Prime Minister of India proposed the formation of a BRICS space consortium during a plenary session of the BRICS bloc in Johannesburg. This suggestion coincided with India’s spacecraft attempting a moon landing near the South Pole. India’s endeavor comes after Russia’s failed attempt due to an engine malfunction. A successful landing would boost India’s global space status after a previous lunar mission setback. Prime Minister of India aims to enhance India’s position in the space community and recently joined the Artemis Accords for international space collaboration. The Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft, launched last month, aims to analyze the moon’s surface chemistry and search for water.
Facts/Terms for UPSC Prelims
- BRICS: A cooperative alliance comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, focusing on economic growth and global influence.
- Chandrayaan-3: India’s lunar spacecraft launched to explore the moon’s surface and gather data on its chemical composition and water presence.
- Artemis Accords: A US-led initiative involving numerous nations to establish guidelines for peaceful and cooperative lunar exploration.
- Luna-25: Russia’s lunar mission that ended in a crash on the moon’s surface due to an engine malfunction.
- Plenary Session: A meeting attended by all members of a group or organization, often to discuss and make decisions on important matters.