SAN FRANCISCO (Diya TV) — India has embarked on its Chandrayaan-3 mission, aiming to become the fourth nation to achieve a controlled landing on the moon. The mission successfully launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in Andhra Pradesh state. Crowds witnessed the historic event at the space center, with over a million people tuning in on YouTube to watch the launch.
The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) confirmed that Chandrayaan-3 is now in a precise orbit and has commenced its journey towards the moon. The spacecraft’s health is reported to be normal. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to celebrate the milestone, recognizing the dedication of the country’s scientists.
Scheduled to land on August 23, Chandrayaan-3 is India’s second attempt at a soft landing, following the unsuccessful Chandrayaan-2 mission in 2019. The mission comprises a lander, propulsion module, and rover, with the goal of safely reaching the lunar surface, collecting data, and conducting scientific experiments to study the moon’s composition.
Achieving a soft landing on the moon is a complex feat accomplished only by the United States, Russia, and China. India’s engineers have been working on the mission for years, specifically targeting the challenging terrain of the moon’s unexplored South Pole.
India’s space program has made significant strides since its inception, with Chandrayaan-1 discovering water molecules on the moon’s surface in 2008. Despite the rover crash-landing, Chandrayaan-2 successfully entered lunar orbit in 2019. India’s space ambitions under Prime Minister Modi have propelled the country’s prominence on the global stage.
The Chandrayaan-3 mission represents another milestone in India’s space sector, bolstering the nation’s aspirations and technological prowess. With a rapidly growing population and a thriving innovation and technology hub, India is positioning itself as a key player in space exploration. The country has already achieved milestones such as reaching Mars in 2014 and launching a record 104 satellites in a single mission in 2017.
India’s space program continues to attract investments, making it one of the country’s most promising sectors. The recent meeting between Indian Prime Minister Modi and US President Joe Biden highlighted the desire for increased collaboration in the space economy. India’s ambitious plans extend beyond the moon and Mars, with proposals for an orbiter to Venus and aspirations to establish an independent space station by 2030.
As India ventures further into the realm of space exploration, the world watches with anticipation, recognizing the nation’s remarkable progress and future potential in the field of space technology.
