India has achieved a remarkable feat in its space program by successfully landing its third lunar exploration mission, Chandrayaan-3, on the moon’s south pole on August 23, 2023. This is the first time any country has landed a spacecraft on this region of the moon, which is believed to have water ice and other resources that could be useful for future human exploration.🌕
Chandrayaan-3 consists of a lander named Vikram and a rover named Pragyan, similar to those of the previous Chandrayaan-2 mission, which failed to make a soft landing in 2019. The lander and rover were carried by a propulsion module that acted like an orbiter and provided communication and navigation support. The mission was launched on June 15, 2023, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.🚀
The lander touched down on the lunar surface at 6:04 pm IST, after a tense 15-minute descent that involved several maneuvers to avoid craters and boulders. The rover then rolled out of the lander and began its exploration of the lunar terrain. The lander and rover are expected to operate for one lunar day (14 Earth days) and send back scientific data and images using the orbiter as a relay.🛰️
The main objectives of Chandrayaan-3 are to demonstrate India’s capability to perform a soft landing on the moon and to conduct scientific experiments on the lunar surface. The lander and rover are equipped with several instruments to study the lunar topography, mineralogy, elemental abundance, lunar exosphere and signatures of hydroxyl and water ice. The mission also aims to enhance India’s cooperation with other space-faring nations and inspire young generations of scientists and engineers.👩🚀👨🚀
Chandrayaan-3 is a proud moment for India and a milestone for its space program, which has been making rapid strides in recent years. The mission has received praise and congratulations from various national and international leaders, celebrities and organizations. It has also generated a lot of excitement and curiosity among the public, who watched the live telecast of the landing on various platforms.👏👏👏
India’s Chandrayaan-3 is not only a scientific achievement but also a symbol of hope and resilience for a nation that has faced many challenges and hardships due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The mission shows that India can overcome any obstacle with determination, innovation and teamwork. It also shows that India is ready to take its rightful place among the leading space powers of the world.🇮🇳