On August 23, 2023 at 6:04 pm IST, India’s Chandrayaan-3 landed on moon as well as in the history books! The spacecraft made a successful soft-landing on the moon’s south pole. This was the first time any country had landed a spacecraft successfully on this part of the moon. It is surely a monumental achievement in space exploration not just for India, but for all the curious minds in the world that have always kept pushing the boundaries.
While Chandrayaan-1 created history in 2008 for its instrumental role in discovering water, its descendants Chandrayaan-2 and Chandrayaan-3 have glorified this history further. The landing on the moon’s south pole was a challenging task, as the region is heavily cratered and has a thin atmosphere. However, India’s space agency, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), had been preparing for this landing for many years.
The Chandrayaan-3 got into an involuntary space race with Russia’s Luna-25 to reach moon’s south pole. Unfortunately, Luna-25 was unable to achieve a successful landing and crashed on moon while attempting to land. Success of this mission will surely boost the new space race which seems to be healthier than the one we have seen in history.
More about Chandrayaan-3
This mission was launched on July 14, 2023, from India’s Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. A successor mission to Chandrayaan-2, that aims to demonstrate end-to-end capability in safe landing and roving on the lunar surface.
The mission objectives of Chandrayaan-3 are:
- To demonstrate Safe and Soft Landing on Lunar Surface
- To demonstrate Rover roving on the moon and
- To conduct scientific experiments.
ISRO conducted extensive simulations of the landing, and it also developed a number of new technologies to help ensure a safe landing. For example, the Chandrayaan-3 lander has a new system that will help it to identify and avoid obstacles on the lunar surface.
The successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 is a major milestone for India’s space program and a significant step forward in the journey of space exploration. It is a result of the hard work and dedication of scientists and engineers at ISRO.
Lander (Vikram) & Rover (Pragyan)
Lander (Vikram) has achieved a successful soft-landing and it has to let out the rover (Pragyan) which is sitting inside comfortably. The Pragyan rover from Chandrayaan-3 is expected to work for one lunar day, which is equivalent to 14 Earth days. The rover is powered by solar energy, and it will only be able to operate during the lunar day. The lunar night is very long and cold, and the rover would not be able to survive the harsh conditions.
The Pragyan rover is equipped with a number of scientific instruments, including a camera, a spectrometer, and a magnetometer. The rover will use these instruments to study the moon’s surface, its atmosphere, and its magnetic field. The rover will also collect samples of the lunar soil and rock.
The Pragyan rover is a major milestone for India’s space program. It is the first rover to be sent to the moon’s south pole, and it is the first rover to be built and operated by India. The success of the Pragyan rover will pave the way for future missions to the moon, including missions to explore the lunar south pole in more detail.
ISRO’s phenomenal journey
The journey to the moon is not an easy stroll, and it becomes even more remarkable when we spool back to ISRO’s modest origins.
Established in 1969, ISRO launched its maiden satellite Aryabhata in 1975, taking a ride on Russian rocket. In the initial days, ISRO had very limited resources and funding. While launching first rocket, scientists transported the parts to be assembled by bicycle. From that point, achieving this incredible feat is nothing short of miracle.
The Indian Space Research Organization, ISRO, born just in couple of decades after getting independence, defied all odds to orchestrate a symphony of space achievements that continue to reverberate through time.
The successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 is a source of pride for all Indians. It is a reminder that India is a major player in the field of space exploration and that it is capable of such historic feats as well.
The Success Trail
Luna 2, world’s first lunar mission by then USSR and USA’s (NASA) Apollo 11 were pioneering missions in space odyssey. Neil Armstrong’s step on moon opened up new horizons for whole world. Today, we have reached on the other side of the moon. We as a human race have grown through imagination, innovation and exploration. Let’s hope we continue doing that with the help of such missions.
The successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 is a major victory for India and a historic moment for the world. It is a proof of human ingenuity and the curiosity that has always made us seek answers from the universe.
The word ‘Chandrayaan’, comes from Sanskrit language and its meaning is ‘moon craft’ or ‘moon vehicle’. It has lived up to its name and carried billions of hopes along with ‘Vikram Lander’ and ‘Pragyan Rover’.
India’s space program has exciting missions lined up – Gaganyaan (Crewed Orbital spacecraft), Aditya L1 (1st Indian mission to study the Sun), Shukrayaan-1 (Venus Orbiter). These missions will surely take-off to complete a successful journey from the runway that Chandrayaan-3 has built, just now!
