Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on December 15 said that Chandrayaan 3 is just a start and India promises to put a man on the moon by 2040. “Today we are open and clear, the sector will recieve support. Chandrayaan 3 is just the start of the process, India promises to put man on the moon by 2040. Similarly, India envisions a developed country by 2047 in Amrit Kaal. Gaganyaan projects envisage demonstration of human space flight capability and India promises man on the moon by 2040,” said Hardeep Singh Puri while addressing a press conference on December 15.
The Gaganyaan project envisages a demonstration of human spaceflight capability by launching a crew of three members into an orbit of 400 km for a three-day mission and bringing them safely back to earth by landing in Indian waters. This programme will make India the fourth nation to launch a manned spaceflight mission after the US, Russia, and China.
Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the Indian Space and Research Organisation (ISRO) for achieving another technological milestone in space. Chandrayaan 3’s Propulsion Module took a successful detour. In another unique experiment, the Propulsion Module is brought from Lunar orbit to Earth’s orbit.
Responding to the X post of ISRO about this achievement, the Prime Minister posted on X, “Congratulations @isro. Another technology milestone achieved in our future space endeavours includes our goal to send an Indian to the Moon by 2040.”
Congratulations @isro. Another technology milestone achieved in our future space endeavours including our goal to send an Indian to Moon by 2040. https://t.co/emUnLsg2EA
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 6, 2023
In another unique experiment, like the hop experiment on the Vikram Lander, the Propulsion Module (PM) of Chandrayaan 3 was moved from an orbit around the Moon to an orbit around Earth, said the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
“Chandrayaan 3 Mission: Ch 3’s Propulsion Module (PM) takes a successful detour! In another unique experiment, the PM is brought from Lunar orbit to Earth’s orbit. An orbit-raising manoeuvre and a Trans-Earth injection manoeuvre placed PM in an Earth-bound orbit,” ISRO posted on X.
Chandrayaan-3 Mission:
Ch-3's Propulsion Module (PM) takes a successful detour!
In another unique experiment, the PM is brought from Lunar orbit to Earth’s orbit.
An orbit-raising maneuver and a Trans-Earth injection maneuver placed PM in an Earth-bound orbit.… pic.twitter.com/qGNBhXrwff
— ISRO (@isro) December 5, 2023
The primary objective of the Chandrayaan 3 mission was to demonstrate a soft landing near to lunar south polar region and perform experiments using the instruments on Vikram and Pragyaan.
The spacecraft was launched on July 14, 2023, on board an LVM3-M4 vehicle from SDSC, SHAR.
On August 23, Vikram Lander made its historic touchdown on the Moon and subsequently Pragyan rover was deployed. The scientific instruments in Lander and Rover were operated continuously for 1 lunar day as per the defined mission life. The mission objectives of Chandrayaan 3 have been completely met.
Further, he said that, “India will buy Venezuelan oil”, adding that Indian refineries are capable of processing the heavy oil from the South African country. Speaking to reporters at an event, Puri stated that New Delhi is willing to resume oil import with any nation that is not under sanction.
This comes after the US in October eased sanctions on Venezuela’s oil sector. The sanctions were imposed to punish Maduro’s Government following his 2018 re-election. “India will buy Venezuelan oil. Many of our refineries including one in Paradip are capable of processing heavy oil from Venezuela. We are willing to resume (oil import) with anyone who is not under sanction sanction,” he said.
“We are in a situation where we are using crude oil 5 million barrels/ per day. And it is increasing every day. If Venezuela oil comes to market we will welcome it,” he added.
India last imported Venezuelan crude in 2020 when the U.S. imposed secondary sanctions on the nation/ The U.S. imposed harsh sanctions on Venezuela to punish Maduro’s Government following his 2018 re-election.
The South American country is producing some 850,000 barrels per day (BPD) of crude with a target of soon reaching 1 million BPD. India, the world’s third-largest oil importer and consumer, has embarked on a strategic journey to reshape its energy landscape.
As a nation heavily reliant on overseas oil, accounting for over 80 per cent of its needs, India aims to curtail its crude import bill and bolster its refining capabilities. This pursuit has led India to explore diverse sources, and one country that has caught its attention is Venezuela.
Venezuela, a historical player in the global oil industry, has been producing oil since 1914. With proven oil reserves of 299,953,000,000 barrels, as of 2016, Venezuela stands as one of the world’s leading holders of oil reserves, representing about 18.2 per cent of the global total.
India, eyeing opportunities to diversify its oil sources and strengthen its refining capabilities, is keenly exploring collaborations and partnerships with Venezuela.
(with inputs from ANI)
