India has embarked on an ambitious mission to become the fourth country in history to achieve a controlled landing on the moon. The Chandrayaan-3 mission, meaning “moon vehicle” in Sanskrit, was successfully launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in southern Andhra Pradesh state. The launch drew massive crowds at the space center and garnered over 1 million viewers on YouTube.
The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) confirmed that Chandrayaan-3 is now in a precise orbit and has begun its journey to the moon. Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the historic achievement, praising the dedication and ingenuity of the scientists behind the mission.
Chandrayaan-3 is India’s second attempt at a soft landing on the moon. The previous attempt with Chandrayaan-2 in 2019 was unsuccessful. The mission consists of a lander, propulsion module, and rover, all developed by ISRO. Its primary objective is to safely land on the lunar surface, collect data, and conduct scientific experiments to enhance our understanding of the moon’s composition.
India’s pursuit of a lunar landing is significant as only the United States, Russia, and China have accomplished this feat thus far. Indian engineers have been diligently working on the mission for years, aiming to land Chandrayaan-3 near the challenging terrain of the moon’s unexplored South Pole.
This mission follows the successes of India’s previous lunar missions. Chandrayaan-1, India’s maiden lunar mission in 2008, discovered water molecules on the moon’s surface. Chandrayaan-2, launched in 2019, successfully entered lunar orbit but encountered a rover crash-landing. Despite the setback, Prime Minister Modi vowed to continue pushing forward with India’s space program.
The Chandrayaan-3 mission, with an approximate cost of $75 million, marks another significant milestone in India’s space journey. Prime Minister Modi highlighted that the rocket will cover over 300,000 kilometers (186,411 miles) to reach the moon in the coming weeks.
India’s space program has come a long way since its humble beginnings more than six decades ago. Today, India is the world’s most populous nation and the fifth-largest economy, with a growing young population and a thriving hub of innovation and technology. Under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, India has made notable advancements in its space program, including reaching Mars in 2014 and launching a record 104 satellites in 2017.
The country’s space ambitions extend beyond the moon and Mars. India has plans to establish an independent space station by 2030, along with proposals for a Venus orbiter. These initiatives have attracted global attention and have opened doors for collaboration in the space economy, as demonstrated during Prime Minister Modi’s recent meeting with US President Joe Biden.
As India continues to push boundaries in space exploration, Chandrayaan-3 serves as a testament to the nation’s rising prominence on the global stage. The mission not only fuels scientific discovery but also inspires future generations to dream big and reach for the stars.