India Achieves Historic Lunar Landing with Chandrayaan-3

 

India created history on August 23 by successfully landing its Chandrayaan-3 lander near the lunar south pole, becoming the first nation to achieve such a feat.

 

Launch and Journey to the Moon

 

Launched on July 14, 2023, the mission comprised the lunar lander Vikram and lunar rover Pragyan, both initially launched aboard Chandrayaan-2 in 2019. Chandrayaan-3, carrying the modules, was launched from Satish Dhawan Space Centre. The spacecraft entered lunar orbit by August 5 and landed on the moon’s south pole on August 23, covering a distance of nearly 384,000 km between the Earth and the Moon in 41 days.

 

 

Unique Lunar Landing at the South Pole

 

India joins a select group of countries, including China, Russia, and the U.S., in successfully landing on the moon. The south pole, the landing site, holds particular significance as no other country has ventured to this part of the moon.

 

Condition of Chandrayaan’s Modules

 

The India Space Research Organisation (ISRO) reports that each module, including the Pragyan rover and Vikram Lander, is in good condition. The Pragyan rover, having traveled 100 meters in unexplored territory, has entered “sleep mode” with a full charge. The Vikram Lander, responsible for transporting the rover, has also been put to sleep, preparing for its reawakening on September 22.

 

Celebrations and Prime Minister’s Address

 

As news of Chandrayaan-3’s successful landing spread, celebrations erupted in India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed ISRO scientists and the nation, emphasizing that the success of Chandrayaan-3 is not just about accelerating India’s growth but also fostering innovation. He highlighted the mission’s role in promoting sustainability and equality through space technology.

 

Rover’s Significant Discoveries

 

The Pragyan rover, operational over the past few days, has made significant discoveries. A laser on board facilitated the “first-ever in-situ original space measurements on the elemental composition of the surface near the south pole.” The rover identified various chemicals on lunar soil, including sulphur and oxygen. The instrument “unambiguously confirms” the presence of sulphur and revealed preliminary findings of aluminium, calcium, iron, chromium, titanium, manganese, silicon, and oxygen. ISRO is conducting further investigations regarding the presence of hydrogen.