India has made history by becoming the first nation to successfully land an unmanned craft near the Moon’s south pole.
The triumphant touchdown of Chandrayaan-3, translating to “Mooncraft” in Sanskrit, marks a significant milestone not only for the world’s most populous nation but also for the entire globe.
India’s ambitious space program has defied the odds, making space exploration more accessible and affordable. Amidst cheers and jubilation from mission control technicians, Chandrayaan-3 gently touched down at precisely 6:04 pm India time (1234 GMT).
This victory follows closely on the heels of a recent Russian probe crash in the same lunar region and comes four years after India’s previous attempt ended in disappointment.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a live broadcast from the BRICS diplomatic summit in South Africa, announced the mission’s resounding success, waving the Indian flag with pride.
In his address to the world, he proclaimed, “India’s successful moon mission is not just India’s alone. This success belongs to all of humanity.
“The Chandrayaan-3 mission has captured the imagination and fascination of the public since its launch nearly six weeks ago. Political leaders initiated Hindu prayer rituals to invoke blessings for the mission’s success, and schoolchildren across the nation watched with bated breath as the lunar touchdown unfolded on live classroom broadcasts.
Chandrayaan-3, in its journey to the Moon, undertook a significantly longer path than the Apollo missions of the 1960s and 1970s, which reached lunar orbit within a matter of days.
India opted for less powerful rockets compared to those used by the United States during the Apollo era.
Consequently, Chandrayaan-3 had to make multiple orbits around Earth to gain the necessary velocity for its month-long voyage. The lander, known as Vikram, which signifies “valour” in Sanskrit, separated from its propulsion module just last week.
Since entering lunar orbit on August 5, Vikram has been transmitting images of the Moon’s surface. With the successful landing of Vikram, the mission now enters an exciting phase where a solar-powered rover will embark on surface exploration, transmitting valuable data back to Earth over its two-week operational span.
India’s Chandrayaan-3 triumph not only signifies a remarkable technological achievement but also underscores the nation’s commitment to advancing space exploration on a global scale.
- Tags: India, Moon, South Pole
