Chandrayaan-I comes at a time when there is a renewed global interest in the moon. Despite the numerous visits—the 17-year period from 1959 to 1976 saw as many as 60 lunar missions—there is a great deal about the moon that is still unknown to mankind. There is no final word on the origin and evolution of the moon, or on its composition and mineralogy. The possibility of existence of water has not been conclusively ruled out.

Of late, scientists have been excited over the likely presence of a huge amount of Helium-3 in the moon's atmosphere. Helium-3 can be used as clean fuel in future nuclear fusion reactors and has the potential to solve the desperate energy crisis that the world finds itself in. Additionally, the moon is already being looked at as a possible base camp for carrying out explorations into deeper space. For this purpose, some of the continuing and future lunar expeditions will also explore the possibility of long-term stay for man on the moon.
The sudden spurt in lunar missions since last year is therefore hardly surprising. Both China and Japan sent their moon missions in the latter half of last year; Chandrayaan-I will join them in a few days’ time followed by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter of the US, which is slated for an April 2009 launch. None of them will land on the surface of the moon. They will all orbit around it at different distances and carry out a number of studies with the help of the various equipments mounted on them.

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