India Insight

After India’s first lunar mission Chandrayaan – 1 found evidence of water on the moon’s surface, scientists have now discovered more than 40 small craters with water ice on the moon.  

Chandrayaan – 1 carried a NASA radar on board which has detected deposits of water ice at both poles of the moon. 

Many scientists believe the discovery is very significant. They say water ice could serve as a natural resource for future lunar mission landings, can be liquefied into drinking water and water components could be used to provide breathing air and rocket fuel. 

Could this breakthrough unravel much more about the lunar space and the solar system? 

Space scientist and former Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chief, G. Madhavan Nair called this the “finding of the millennium”. 

In a small town in India’s heartland in 1969, an entire neighbourhood huddled around the radio, sipping tea and waiting for the moment that would change space science for ever.

A hush fell over the crowd as Neil Armstrong’s voice came in over heavy static — “Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed.”

The room burst into applause as a controller at the Houston mission control radioed back — “You got a bunch of guys about to turn blue, we’re breathing again.”