In a surprising financial revelation, India’s Chandrayaan-3 lunar mission, with a cost of Rs 615 crore, has emerged as a fiscally frugal endeavor when compared to the budgets of certain blockbuster movies. Notably, this cost is lower than the budget of the upcoming film ‘Adipurush’ (budget: Rs 700 crore). When converted to US dollars, Chandrayaan-3’s budget of $75 million is even more cost-effective than two prominent Hollywood movies that currently dominate the global box office – Greta Gerwig’s ‘Barbie’ ($145 million) and Christopher Nolan’s ‘Oppenheimer’ ($100 million).
Chandrayaan-3’s budget, while economically commendable, is also notably lower than the expenditure associated with some of the most acclaimed cinematic ventures. For instance, Christopher Nolan’s space-themed film ‘Interstellar’ (2013), featuring an Indian solar-powered drone among other awe-inspiring machines, was produced at a staggering cost of $165 million. It’s important to note that these budgets are not adjusted for inflation, making Chandrayaan-3’s achievement even more remarkable in terms of financial efficiency.
Drawing parallels between space exploration and space-inspired cinema, Ridley Scott’s ‘The Martian’ (2015), starring Matt Damon, was created with a budget of $106 million. Comparing this to Chandrayaan-3’s cost, the lunar mission once again emerges as an impressively cost-effective venture.
To provide a broader context, Chandrayaan-3’s budget is also remarkably lower than the average listed prices of various Boeing aircraft, some of which Air India recently ordered. For instance, Air India’s order for 737 MAX aircraft is priced at $128.25 million each, and the 787-9 and 777-9 models are priced at $292.50 million and $442.20 million respectively. Even when comparing the prices of the 250 Airbus planes that Air India has secured, Chandrayaan-3’s budget remains comparatively modest.
When comparing likes and achievements, Chandrayaan-3’s groundbreaking lunar mission comes at a fraction of the cost of some other space exploration ventures. The mission’s budget is significantly lower than Russia’s failed Luna 25 mission (estimated at $200 million or more than Rs 1,600 crore) and China’s pioneering Chang’e probe (1.4 billion yuan or $219 million).
In a world where grand cinematic productions often attract enormous budgets, Chandrayaan-3’s financial efficiency is a testament to India’s capabilities in executing ambitious space missions while being mindful of fiscal prudence. The mission’s ability to achieve so much with comparatively modest resources showcases the nation’s commitment to space exploration and scientific advancement.
