Indian Lunar Rover Descends from Spacecraft Lander Near Moon’s South Pole
By ASHOK SHARMA Associated Press
August 24, 2023, 11:00 AM ET
• 3 min read
NEW DELHI — In a historic achievement for India, a lunar rover successfully descended from the lander of the country’s spacecraft near the moon’s south pole. The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) announced this groundbreaking moment, stating that the Chandrayan-3 Rover will now undertake a series of experiments over the next 14 days, including analyzing the mineral composition of the lunar surface.
As news of the successful touchdown spread, people throughout India gathered around televisions in offices, shops, and restaurants to witness this momentous occasion. The sight of the lander’s smooth landing resulted in celebrations of clapping, dancing, and exchanging of sweets. Scientists believe that the uncharted territory near the moon’s south pole may hold vital reserves of frozen water, making this achievement even more significant.
Newspaper headlines across India mirrored the excitement and pride of the nation. The Times of India declared, “India Goes Where No Nation’s Gone Before,” while the Indian Express proclaimed, “The moon is Indian.”
Ajay Bhargava, a New Delhi-based architect, expressed his joy at witnessing this incredible feat and emphasized that India’s scientists deserve all the credit for their hard work over the years. He believed that politicians should not take credit for this achievement.
The Chairman of ISRO, S. Somnath, revealed that the lander successfully touched down close to the center of the targeted landing zone, within 300 meters of the desired point. Somnath also shared that the rover is currently functioning well and has two scientific instruments, while the lander houses three instruments. All of them have been switched on sequentially.
“These instruments will study the moon’s mineral composition, atmosphere, and seismic activities,” Somnath stated.
India’s successful lunar landing comes after a failed attempt in 2019. With this accomplishment, India joins the United States, the Soviet Union, and China as the only countries to successfully land on the moon. This mission highlights India’s growing status as a technology and space powerhouse and aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of an ascendant country on the global stage.
The mission, which began over a month ago at an estimated cost of $75 million, has paved the way for India’s next venture—a manned lunar mission. Several countries and private companies have also shown interest in the moon’s south pole region due to the possibility of frozen water in its permanently shadowed craters, which could be valuable for future astronaut missions.
Interestingly, the success of India’s mission coincided with Russia’s Luna-25, which aimed to land in the same lunar region but tragically experienced an uncontrolled orbit and crash. This setback would have marked Russia’s first successful lunar landing in 47 years. The head of Russia’s state-controlled space corporation Roscosmos attributed the failure to the lack of expertise caused by the long gap in lunar research since the last Soviet mission to the moon in 1976.
With its fruitful journey in space dating back to the 1960s, India has launched satellites for its own use and for other countries. The country notably achieved orbit around Mars in 2014. Additionally, India plans to collaborate with the United States for its first mission to the International Space Station next year.
India’s successful lunar landing represents a significant milestone not only for the nation but also for the global scientific community. As the country continues to make strides in space exploration, the world eagerly watches their future endeavors.