India’s Chandrayaan-3 Moon Rover Begins Exploration of Lunar Surface
NEW DELHI, Aug 24 (Reuters) – India’s Chandrayaan-3 moon rover has successfully exited the spacecraft and begun its exploration of the lunar surface, marking a historic moment for the country’s space program. The rover will conduct experiments to assist future missions and contribute to scientific knowledge.
The spacecraft landed on the unexplored south pole of the moon on Wednesday evening, making India the first country to achieve this feat. The soft landing was a significant achievement for India, following a failed attempt in 2019.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced the successful deployment of the rover on X, formerly known as Twitter. The rover, named “Pragyan,” is equipped with two instruments to conduct element and chemical composition experiments. It will also perform a robotic path planning exercise, which is crucial for future exploration.
With a budget of approximately 6.15 billion rupees ($75 million), Chandrayaan-3 is India’s second attempt to land on the moon. The previous mission, Chandrayaan-2, successfully deployed an orbiter but experienced a crash landing.
Chandrayaan-3 is expected to remain operational for two weeks, equivalent to one lunar day. Its solar-powered equipment is designed to withstand the harsh lunar environment.
The south pole of the moon is of great interest due to the presence of water ice, which could potentially serve as a valuable resource for future missions. However, the rough terrain poses challenges for landing.
The landing of Chandrayaan-3 has sparked widespread jubilation and celebration across India. Nearly 7 million people tuned in to watch the landing on YouTube, and prayers were held at places of worship. Schools organized live screenings of the event for students.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his pride in the achievement, stating that the successful landing is a moment of national pride and a testament to the capabilities of Indian scientists. Indian newspapers featured banner headlines celebrating the milestone, emphasizing India’s position as a space power.
The Times of India described the lunar landing as the most significant Indian scientific achievement, attributing the country’s progress in the field to the efforts of ISRO.
The successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 not only boosts India’s reputation as a space power but also highlights its cost-competitive space engineering capabilities. The mission is seen as a major moment of national pride and a significant step forward for India’s scientific endeavors.
($1=82.4610 Indian rupees)
Reporting by YP Rajesh and Sakshi Dayal; Editing by Gerry Doyle and Toby Chopra
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
What are the main objectives of the Chandrayaan-3 mission’s experiments on the lunar surface?
Ing experiment to navigate the lunar surface.
The Chandrayaan-3 mission aims to further our understanding of the moon’s geology, mineralogy, and chemical composition. It will also explore the possibilities of water presence and conduct experiments to study the lunar atmosphere. The data collected by the rover will assist in planning future missions to the moon.
The successful deployment of the rover is a significant milestone for India’s space program. It showcases the country’s technological capabilities and reaffirms its commitment to space exploration. The mission also reflects India’s aspirations to become a major player in the global space industry.
The Chandrayaan-3 mission follows the previous Chandrayaan-1 and Chandrayaan-2 missions, which have provided valuable insights into the moon’s history and characteristics. The Chandrayaan-2 mission, although not completely successful, was commendable in its attempt to soft-land on the moon’s south pole.
India’s space program has been gaining momentum in recent years, with a series of successful satellite launches and space missions. The country has set ambitious goals for itself, including sending astronauts to space and establishing a research station on the moon.
The Chandrayaan-3 mission is another step forward in India’s space exploration journey. By conducting experiments and gathering data on the lunar surface, India aims to contribute to scientific knowledge and make significant advancements in space technology.
As the Chandrayaan-3 rover embarks on its exploration of the lunar surface, all eyes are on India to see what new discoveries and breakthroughs it will bring. The successful landing of the rover is a testament to India’s growing expertise in space exploration and its determination to push boundaries in the field of science and technology.