On Wednesday, the Chandrayaan 3 — an Indian spacecraft — became the first to land on the unexplored south pole of the moon.
Nearly 7 million people watched the landing’s YouTube live stream. Scientists and officials clapped and hugged each other as the spacecraft landed and people across the country broke out in celebration, setting off firecrackers and dancing in the streets.
“India is on the moon,” said S. Somanath, chief of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The organisation also shared pictures from the spacecraft, showing the moon’s surface and the leg and shadow of the lander.
Feeling the fervour all the way from Johannesburg for Chandrayaan-3!
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 23, 2023
The enthusiasm of our diaspora in South Africa for India's achievements in the space sector is truly gladdening. pic.twitter.com/ApPdiQI9Fd
Significance and Goal
The successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 makes India the fourth nation to successfully land a spacecraft on the moon after the US, China, and the former Soviet Union. Notably, the Chandrayaan-3 was launched with a budget of only $74 million.
While rough terrain made a South Pole landing challenging, scientists believe that the surface area of the South Pole, which remains in permanent shadow, could hold huge reserves of frozen water.
In this light, one of the mission’s main goals is to look for signs of water-based ice, which scientists say, could support human habitation on the Moon in future. Potentially, it could also be used to make spacecraft fuel for those headed to Mars and other distant destinations.
The spacecraft is expected to remain functional for two weeks, during which it will run a series of experiments, including a spectrometer analysis of the mineral composition of the moon’s surface.
The landing is thus crucial for lunar exploration and a mark of India’s standing as a space power.
Chandrayaan-3 Mission:
— ISRO (@isro) August 23, 2023
'India🇮🇳,
I reached my destination
and you too!'
: Chandrayaan-3
Chandrayaan-3 has successfully
soft-landed on the moon 🌖!.
Congratulations, India🇮🇳!#Chandrayaan_3#Ch3
International Reactions
Indian PM Narendra Modi, who waved the Indian flag while watching the landing from South Africa, where he is attending a BRICS summit, said: “This moment is unforgettable. It is phenomenal. This is a victory cry of a new India.”
Russia, whose first moon mission in 47 years failed when its Luna-25 spacecraft crashed into the moon during pre-landing less than a week ago, also congratulated India on its success.
In a message to Modi published on the Kremlin website, President Vladimir Putin said: “This is a big step forward in space exploration, and of course, a testament to the impressive progress made by India in the field of science and technology.”
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson also congratulated the ISRO on the moon landing.
“Congratulations to India on being the 4th country to successfully soft-land a spacecraft on the Moon. We’re glad to be your partner on this mission!” he said on the micro-blogging website X, formerly known as Twitter.
Josef Aschbacher, the director general of the European Space Agency, called Chandrayaan-3’s landing an “incredible” event.
“What a way to demonstrate new technologies and achieve India’s first soft landing on another celestial body. Well done. I am thoroughly impressed,” he said.