Date
August 23, 2023 around 6:04 PM IST
India's Chandrayaan-3 made history by achieving a soft landing on Moon's South Pole, triggering jubilant celebrations at the mission control centre.
ISRO's initial pursuit to explore water on the Moon with Chandrayaan-1 has culminated in a triumphant reality with Chandrayaan-3's successful landing on the South Pole. This region, rich in ice, presents opportunities for extracting essential resources like water, oxygen, and fuel, potentially paving the way for future crewed lunar missions.
The pain of Chandrayaan-2's Vikram lander losing contact in the crucial final minutes was a profound lesson. Supported by PM Modi, former ISRO chief and the team transformed the "fifteen minutes of terror"—a term that symbolized the unsuccessful first attempt—into knowledge and resilience. This time around, India turned those lessons into success with Chandrayaan-3.
The pain of Chandrayaan-2's Vikram lander losing contact in the crucial final minutes was a profound lesson. Supported by PM Modi, former ISRO chief and the team transformed the "fifteen minutes of terror"—a term that symbolized the unsuccessful first attempt—into knowledge and resilience. This time around, India turned those lessons into success with Chandrayaan-3.
The final 15 minutes of Chandrayaan-3's descent were filled with anticipation and tension, divided into four critical phases:
The lander's horizontal speed was dramatically slowed from approximately 1,600 m/s to enable a controlled descent.
At an altitude of roughly 7.43 kilometers above the lunar surface, the lander transitioned from a horizontal to a vertical orientation, navigating autonomously without any intervention from ground control.
In this delicate stage, the lander's altitude was adjusted to 800 meters, setting up the transition to the ultimate phase of descent.
Marking the culmination of the mission, this was the decisive moment when the fully vertical lander gracefully made contact with the Moon's surface.
As reported by ISRO Chairman S. Somanath, the landing velocity was successfully achieved at less than the targeted 2 meters per second, instilling confidence for upcoming missions. In the immediate future, an assessment of the lander's condition will be conducted, and preparations will be made for the rover to embark from the lander within the next few hours.
The success of Chandrayaan-3 is a testament to collaboration and diversity. According to reports, approximately 54 female engineers and scientists played key roles in this mission. Serving as associate and deputy project directors and managers of various systems, they were instrumental across different centers, highlighting the integral role of women in space exploration.
While attending the 15th BRICS Summit in South Africa, Indian Prime Minister Modi celebrated ISRO's landmark accomplishment with Chandrayaan-3. He commended the team for their "unprecedented feat," declaring it a significant moment in history and heralding a new era of development and innovation for India.
Following Chandrayaan-3's triumphant touchdown on the Lunar South Pole, the world turned its eyes to India's remarkable accomplishment. From across the globe, messages of congratulations and admiration began to flood in, reflecting international recognition and praise.