The Indian Space Research Organisation launched its second lunar expedition, Chandrayaan-2, in July 2019. Its lander, Vikram, was slated to touch the moon’s surface on the 6th of September. However, the landmark event was hampered on account of a crash that disrupted communication with the home station.
The anti-climax left thousands across social media, living rooms and board rooms alike at the edge of their seats. When things don’t go as per plans at work, whether in space or in office, there’s much to learn.
Have a little faith
NASA didn’t give up when the first crewed US Apollo mission didn’t succeed and look where they are today!
As India’s PM, Narendra Modi said, “The two greatest lessons I have received from Chandrayaan-2 are faith and fearlessness. We should trust our talents and capacities; we should have faith in them.” Failures are, after all, the stepping stones to success.
Handle with care
Criticism and disappointment can be harsh and difficult to respond to. The failed moon mission already weighed heavily upon everyone at ISRO, including the Chief. As a leader in the 21st century, you can reveal your vulnerability. The PM too set an example for millions of Indians to follow, in recognising the team’s efforts and supporting and encouraging them to move forward.
Hard work pays
At first, Chandrayan-2’s Vikram Lander was lost just 2.1 km from the moon’s surface. Not only did Chandrayaan-2 find the Lander through its high-resolution space imaging, but even if the Lander doesn’t rev up again, the spacecraft will continue to orbit around the moon and take pictures for the next seven years. So, you see, all isn’t lost, after all!
All the efforts our Indian scientists made, have resulted in the Indian Space Research Organisation earning its place on the global space research table. Not only do our scientists share the pain of failure, but they also know what it takes to get there.
Take the risk
While 100 per cent is yours to give, it is not the guarantee of the outcome of your efforts. All possible calculations were made for the mission to succeed at every milestone, but assuming that it would succeed in landing and returning to planet earth was a far cry. It is the satisfaction of having done everything within human intellect and power to accomplish the feat itself that is commendable in the case of the second moon mission. Failures open new avenues for exploration and even reveal solutions for long term success.
Stay consistent
To orbit, but not get sucked back into the Earth’s atmosphere the spacecraft had to reach a speed of 28,000 kmph. Only once this stability was reached could the craft start moving away towards its goal. In our work lives, we too must stay on our path, whether in terms of the quality of our work, our ethic, or our professional demeanour. Only if the baseline of our professional behaviour is high can we focus on climbing the ladder of success in our careers.
