India,a dark horse in the first world country-dominated space race may soon disrupt the hierarchy.It recently made headlines when it launched the Chandrayaan 2 lunar mission from Sriharikota,showcasing homegrown technologies,from the rocket and the orbiter to the lander(Vikram)and the robotic solar-powered rover(Pragyan).The US$1 billion-project is the first space mission to conduct a soft landing,on the Moon's South Polar Region,where a larger section of its surface stays in the shadow,according to the Indian Space Research Organisation(ISRO).In 2008,its predecessor had found evidence of water as well as detected magnesium,aluminium and silicon on the surface.It is expected to make a soft landing in September,and if successful,will make India the fourth country to conquer the moon.
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