Fly me to the moon, for rocks: Why it matters
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. Last week, the Union cabinet approved $251 million ( ₹2,104 crore) for Chandrayaan-4, India’s next lunar mission. Its key aim is to collect lunar rock and soil samples—achieved so far by the US, the erstwhile USSR, and China.
Why is getting moon samples to Earth important? Researchers consider studying the lunar surface critical to understanding the origin of the moon, as well as conditions on Earth that eventually led to the evolution of life as we know today. While not strictly political or strategic, key advancements in science, space and technology help nations gain unprecedented global soft power. For instance, the research group funded by Google, which created the fundamental idea for generative AI, has strengthened the US’s role as a global power in shaping how AI, one of the world’s most important innovations, will evolve and affect us.
Read more: Isro’s boosters: What’s good for science is good for business One key facet of the upcoming mission is that it’ll help India develop technology to not just land on a surface outside of Earth, but also take off from there and come back home. This is crucial for future manned missions. By studying the soil samples, India’s space scientists will seek to understand the origins of the moon.
That can provide clues to unravelling one of science’s biggest mysteries: if celestial objects other than the earth ever supported life. Examining lunar samples can further help understand what signs to look for in planets and satellites that are discovered in outer space. Yes.
Read more on livemint.com
