Chandrayaan-3 is India’s third mission to the Moon. It is the first mission to land a lander and rover on the lunar south pole. Chandrayaan-2 was India’s second mission to the Moon. The mission is a follow-up of Chandrayaan-2 mission, which failed a desired soft landing on the lunar surface nearly four years ago due to a technical glitch in September 2019.
Images: ISRO
Chandrayyan-3 launched on 14 July 2023, has successfully landed today evening (August 23), at around 6.04 p.m. IST on the South Pole of the Moon. With the landing on the Moon, India has become the fourth country in the world to achieve this mark and the first to touchdown on the South Pole, an unknown territory that scientists believe could hold vital reserves of frozen water and precious elements.
As the Chandrayaan-3 landed on the lunar surface, ISRO chief S Somanath said, “We have achieved a soft landing on the Moon.”
Addressing ISRO, PM Modi said, “No country has reached the South Pole of the Moon before. With the hard work of our scientists, we have reached there. India’s successful Moon mission is not just India’s alone. This success belongs to all of humanity.”
PM Narendra Modi also said that “When we see such historic moments it makes us very proud.”
How Chandrayaan-3 will leave imprints of the ISRO and the National Emblem
Images: ISRO
The rover on the lunar surface will be doing more than just gathering data. The rear wheels of the rover, named Pragyan, leave imprints of the ISRO and the National Emblem, depicting the Lion Capital of Ashoka at Sarnath, on the lunar surface – symbolising its presence and leaving India’s mark behind.
How NASA and ESA Supported ISRO
NASA and ESA, the American and European space agencies, provided support to ISRO for the Chandrayaan-3 mission. NASA provided its Deep Space Network to track and communicate with the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft and ESA provided its Proba-2 satellite to help with navigation and communication.
The support of NASA and ESA was important to the success of the Chandrayaan-3 mission.