The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully launched Chandrayaan-3, its ambitious mission aimed at achieving a soft landing on the moon’s surface. The launch took place from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota on July 14, 2023, at 2:35 PM IST.
The Chandrayaan-3 mission, consisting of a lander and a rover, is a follow-up to the Chandrayaan-2 mission, which, despite successfully deploying an orbiter around the moon, encountered difficulties during its landing attempt in 2019. Chandrayaan-3 is designed to build on the lessons learned from its predecessor and achieve India’s first successful soft landing on the lunar surface.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the scientists and engineers of ISRO for the successful launch. “The launch of Chandrayaan-3 is a testament to our scientists’ relentless dedication and the spirit of exploration. This mission is a significant step forward for India’s space program and our quest to understand the moon better,” Modi stated.
The launch vehicle, GSLV Mk III-M1, carried the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft into a geosynchronous transfer orbit. From there, the spacecraft will perform a series of complex maneuvers to reach a lunar orbit. The mission aims to explore the south pole region of the moon, which remains a largely unexplored area with potential for significant scientific discoveries.
ISRO Chairman Dr. K. Sivan expressed optimism about the mission’s prospects. “Chandrayaan-3 is a critical mission for us, and we have incorporated several improvements based on our experiences with Chandrayaan-2. We are confident that this mission will achieve its objectives and make India proud,” Dr. Sivan remarked.
The mission is expected to reach the moon’s surface in early 2024. If successful, India will join the ranks of the United States, Russia, and China as the only countries to have achieved a soft landing on the moon. The rover, once deployed, will conduct experiments and gather data on the lunar terrain, composition, and other scientific parameters.
The Chandrayaan-3 mission represents a significant milestone in India’s space exploration efforts and showcases the country’s growing capabilities in space technology and research.
