India marked a significant achievement as its Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft successfully landed on the moon, making it the fourth nation to achieve this milestone.
This accomplishment follows shortly after a failed attempt by a Russian spacecraft.
With this successful landing near the uncharted south pole, India joined a select group, previously comprising only the U.S., the former Soviet Union, and China.
This event has further elevated India’s profile in 2023, a year in which it overtook China as the most populous country and is set to host the G20 summit in New Delhi.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, watching from South Africa, praised the ISRO team.
He emphasized, “India’s moon mission success belongs to the entire world,” highlighting India’s G20 presidency and its vision of ‘one earth, one family, one future.’
Modi expressed optimism that such achievements inspire nations globally to reach for the stars.
Launched on July 14, Chandrayaan-3 comprised an indigenous lander, a propulsion module, and a rover.
This mission followed the Chandrayaan-2 attempt in 2019, which faced setbacks moments before landing due to a technical issue.
India’s maiden moon mission, Chandrayaan-1 in 2008, confirmed water on the moon through its orbital path.
Recent moon missions by other countries like Russia, Israel, and Japan have highlighted the complexity of lunar landings.
Despite challenges, India’s ISRO remained optimistic, showcasing images from the moon ahead of the landing.
Equipped with cameras, Chandrayaan-3 aims to ensure a safe landing, deploy the rover, and facilitate moon research.
This lunar mission precedes India’s inaugural manned space mission, “Gaganyaan,” planned for the coming year.
The ISRO expressed the landing’s impact, emphasizing its inspiration for future explorations and celebrating India’s technological and scientific advancements.