South Side of the Moon: The Significance of India's Moon Landing

A monumental leap for India and a giant stride for humanity! That's what the recent south pole lunar landing of Chandrayaan-3 by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) represents. This event has propelled India into an elite club of moon-landing nations and serves as a testament to the power of education and opportunity. This article delves into why this achievement is a source of immense pride for India and how it manifests the power of education and empowerment, particularly for women in STEM.

Chandrayaan-3: A Milestone in India's Space Exploration

On August 23, 2023, India made history by successfully soft-landing Chandrayaan-3 near the South Pole of the Moon, becoming the first country ever to do so. The mission was crucial in lunar exploration and solidified India's standing as a space power. India’s space program has come a long way, and this achievement marks a significant milestone in Indian and international space exploration.

The Man Behind the Mission: P Veeramuthuvel

P Veeramuthuvel — the project director of Chandrayaan-3 — is a living example of how education can transform lives. Born in a humble family with "no educational background," Veeramuthuvel's journey to become one of India's top scientists is awe-inspiring. His academic journey wasn't about attending the country's best schools or universities. Instead, he took the opportunities that came his way, furthered himself, and succeeded. His story resonates with the ethos of Tiyara, an organization committed to elevating lives through career-ready education.

Women in STEM: The Unsung Heroes

While Veeramuthuvel led the mission, it's crucial to highlight the significant number of female scientists involved in it. Their contribution is a testament to the changing landscape of India and STEM worldwide and inspires young girls across India. Here is a list of some of the "rocket women" who played significant roles in India's Chandrayaan-3 mission, along with their roles:

• Kalpana Kalahasti: Kalahasti served as the deputy project director for the mission. She is a satellite specialist with experience in India’s second lunar mission and the Mars orbiter mission. She has overseen sophisticated imaging devices that have enabled ISRO to capture high-resolution images of Earth’s surface.

• Rima Ghosh: A robotics specialist, Ghosh worked on the development of the “Pragyan” rover that deployed from the Chandrayaan-3 to conduct lunar experiments. She has been involved in several other missions, including the planned Mars landing mission and the Aditya-L1 mission to study the solar atmosphere.

Ghosh’s education began at the Assembly of God Church School in West Bengal — a relatively modest school initially founded for underserved children in the region. Though it ranks as low as 885th out of India’s 1,900 CISCE-affiliated schools, Ghosh maximized her opportunities through her studies there and went on to study at La Martinière College before making history with ISRO. 

Her story demonstrates the importance of education and that accessible schooling can bring just as much opportunity and achievement as even the most elite academies.

• Ritu Karidhal: A senior scientist and aerospace engineer, Karidhal has been part of many important space missions, including Chandrayaan-2, where she was project director, and the Mars orbiter mission “Mangalyaan.” She is popularly known as the “rocket woman” of India and has received the “ISRO Young Scientist Award”.

• M Vanitha: Vanitha is an accomplished electronics and communication systems engineer and played a pivotal role in India's Chandrayaan-3 mission. She, along with Ritu Karidhal, made history as India’s first women to spearhead a space mission — Chandrayaan-2. She has overseen satellite projects and supervised the development of hardware for Chandrayaan. Although Chandrayaan-2's lander crashed on the Moon's surface, the project was deemed a success as it transmitted invaluable data and formed the basis for the success of the Chandrayaan-3 mission. Both Vanitha and Karidhal were actively involved in project reviews of Chandrayaan-3, contributing significantly to the mission's success.

• Nidhi Porwal: Another senior scientist at ISRO, Porwal, worked hard for years to ensure the success of Chandrayaan-3. She has spoken about how the  contributions of women at ISRO set a strong example for other fields.

These women — along with over 100 other women scientists and engineers — were integral to the success of the Chandrayaan-3 mission, showcasing the significant role women can play in STEM fields when given the opportunity. India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi proclaimed, “The women scientists of this mission have played a crucial role in ensuring its success. Without their contribution, this achievement was just not possible. They will inspire generations to come.”

The Ripple Effect of Education

The success of Chandrayaan-3 is not just a technological marvel — it's a beacon for the power of education. Tiyara's model of elevating lives through education and its multi-generational impact is a testament to this. The mission leaders' educational journeys show that it's not just about the exclusivity of the schools you go to but the opportunities you seize. 

If we can provide students access to education from even modest institutions, the sky’s the limit (or even further — outer space). It’s about access to education, not elitism.

The Future of India's Space Program

India’s space launch of Chandrayaan-3 has given the nation the confidence to extend its reach to possible voyages to Mars and Venus. It's a big step forward in India's space exploration, and the landing is expected to boost India's reputation for cost-competitive space engineering.

The Chandrayaan-3 mission is a monumental achievement for the Indian Space Research Organization and a proud moment for every Indian. It also serves as a powerful reminder of the increasing importance of higher education institutions in India and how technology is helping more people receive an education. As Veeramuthuvel said, "Hard work will never go unrewarded," and this mission is a shining example of that ethos.

At Tiyara, we celebrate the success of the Chandrayaan-3 mission and are excited for India’s continued progress moving forward — all made possible through the power of education. We seek to provide higher education scholarships that will make life-changing differences for under-resourced young women and men — much like many of the scientists involved in the Chandrayaan-3 mission.

Scholarships are also extended to young women and men who belong to indigenous populations living in remote areas or have had their lives changed by discrimination because of crimes committed by a family member, and others who face discrimination because of their caste.

You can help promote growth and opportunity by providing technology for our students, other education-related costs, or by putting a deserving young person through college, and simultaneously strengthening the future of India!