Chandrayaan-3: India Makes History, Out of 195 Countries, Only India has Successfully Landed on the Moon’s South Pole

India’s Chandrayaan-3 has successfully touched down on the moon’s South Pole. This historic event not only marks India’s first successful lunar landing but also a significant stride for humanity’s exploration of the cosmos.

The Chandrayaan-3 mission’s success is not merely a national triumph for India but a global one. It symbolizes the potential of nations from the Global South to achieve remarkable technological feats. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s exclamation, “India is now on the moon,” resonates with a sense of collective accomplishment that transcends borders.

The landing site, situated just over 600 km from the South Pole at 69.4 degrees south latitude, will be a new frontier for scientific exploration. The 26 kg heavy rover, along with other instruments on the lander, is set to unravel the mysteries of the lunar surface.

Chandrayaan-3 Mission

The path to success was not without its hurdles. The Chandrayaan-3 mission comes after a series of failed attempts by various countries, including India’s previous mission, Chandrayaan-2. The Russian Luna-25, Japanese Hakuto-R, and Israeli Beresheet missions all met with failure, underscoring the complexity and risks involved in lunar exploration.

The Chandrayaan-3 mission’s conservative flight profile, involving a high Earth orbit and several stages of increment, was a strategic approach to mitigate risks. This method allowed greater flexibility to respond to deviations from planned maneuvers, a lesson learned from the loss of Luna-25.

The Race to the Moon Continues

Chandrayaan-3’s success heralds the beginning of a new era of lunar missions. With an American lander scheduled for November, a Japanese lunar lander launching later this week, and seven more missions planned for 2024, the race to the moon is heating up. China’s Chang’e 6 mission, with its sophisticated and reliable technology, currently leads the pack.

India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission has not only etched its name in the annals of space history but also ignited a renewed passion for lunar exploration.