India is endeavoring to become the fourth nation in history to achieve a controlled touchdown on the moon, as it successfully launched its Chandrayaan-3 mission on Friday.
Named after the Sanskrit term for “moon vehicle,” Chandrayaan-3 took off from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, around 2:30 p.m. local time.
A multitude of spectators gathered at the space center to witness this historic event, while over 1 million people watched the launch on YouTube.
The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) later confirmed on Twitter that Chandrayaan-3 had entered a “precise orbit” and embarked on its lunar journey, assuring that the spacecraft is in good condition.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his enthusiasm for the mission, stating that Chandrayaan-3 heralds a new chapter in India’s space exploration, uplifting the aspirations of every Indian.
He praised the unwavering dedication and ingenuity of the scientists involved, saluting their achievements.
The spacecraft is scheduled to touch down on the moon’s surface on August 23. This marks India’s second attempt at a soft landing, following the unsuccessful Chandrayaan-2 mission in 2019.
The previous Chandrayaan-1 mission orbited the moon before intentionally crash-landing in 2008.
Chandrayaan-3, developed by the ISRO, comprises a lander, propulsion module, and rover. Its objective is to land safely on the lunar surface, gather data, and conduct scientific experiments to enhance our understanding of the moon’s composition.
Soft-landing a spacecraft on the moon has been achieved by only three other countries: the United States, Russia, and China.
Indian engineers have dedicated years to the preparation of this mission, aiming to land Chandrayaan-3 in the challenging terrain of the moon’s unexplored South Pole.
India’s initial lunar mission, Chandrayaan-1, discovered water molecules on the moon’s surface. Although the Chandrayaan-2 successfully entered lunar orbit, its rover crash-landed.
Both missions aimed to explore the moon’s South Pole.
Despite the setback, Prime Minister Modi praised the engineers involved and affirmed India’s commitment to its space program and ambitions.
Ahead of Friday’s launch, Modi stated that this day would be forever remembered in India’s space sector. He expressed that this remarkable mission carries the hopes and dreams of the nation.
India has invested approximately $75 million in the Chandrayaan-3 mission. Modi mentioned that the rocket will cover a distance of over 300,000 kilometers (186,411 miles) and reach the moon in the following weeks.
