Chandrayaan-3: A Successful Landing on the Moon

Chandrayaan-3: A Successful Landing on the Moon

In a historic moment for India, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has successfully landed its latest lunar mission, Chandrayaan-3, on the moon1. This monumental achievement has not only made India the fourth nation globally to accomplish a soft landing on the moon but also the first to land on the lunar south pole .

The Journey of Chandrayaan-3

Launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in South India’s Sriharikota island, Chandrayaan-3 embarked on its 41-day odyssey to the moon2. Unlike the swift transits of the Apollo missions in the 1960s and 1970s, which reached their lunar destination within days, India’s approach involved multiple orbits around Earth to gather momentum before embarking on its month-long trajectory toward the Moon2.

The Mission

The primary objective of Chandrayaan-3 (“moon vehicle” in Sanskrit) is to demonstrate safe landing and roving on the moon’s surface and conduct on-site scientific experiments1. The spacecraft, developed with a budget of less than $75 million, comprises a propulsion module, lander, and a rover that collectively carry seven scientific instruments1.

To overcome the problems encountered by its predecessor, Chandrayaan-3’s lander includes improved sensors, software, and propulsion systems. ISRO also carried out a number of simulations and additional testing to ensure a higher degree of ruggedness in the lander to achieve a successful landing1.

The Significance

The successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 has been met with nationwide jubilation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that Chandrayaan-3’s Lander Module’s successful landing sounds the bugle for a developed India3. The magnitude of this accomplishment reverberated throughout the nation, uniting citizens in a collective swell of pride and inspiration4.

The insights gained from the Chandrayaan-3 mission will aid in comprehending the lunar surface before future human landings. The U.S. plans to send humans to the lunar south pole, called Artemis III, as soon as 20251.

Looking Ahead

Chandrayaan-3 comes over 14 years after India launched its first moon landing mission in 2008. Although the lander-rover of Chandrayaan-2 crashed during touchdown, its orbiter is still in orbit and continuing its study of the moon1. The Chandrayaan-2 orbiter was instrumental in locating the landing spot for the Chandrayaan-3 lander and will continue to assist in sending signals to Earth for communication with the lander1.

In conclusion, this successful mission marks a significant milestone in India’s space exploration journey. It not only showcases India’s technological prowess but also paves the way for future space exploration programs.