Chandrayaan Narrowly Avoids Major Collision: ISRO's Stellar Maneuver Saves the Day

India’s space agency, ISRO, has once again demonstrated its expertise and precision, preventing a potential catastrophe involving the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter. A collision between Chandrayaan-2 and South Korea’s Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter (KPLO) was successfully averted, safeguarding the integrity of both spacecraft and ensuring the continuation of vital lunar research.

The Looming Threat

The Chandrayaan-2 orbiter, launched in 2019, remains operational, providing critical data about the Moon. However, recent calculations indicated a high likelihood of collision with KPLO on October 1, 2024, as both spacecraft shared overlapping orbital paths above the Moon.

ISRO’s unclassified monthly summary for September 2024 revealed that an urgent and precise orbital maneuver was needed to avert disaster. With mere days to act, ISRO recalibrated Chandrayaan-2’s planned OM 87 maneuver on September 19, altering its trajectory and avoiding the imminent crash.

A Critical Adjustment

The maneuver, which adjusted Chandrayaan-2’s path, not only prevented the collision with KPLO but also considered potential risks with other orbiters, including NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO). Additionally, ISRO made modifications to the orbiter’s subsequent OM 88 maneuver, ensuring long-term safety in its lunar operations.

ISRO’s Legacy of Excellence

This incident is another chapter in ISRO’s remarkable history of lunar exploration. Despite setbacks, such as the 2019 Chandrayaan-2 lander crash, the mission’s orbiter has continued to provide groundbreaking insights into the Moon’s surface and environment.

India’s third lunar mission, Chandrayaan-3, achieved a historic milestone in August 2023 by successfully landing near the Moon’s South Pole, a feat that garnered global accolades. This latest intervention with Chandrayaan-2 underscores ISRO’s unwavering commitment to its missions, even years after their launch.

Averted Disaster: The Global Impact

A collision between Chandrayaan-2 and KPLO could have spelled disaster for the international space community. Both orbiters play pivotal roles in lunar research, and their loss would have been a significant blow to ongoing scientific efforts.

Space collisions are not just about hardware loss—they disrupt data streams, risk debris creation, and impact future missions. ISRO’s timely action not only preserved its mission but also upheld India’s reputation as a responsible spacefaring nation.

India’s Lunar Odyssey

India’s journey to the Moon has been marked by determination and success. The Chandrayaan missions have solidified the nation’s position in the global space race:

• Chandrayaan-1 (2008): Discovered water molecules on the Moon.
• Chandrayaan-2 (2019): Despite the lander setback, its orbiter remains invaluable for lunar studies.
• Chandrayaan-3 (2023): Made history with a successful soft landing at the South Pole, earning worldwide acclaim.