Chandrayan

By Aarohi Srivastava

4.When the Moon Looked Back: The Legacy of Chandrayaan-1.

The room buzzed with computers and machines, every inch alive with preparation. Announcements echoed through the air like“Ladies and gentlemen, fifteen minutes left before the lunar mission begins its journey.” The voices of scientists deep in discussion filled the space.

Our hearts were throbbing, and shivers ran down our spines. I peeped out through the glass window—and there it was. The rocket, PSLV-XL C11, stood tall and mighty, ready to deliver our message to the heavens above, carrying the weight of our hopes and dreams with it. In that moment, it felt almost like a dream you would never want to wake up from. I imagined speaking to it, sharing our emotions, asking it to carry our pride and make us all proud as if it could hear me.

As I traced the scene with my eyes, I felt tears well up. I thought about the endless hours, the hard work, and the dedication we had poured into this mission. It was no longer about us, it was about every Indian whose dreams were tied to this rocket, crafted from raw materials, yet bearing the heart of a nation. The image of the Indian flag on its body made our chests swell with pride. This was to be our first lunar mission. The mission itself might be temporary, but the memories would be etched in our hearts forever. Just as I was taking in the moment, a clear announcement echoed through the room, making our hearts tremble: “Chandrayaan-1 is now all set to launch. I repeat, Chandrayaan-1 is all set to launch. Please press the button.”  To my privilege- and terror—this job was assigned to me. My legs turned to jelly as I walked over to the console. I could feel anxiety rising in waves. A microphone stood beside the launch button. I reached out and began, “10… 9… 8… 7… 6… 5… 4… 3… 2… 1!” The rocket roared to life. We watched in breathless awe as it rose, piercing through the atmosphere, breaking all the barriers. The room erupted with cheers. The take-off was a success. Outside, the public standing in the field began to dance with joy. Inside, our centre overflowed with scientists who couldn’t believe their eyes. We embraced one another, overwhelmed with happiness. For a moment, it felt as though we were sending a message not just to the moon—but to the heavens themselves.

As the gentle winds blew and the sky stood clear, it felt like the universe had accepted our gift. That day, we lifted dreams—and landed history. A journey had begun from Bharat to the Moon. One mission, infinite horizons.

“With stars above and hopes so high,Chandrayaan-1 reached for the sky.”

By Aarohi Srivastava