After successful launching of Indian Moon Mission Chandrayan-3 by Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), it appears that space race among the nations has again caught up the speed for moon mission. India launched its Chandrayaan-3 Mission of 14^th July, 2023 that successfully soft landed on 23^rd August near South Pole of the Moon, and India became first country to land near South Pole of the Moon though India was a late entrant in moon missions. Thanks to Ex-Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee who envisioned moon mission of India and announced Chandrayaan-1 Mission in 2003 which was launched in 2008 after considerable delay. Soon after this, Russian Space Agency, Roscosmos launched its Moon Mission Luna-25 hurriedly on 10^th August, 2023, that was schedule to land 19^th August near Lunar South Pole, well before landing of Chandrayan-3. But Luna-25 failed in orbital maneuver and its lander crashed on the moon, making the mission unsuccessful. Again, on 7^th September 2023, Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) launched its moon Mission, “Moon Sniper’ which is likely to land on the Moon in February, 2024.

If we look at the history of Moon Missions launched by various countries, there are about 146 successful, partially successful or unsuccessful Moon Missions that have been launched since 1958, by 11 countries if Soviet Union and Russia is considered the same. Different countries have achieved different milestones in moon exploration right from Flyby, Orbit, Impact, Lander, Rover, Return to Crew Landing in the lunar mission. The U.S. achieved crew landing; Russia and China returned space vehicle; India could send Lander and Rover; Japan, Israel, Luxembourg and European Space Agency (ESA) could send impactor; South Korea could sent orbiter; and Italy could send flyby. Maximum number of lunar missions were launched during the Cold War period, and number of lunar missions launched were 13, 63 and 23 in late 1950s, 1960s and 1970s respectively. All these lunar missions from late 1950s to 1970s were launched by Soviet Union and the U.S. The number of lunar mission launched by Soviet Union and the U.S. were almost equal. These lunar missions used to be proxy of power projection by both the superpowers i.e. Soviet Union and the U.S. in a bipolar world during Cold War. After that, race for lunar mission declined and there was no mission launched in 1980s during the period when Soviet Union was disintegrated and Cold War ceased to exist. Again in 1990s, lunar mission again started and picked up decade after decade.

Now considering the launch of lunar mission by Russia within a month and by JAXA within two months clearly indicates that space race for lunar mission has intensified. The reason for launch of lunar mission Luna-25 in hurry by Russia at this moment is not convincing when Russia is engaged in war with Ukraine, as space technology is a dual technology where these resources could be used for war preparedness and moreover, economic condition of Russia is not good due to economic sanctions by West. The aim of launching Luna-25 was the same as that of Chandrayan-3 to become first country to soft land near South Pole of the moon. Russia is a friendly country to India, so there is no competition between India and Russia on this issue at this point of time when Russia has many other important priorities. However, Russia is friendlier to China, and Russia is under compulsions to follow the advice of China willingly or unwillingly imposed by Ukraine war and sanctions by West at this moment. It is possible that China might have advised Russia to launch Luna-25 so that India could not become first country to soft land near the South Pole of the Moon. However, India won the race on this account and ambition of China to let down India could not be fulfilled.

Japan is competitor to both Russia and China in strategic issues. Therefore, Japan also entered into this race taking lessons from debacle of Luna-25, and sending its mission cautiously taking adequate time. After India confirmed the availability of water in lunar mission Chandrayaan-1, many countries are seeing the possibility of economic activities on the moon. Therefore, many countries will launch their moon mission shortly speeding up the race.