The moon has always been a source of fascination for humanity. The rivalry between India’s lunar mission and China’s Chang’e mission represents the modern space race, where scientific progress is entwined with national pride and geopolitical ambition. But who will win the race to the moon?
China’s Chang’ mission is at the forefront of lunar exploration, and Chang’-5 marked a milestone by bringing back lunar samples. Expectations now surround Chang’e-6, which is scheduled to launch in the first half of 2024, it represents China’s most recent effort to explore the far side of the moon and collect samples, marking a significant step forward in the nation’s lunar exploration goals. Chang’e 6 aims to gather up to 2 kilograms of lunar samples, using a similar setup to the successful Chang’e 5 mission.[1] The mission is part of a broader Chinese plan to establish the International Lunar Research Service (ILRS) and eventually achieve a permanent lunar station by the 2030s.[2]
To maintain communications with Chang’e 6 on the lunar far side, where direct contact with Earth is impossible owing to tidal locking, China deployed Queqiao-2, a relay satellite that will be launched from Wenchang using a Long March 8 rocket in the coming months.[3] While India’s Chandrayaan 3 successfully landed on the moon’s south pole, it did not bring samples to the earth,[4]as Chang’e 6 is designed to accomplish. Instead, Chandrayaan 3 focussed on conducting testing on the lunar surface. Chandrayaan 3 has revealed two key discoveries regarding the moon. The first is about temperature, while the second is about the existence of several elements, including oxygen.[5] However, the aim of China’s Chang’e-5 mission was different compared to the Chandrayaan 3 mission because Chang’e-5 successfully returned lunar samples to Earth in 2020.[6] Whereas Chandrayaan 3 was not aimed at bringing lunar samples to earth. The upcoming Chandrayaan 4 is still in the development phase and is not expected to be ready for launch for several more years. Although India made strides in landing capabilities with Chandrayaan 3,[7] which focused on surface experiments instead of sample collection, their next ambitious plan is to gather soil and lunar materials and return them to Earth with Chandrayaan 4.[8] It is apparent that China is leading the race in terms of lunar sample return missions.[9]
As China and India continue to invest extensively in space research, rivalry between the two countries is expected to intensify, especially given the economic and political ramifications of advanced space travel and resource extraction technology.[10]
The rivalry between India and China in the field of space exploration goes beyond the scientific accomplishments of each country and reflects greater geopolitical and economic ambitions simultaneously. The two countries saw their respective space programmes as representations of their scientific superiority and strategic advantage. Despite the fact that there is rivalry, there are chances for collaboration. One example of this is China’s participation in the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS), which highlights the possibility of combined efforts to further lunar exploration.[11]
As this rivalry continues to develop, issues regarding the future of space exploration are being raised. Will these missions pave the way for a human presence on the moon that is compatible with the environment? Within the realm of space science, how will these improvements have an influence on international collaborations? Not only does the story of Chandrayaan against Chang’e highlight the progress that has been made in technology, but it also highlights the changing environment of space endeavours throughout the world.
Despite the fact that both India and China are making great progress in their moon missions, China is now in the lead with its forthcoming Chang’e-6 mission that is getting ready to launch. The expanding relevance of space exploration in determining our future on Earth and beyond is demonstrated by this rivalry, which acts as a monument to both of these aspects.
Endnotes
[1] Pao, Jeff. “China-India Rivalry Playing out on the Moon.” Asia Times, October 6, 2023. https://asiatimes.com/2023/09/china-india-rivalry-playing-out-on-the-moon/.
[2] George, Diana. “Chang’e 6: All You Need To Know About China’s Moon Mission.” TimesNow, January 17, 2024.
https://www.timesnownews.com/technology-science/explainers/change-6-all-you-need-to-know-about-chinas-moon-mission-article-106922474. &
“Future Chinese Lunar Missions,” n.d. https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/lunar/cnsa_moon_future.html.
[3] Jones, Andrew. “China’s Chang’e-6 Probe Arrives at Spaceport for First-Ever Lunar Far Side Sample Mission.” SpaceNews, January 10, 2024.
https://spacenews.com/chinas-change-6-probe-arrives-at-spaceport-for-first-ever-lunar-far-side-sample-mission/.
[4] Firaque, Kabir. “Weird Science | A Hop for a Lander, a Leap for ISRO, a Giant Stride in Knowledge.” Hindustan Times, October 31, 2023.
https://www.hindustantimes.com/editors-pick/weird-science-a-hop-for-a-lander-a-leap-for-isro-a-giant-stride-in-knowledge-101698740700084.html#:~:text=Chandrayaan%2D3’s%20Vikram%20landed%20on,been%20brought%20to%20Earth%20yet.
[5] Ghosh, Poulomi. “What Chandrayaan 3 Has Found on Moon so Far: Oxygen, Sulphur, Iron, Silicon.” Hindustan Times, August 30, 2023. https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/what-chandrayaan-3-has-found-on-moon-so-far-oxygen-sulphur-iron-silicon-101693360903346.html.
[6] Society, Planetary. “Chang’e-5: China’s Moon Sample Return Mission.” The Planetary Society, July 6, 2023. https://www.planetary.org/space-missions/change-5#:~:text=Highlights,and%20the%20solar%20system%20evolved.
[7] Goswami, Namrata. “The Strategic and Geopolitical Significance of India’s Chandrayaan 3 Lunar Mission.” The Diplomat, September 15, 2023.
https://thediplomat.com/2023/09/the-strategic-and-geopolitical-significance-of-indias-chandrayaan-3-lunar-mission/.
[8] Marar, Anjali. “ISRO’s next Ambitious Plan: Collect Soil Samples from Moon, Bring Them to Earth.” The Indian Express, November 19, 2023.
https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/science/isros-next-ambitious-plan-collect-soil-samples-from-moon-9032397/.
[9] George, Diana. “Chang’e 6: All You Need To Know About China’s Moon Mission.” TimesNow, January 17, 2024.
https://www.timesnownews.com/technology-science/explainers/change-6-all-you-need-to-know-about-chinas-moon-mission-article-106922474. &
Ap. “China Says It Will Launch Its Next Lunar Explorer in the First Half of 2024.” www.business-standard.com, January 10, 2024.
https://www.business-standard.com/world-news/china-says-it-will-launch-its-next-lunar-explorer-in-the-first-half-of-2024-124011000244_1.html.
[10] Ap. “China Says It Will Launch Its next Lunar Explorer in the First Half of 2024.” www.business-standard.com, January 10, 2024.
https://www.business-standard.com/world-news/china-says-it-will-launch-its-next-lunar-explorer-in-the-first-half-of-2024-124011000244_1.html.
[11] Pao, Jeff. “China-India Rivalry Playing out on the Moon.” Asia Times, October 6, 2023. https://asiatimes.com/2023/09/china-india-rivalry-playing-out-on-the-moon/.
Author: Abhinab Mazumdar, Research Intern, CS3, USI