In a remarkable feat of scientific achievement, India’s space mission, Chandrayaan-3, successfully accomplished a soft landing at the lunar south pole. This triumphant moment follows a complex descent maneuver onto the previously unexplored southern face of the Moon.
Chandrayaan-3’s executive director of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), Sreedhara Panicker, proudly declared, “We have achieved a smooth landing on the moon.” This achievement has elevated India to become the fourth country in the world to achieve a lunar landing, a distinction shared only by the United States, Russia, and China.
Chandrayaan-3 Mission:
‘India🇮🇳,
I reached my destination
and you too!’
: Chandrayaan-3Chandrayaan-3 has successfully
soft-landed on the moon 🌖!.Congratulations, India🇮🇳!#Chandrayaan_3#Ch3
— ISRO (@isro) August 23, 2023
Embarking on a 40-day journey since its launch on July 14th, utilizing India’s largest and heaviest launch vehicle, Chandrayaan-3’s successful landing marks a significant milestone for the nation’s space endeavors.
A Triumph Over Setbacks: From Chandrayaan-2’s Failure to Chandrayaan-3’s Success
This achievement holds particular significance for India, given the setback faced in 2019 with its predecessor, Chandrayaan-2. The earlier mission, which shared the same lunar landing objective, encountered failure during the critical deceleration maneuver required for a lunar surface touch-down.
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India PM Modi’s First Statement On The Landing Of Chandrayaan 3
Historic day for India’s space sector. Congratulations to @isro for the remarkable success of Chandrayaan-3 lunar mission. https://t.co/F1UrgJklfp
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 23, 2023
Recalling the memory of the Prime Minister consoling the then-ISRO chief, Kailasavadivoo Sivan, who was visibly emotional after Chandrayaan-2’s failure, the nation experienced a contrasting moment of joy and pride as Chandrayaan-3 successfully touched the lunar surface.
During this phase, the craft maintained a landing velocity of approximately 1.68 kilometers per second while being positioned horizontally. The maneuver required transitioning to a vertical position during descent, contingent upon precise mathematical calculations.
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As the lunar lander Chandrayaan-3 descended, the Mission Operations Complex (MOX), filled with scientists, special guests, and journalists, erupted in applause and embraces as the descent distance exceeded two kilometers in the countdown. The craft’s speed continued to decrease, surpassing the previous attempt’s benchmark.
With Chandrayaan-3’s successful lunar landing, India stands poised to further its exploration of the Moon, expanding humanity’s understanding of our celestial neighbor.
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