --> 00:14:54,280
It's definitely being discussed.

436
00:14:54,280 --> 00:14:58,080
Imagine a self-sustaining lunar base, a sort of stepping stone

437
00:14:58,080 --> 00:15:00,760
for further exploration of the solar system.

438
00:15:00,760 --> 00:15:03,360
It's a vision that captures the imagination

439
00:15:03,360 --> 00:15:06,360
and really speaks to that innate human desire

440
00:15:06,360 --> 00:15:07,960
to explore the unknown.

441
00:15:07,960 --> 00:15:09,240
It does sound pretty amazing.

442
00:15:09,240 --> 00:15:09,740
Yeah.

443
00:15:09,740 --> 00:15:10,880
But what are the biggest challenges

444
00:15:10,880 --> 00:15:12,120
to making that a reality?

445
00:15:12,120 --> 00:15:13,280
Well, there are quite a few.

446
00:15:13,280 --> 00:15:15,760
We're talking about creating a habitable environment

447
00:15:15,760 --> 00:15:19,800
on a celestial body with no atmosphere, extreme temperatures,

448
00:15:19,800 --> 00:15:23,200
and constant bombardment from radiation and micrometeoroids.

449
00:15:23,200 --> 00:15:25,080
Yeah, those are some serious obstacles.

450
00:15:25,080 --> 00:15:27,520
It will require significant advances in life support

451
00:15:27,520 --> 00:15:30,200
systems, radiation shielding, and ways

452
00:15:30,200 --> 00:15:32,640
to extract resources from the lunar environment.

453
00:15:32,640 --> 00:15:34,200
It sounds incredibly daunting.

454
00:15:34,200 --> 00:15:36,520
It is a massive undertaking, no doubt.

455
00:15:36,520 --> 00:15:38,080
But like any great challenge, it also

456
00:15:38,080 --> 00:15:41,240
presents an opportunity for innovation and collaboration.

457
00:15:41,240 --> 00:15:43,840
It would require the combined efforts of scientists,

458
00:15:43,840 --> 00:15:46,360
engineers, and nations from all over the world

459
00:15:46,360 --> 00:15:49,400
all working together to push the boundaries of what's possible.

460
00:15:49,400 --> 00:15:52,400
It really underscores the fact that space exploration is

461
00:15:52,400 --> 00:15:53,920
ultimately a global endeavor.

462
00:15:53,920 --> 00:15:55,040
Absolutely.

463
00:15:55,040 --> 00:15:57,520
And India is proving to be a valuable partner

464
00:15:57,520 --> 00:15:58,960
in this global quest.

465
00:15:58,960 --> 00:16:01,200
They're sharing their knowledge, their resources,

466
00:16:01,200 --> 00:16:03,320
and their expertise to help us all understand

467
00:16:03,320 --> 00:16:04,760
the cosmos a little better.

468
00:16:04,760 --> 00:16:06,080
Well said.

469
00:16:06,080 --> 00:16:08,960
As we wrap up our deep dive into Chandrayaan,

470
00:16:08,960 --> 00:16:12,040
I'm left with a sense of awe and inspiration.

471
00:16:12,040 --> 00:16:15,560
It's a truly remarkable story of ambition, perseverance,

472
00:16:15,560 --> 00:16:17,240
and the power of human ingenuity.

473
00:16:17,240 --> 00:16:18,880
It's a testament to what we can achieve

474
00:16:18,880 --> 00:16:20,400
when we set our sights on the stars

475
00:16:20,400 --> 00:16:22,160
and refuse to give up on our dreams.

476
00:16:22,160 --> 00:16:24,360
And who knows what incredible discoveries await us

477
00:16:24,360 --> 00:16:27,600
as we continue to explore the vast expanse of space.

478
00:16:27,600 --> 00:16:29,920
The future of space exploration is bright,

479
00:16:29,920 --> 00:16:32,200
and India is poised to play a leading role

480
00:16:32,200 --> 00:16:33,760
in shaping that future.

481
00:16:33,760 --> 00:16:35,480
It's an exciting time to be alive

482
00:16:35,480 --> 00:16:38,360
and to witness these historic endeavors unfold.

483
00:16:38,360 --> 00:16:39,720
Absolutely.

484
00:16:39,720 --> 00:16:42,200
Don't forget to follow and subscribe to Cosmos in a Pod

485
00:16:42,200 --> 00:16:44,320
and our YouTube channel for more deep dives

486
00:16:44,320 --> 00:16:46,320
into the mysteries of the universe.

487
00:16:46,320 --> 00:17:10,200
Until next time, keep looking up and keep exploring.