India Launches Chandrayaan-3 Mission in Bid for Controlled Moon Landing
India is embarking on a new space mission, aiming to become only the fourth country to successfully execute a controlled landing on the moon. The Chandrayaan-3 mission is set to launch from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota, India on July 13, 2023.
Chandrayaan, which means “moon vehicle” in Sanskrit, is India’s second attempt at a soft landing on the lunar surface. The country’s previous effort with the Chandrayaan-2 in 2019 failed, while its first lunar probe, the Chandrayaan-1, successfully orbited the moon in 2008 before intentionally crashing onto its surface.
Developed by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), Chandrayaan-3 consists of a lander, propulsion module, and rover. The mission’s goal is to safely land on the lunar surface, gather data, and conduct scientific experiments to further understand the moon’s composition.
Achieving a soft landing on the moon’s surface is a challenging feat accomplished by only three other countries – the United States, Russia, and China. Indian engineers have been working meticulously on the Chandrayaan-3 mission for years, with a specific focus on landing near the unexplored South Pole of the moon.
India’s space program, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has been steadily progressing in recent years. The country’s maiden lunar mission, Chandrayaan-1, discovered water molecules on the moon’s surface in 2008. In 2014, India became the first Asian nation to reach Mars with the Mangalyaan probe. Three years later, the country launched a record 104 satellites in a single mission.
The Chandrayaan-3 mission, which has cost approximately $75 million, is yet another step in India’s space ambitions. In a tweet, Prime Minister Modi expressed his optimism, stating that the day of the launch “will always be etched in golden letters as far as India’s space sector is concerned.” He added that the mission carries the hopes and dreams of the nation.
India’s space program reflects its rising prominence on the global stage. The country’s aspirations have caught the attention of world leaders, including President Joe Biden, who expressed a desire for more collaboration in the space economy during a recent meeting with Prime Minister Modi.
As India’s space tech sector continues to thrive, the country is also looking beyond the moon and Mars. ISRO has proposed sending an orbiter to Venus, showcasing India’s ongoing space ambitions and its pursuit of scientific discoveries in the vast expanse of the universe.