Former Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) scientist Nambi Narayanan on Thursday hailed Chandrayaan-3 as a possible game-changer that may function an inspiration to the entire world. His feedback come on the eve of the launch of India’s bold moon mission. He added that the third lunar exploration mission is attempting to avoid the problems that happened with Chandrayaan-2.

”Chandrayaan-3 will certainly be a sport changer for India and I hope it is going to be profitable. India will grow to be an inspiration to the complete world. Let’s anticipate the launch and pray for the very best…” he said.

Talking to news agency PTI, Narayanan said that a successful landing will make India the fourth country – the others being the United States, China and the former Soviet Union – to achieve this feat. Apart from boosting the economy and development in the space sector, it will also improve India’s share from the present 2 per cent in the 600 billion-dollar industry.

Lauding private players in space technology, the aerospace scientist said that it enhances the scope for startups and more funding to enter the realm. “Many overseas nations might also land right here with their startups or add to an present startup,” Narayanan added.

Narayanan, who was at the centre of a conspiracy to frame him in an espionage case, said that indigenously developed technology is essential for a country to survive. “When in comparison with different nations, our spending for such missions is a pittance,” he noted.

Narayanan said we will have to wait till August 23 or 24 to know the success of the mission as the landing would take place on those dates.

He also talked about the need for establishing an Asian Space Agency (ASA) similar to the European Space Agency (ESA), with or without China, for taking up bigger space missions.

Chandrayan-2 managed to land on the Moon but failed to do a soft landing due to software and mechanical issues.

Chandrayaan-3 will be launched Friday at 2.35pm on Launch Vehicle Mark-3 rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. A day before the launch, a team ISRO scientists visited the Tirupati Venkatachalapathy Temple with a miniature model of Chandrayaan-3.

(With inputs from PTI)