The Shattered Glass

September 6th 2019.

It wasn’t a regular TGIF for the nation. Every Indian was glued to the TV or mobile phone, waiting for the historical landing of Chandryaan-2 on the moon’s South pole at a spot named the Tiranga Point. Hearts raced as the lander Vikram began its descent. The countdown began; anticipation was at all-time high. Just 2.1 kilometers (1.3 miles) away from the monumental achievement, the nation held its breath.

Then silence.

The communication with the Vikram was lost. What should have been a confirmation of smooth landing turned into shock as ISRO’s live feed abruptly halted. Chandrayaan-2’s lander had crashed.

ISRO Chief Dr. K Sivan was seen wiping away tears and consoled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The nation which had been cheering moments before, collectively felt the heart-break. It wasn’t just the crash of the lander but was 12 years of hard-work, precision and passion crumbled at the moment when success was at reach.

?

The question that lingered in my mind was:

How does one come out of such a failure?

How can individuals and teams rebuild after seeing the efforts crash right in front of the eyes?

?

Is Being Resilient Easy?

Resilience - the ability to bounce after a setback - is often glorified. But the reality of it is far from simple. It requires strength, persistence, and mindset shift that doesn’t happen overnight. The ISRO team, just like many of us when faced with failure, had to dig deep to find that resilience.

Failures are devastating. They question one’s abilities, worth, and even the future. But what separates those who grow from failures and those who falter is how they respond to these challenges.

?

Here’s how individuals, teams, and organizations can cultivate resilience, drawing inspiration from ISRO’s handling of the Chandrayaan-2's failure

?

1. Acknowledge the Emotional Impact

Failure, especially after long-term dedication, is painful. ISRO’s leadership didn’t shy away from this. Dr. Sivan openly expressed his emotions, allowing the team and the nation to understand that it’s okay to feel disappointment, sorrow, or frustration.

?Acknowledging emotions is not a sign of weakness, but a necessary step in healing. Allowing oneself to grieve the loss - be it a failed project, a missed opportunity. Suppressing these feelings can prolong recovery. Emotional transparency helps one process the failure and makes it easier to move forward with clarity.

?

2. Reflect and Learn

Resilience comes not from avoiding failure but from learning from it. After the Chandrayaan-2's failure, ISRO immediately initiated an investigation into what went wrong. They formed an independent Failure Analysis Committee to assess the technical glitches, focusing on how the lander’s braking system malfunctioned during the final descent.

For projects, reflection is key. Ask: What went wrong? What could have been done differently? Take time to evaluate the situation objectively, without judgment. This is where growth happens. The lessons extracted from failure often lay the foundation for future success.

?

3. Reframe the Failure

It’s important to shift the perspective on failure. While Vikram’s landing attempt failed, the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter was still a resounding success, continuing to send valuable data from lunar orbit. ISRO didn’t let the lander’s crash overshadow the achievements of the orbiter, reminding themselves and the public that partial success is still success.

In life and work, even if one goal isn’t fully realized, focus on the smaller victories within the journey. This reframing allows us to see the broader picture and not dwell on the setback. Every failure teaches a lesson that contributes to future accomplishments.

?

4. Build a Support System

When the going gets tough, having a support system can make all the difference. ISRO’s team didn’t face their disappointment alone. The support of Prime Minister Modi, who famously embraced Dr. Sivan after the failure, became a symbol of the nation standing behind ISRO.

Teams need the same kind of support when facing adversity. Having people - colleagues, friends, mentors - who can offer encouragement, advice, and even a listening ear can help speed up recovery. Resilience isn’t built in isolation; it’s a collective strength.

?

5. Persevere and Try Again

True resilience lies in the decision to try again. After the Chandrayaan-2's failure, ISRO wasted no time planning its next lunar mission, Chandrayaan-3, to make another attempt at a soft landing. They didn’t let one failure define their capabilities or their future in space exploration.

Perseverance is the hallmark of resilience. It’s about taking action after failure. Whether it’s revising a project, learning a new skill, or finding a different path to achieve one’s goals, what matters is that you keep moving forward. Setbacks may slow you down, but they don’t have to stop you.

6. Focus on Long-Term Vision

Despite the setback, ISRO stayed focused on its long-term vision of advancing India’s space program. They kept pushing forward, planning new missions and projects, showing that one failure doesn’t derail the broader mission.

Similarly, resilience is about keeping one’s eyes on the long-term goal, even when short-term failures happen. Having a clear vision of where one wants to go helps maintain motivation and drive, even in the face of obstacles.

?

Resilience, A Journey

Resilience is not an innate trait - it’s a learned skill, cultivated through experience and reflection. The Chandrayaan-2's setback was undoubtedly painful for ISRO, but it didn’t define their journey. Instead, it became a lesson, a stepping stone towards their future endeavors.

Being resilient isn’t easy, but it’s possible. It’s about accepting failure, learning from it, and most importantly, trying again. Whether you’re leading a team, working on personal goals, or chasing a dream, the ability to rise after a fall is what truly determines success.

In the words of Prime Minister Modi to the ISRO team: “There will be a new dawn, and it will be brighter than ever.”

Chandrayaan-2 may not have fully landed, but it laid the groundwork for future success, a testament to the resilience that we all strive to embody in the face of setbacks.