From the Moon, we discovered ourselves

By Imlisanen Jamir
 

1970 saw the first Earth Day observation, which eventually became a worldwide celebration of our home planet. The subsequent years saw an emergence of environmental consciousness; awareness on how to take care of our air, water, and emerging studies in climate sciences. All this happened during and in the immediate years after man first set off to the Moon exactly 50 years ago on July 16, 1969.

 


This was a time when the world had a lot of other things distracting nation states and peoples—from the Cold War to the hot war in South East Asia. Why does this matter? Because, despite these potential distractions, the world nonetheless paused to reflect on our relationship to our home planet.

 


Though humankind went to the Moon to explore it, upon getting there and looking back, in fact, we would discover Earth for the first time. Seeing Earth in the sky from the Moon was like a firmware update in our sense of awareness; of the importance of Earth and our relationship to it. We did not start thinking of a cultural environmental problem until that period, leading to collective consciousness enlightenment.

 


Today, India’s second lunar exploration mission Chandrayaan-2 was supposed to launch off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota. But the launch was cancelled at the last hour due to a technical snag, according to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). 

 


Developed by ISRO, the mission is planned to be launched to the Moon by a Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III. It includes a lunar orbiter, lander and rover, all developed indigenously. Details about a new launch date may take as many as 50 days to decide, indicative of how daunting of a task these launches to space are, let alone one with the moon as the destination.  

 


But why should we care? Why should be root for ISRO? How does going to the moon, a feat achieved by someone else 60 years earlier, have any relevance to everyday life?

 


We’ve taken tremendous steps, achieved the earth shaking, the breathtaking, the groundbreaking and left a mark on the heavens. Our successes built one upon another and amplified what is possible. It’s time we take the next great leap, the next chapter of human exploration. Returning to the Moon so we can go beyond, to expand what’s possible and further our understanding of the universe.

 


The architecture for these next missions will need to be a global effort with bold designs on sustainable missions. And as part of humanity, we need to cheer them on setting aside political and ideological differences. 

 


Politics back here on Earth has and will always be entwined with space exploration, and to the government Chandrayaan-2 is more about political and jingoistic chest beating. However, as explained earlier this is no longer about flags and footprints. It’s much bigger. This is about sustainable science; about forwarding the advance of the human spirit; and in the process re-discovering a sense of responsibility for our home.   

Comments can be sent to imlisanenjamir@gmail.com