Leh, Aug 28: Dr. Mehul R Pandya, Group Director of the Space Applications Centre, ISRO, brought the nation’s lunar triumphs to the University of Ladakh on Monday, delivering a compelling lecture that traced India’s rise from Chandrayaan-1 to the south pole landing of Chandrayaan-3.
Addressing a packed hall at the Taru campus, Dr. Pandya drew students and scholars into India’s unfolding space odyssey. With the authority of a scientist at the forefront of lunar exploration, he spoke of triumphs and lessons carried across three Chandrayaan missions, inspiring a generation poised to shape the country’s next leap beyond Earth.
He retraced the path from Chandrayaan-1, which first confirmed the presence of water molecules on the Moon, to Chandrayaan-2, whose orbiter continues to map lunar terrain and atmosphere. His talk culminated in a vivid account of Chandrayaan-3, the mission that placed India among the select nations with a soft-landing capability, and the only one to do so near the Moon’s south pole. The achievement, he said, has widened the horizon of planetary science while underscoring India’s growing prowess in space technology.
Students and faculty listened intently as he linked scientific outcomes with opportunities for research and innovation. The lecture emphasized how these missions not only advanced global knowledge of the lunar environment but also strengthened India’s role in international space exploration.
The session later opened to an animated exchange, with young scholars eager to probe the technical and strategic aspects of ISRO’s work. Their enthusiasm reflected the growing curiosity of Ladakh’s youth, who see in India’s space programme both inspiration and a future career path.
The University of Ladakh extended warm appreciation to ISRO and the Space Applications Centre for bringing the discourse to Leh. Faculty members described the event as a reminder of how scientific outreach can bridge distant frontiers, drawing students of remote regions into the heart of national achievements.
