Soft landing on the moon has been achieved!" In a moment of joy, Shri Somanath, Chairman of ISRO, exclaimed. The event reaffirms India's position in the global space community while fostering renewed enthusiasm for lunar exploration.
This flawless descent and landing marked a pivotal milestone. Even ten minutes after touchdown, NASA's Deep Space Network tracking station in Canberra, Australia, was still receiving telemetry from the Chandrayaan 3 lander, signifying an impeccable execution of the mission.
Mission Controlroom erupts in celebration with the confirmation of a successful landing of Chandrayaan 3. Image source: ISRO.
The journey of Chandrayaan 3 commenced on July 14, 2023, propelled skyward atop a Launch Vehicle Mark 3 (LVM3) from Sriharikota, India. The nomenclature of the mission stems from the amalgamation of the Sanskrit words "Chandra" denoting "moon" and "Yaan" translating to "vehicle," encapsulating the mission's lunar aspirations.
On the mission control screens, an animation shows Chandrayaan 3 hovering over the lunar surface soon before landing. Picture: ISRO.
Within the payload of the lander lies a diverse suite of instruments, including a diminutive rover. The Indian space agency's mission blueprint stipulates that both the lander and rover are poised for a succinct mission span of one lunar day, equivalent to 14 Earth days.
Today's accomplishment adds to India's growing space accolades and ushers in a new era of lunar exploration. The resounding success of Chandrayaan 3 underscores ISRO's commitment to pushing the boundaries of space science and fostering scientific curiosity on a global scale. As the world watches, India stands at the forefront of space innovation, poised to unveil the mysteries of the cosmos and inspire future generations to reach for the stars.
