Chandrayaan 2, India’s ambitious second lunar mission is all set for a historic launch, 11 years after the project received clearance from former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. While people across the nation are waiting so intently for the lift-off of the spacecraft, it may so happen that there won’t be any launch all!
As India moves closer to its maiden Moon landing, little could anyone predict that Modi 2.0’s maiden budget would eclipse the mission. As it turns out, the recent hike in excise duties & cess on petrol and diesel could very well stall India’s space mission.
“You don’t understand the gravity of the situation. A spacecraft cannot run without fuel. At the given prices, we can only orbit around the planet and touchdown. We might have to cancel the launch. Our team Apollo-gises,” said an expert from ISRO.
“You can either have sky-rocketing fuel prices or a real rocket in the sky. Stop crying for the moon!” said Sitharaman before entering the Parliament today.
