In a remarkable feat, India has achieved a momentous milestone by successfully landing its spacecraft, Chandrayaan-3, near the southern pole of the moon. This uncharted expanse harbors the potential for frozen water and valuable resources. The lander, accompanied by a rover, elegantly touched down on the lunar surface at 6:04 IST, sparking jubilant celebrations among ISRO scientists in Bengaluru. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also part of the excitement, observing the landing via video call from the BRICS summit in South Africa.
This achievement follows a past setback four years ago, making India the trailblazer as the first nation to achieve a successful landing near the less-explored southern pole region of the moon. This landmark places India in the esteemed league of the United States, the Soviet Union, and China, who have all achieved victorious lunar landings.
Heartfelt congratulations poured in from the Indian cricket fraternity, with captain Rohit Sharma and others lauding ISRO’s incredible accomplishment. The BCCI shared a video on their official Twitter account, showcasing the Indian cricket team’s elated response to the moon landing ahead of their 3rd T20I match against Ireland.
Embarked on July 14, the Chandrayaan-3 mission journeyed for 41 days to reach the lunar southern pole. At the heart of this triumph lay a meticulously designed lander and a robust six-wheeled rover weighing 1,752 kg. These sophisticated components were engineered to excel during the 14 Earth days of a single lunar daylight period.
The earlier moon endeavor, Chandrayaan-2, faced a setback when its lander ‘Vikram’ encountered challenges during a landing attempt on September 7, 2019, leading to a crash onto the moon’s surface. Chandrayaan’s inaugural mission marked its inception in 2008.
As Team India commemorates this victorious lunar endeavor, they also strive for success on the cricket field in Ireland, locking horns with the home team for the third and final T20I in Dublin. This encounter serves as India’s farewell to the shortest format before transitioning to ODIs and gearing up for the World Cup scheduled for October-November.