Additionally, Chandrayaan-3 is less expensive than the typical advertised price of any Boeing aircraft, for which Air India just made an order.
Chandrayaan-3, India’s lunar blockbuster, cost the country Rs 615 crore. If the amount is converted to US dollars ($75 million), it is less expensive than the two Hollywood films currently dominating the global box office: Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” ($145 million) and Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” ($100 million).
In fact, the production of Christopher Nolan’s 2013 space film, “Interstellar,” which is set in the future and includes an Indian solar-powered drone in addition to other amazing technology, cost $165 million. Note that the budget has not been adjusted for inflation.
While we’re talking about films with a space travel theme, it’s important to keep in mind that Ridley Scott’s 2015 picture “The Martian,” which stars Matt Damon, cost $106 million to make.
Air India has placed an order for three Boeing models, the 737 MAX ($128.25 million each), the 787-9 ($292.50 million), and the 777.9 ($442.20 million), all of which are more expensive than Chandrayaan-3.
If we compare the costs of the 250 Airbus planes Air-India has agreed to buy with the 220 of these aircraft it has bought, Chandrayaan-3 is likewise less expensive.
Each Airbus 320neo costs $110.60 million. A350-1000 ($366.50 million) and A350-900 ($317.40 million) are more expensive than Chandrayaan-3 ($129.50 million), which is also less expensive than an Airbus 321neo ($129.50 million).
And if likes were to be compared, then Russia’s failed Luna 25 mission (estimated at $200 million or more than Rs 1,600 crore) and of course China’s first Chang’e probe (1.4 billion yuan or $219 million) would have cost significantly more than ISRO’s ground-breaking journey to the dark side of the Moon, the lunar South Pole.
