India successfully lands its Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft on the Moon

India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission’s Vikram lander has made an epic landing on the southern polar region of the Moon. This marks the end of a 47-year period without any successful lunar landings by any country outside of China.

Photo/ ISRO

“India is on the Moon!” said chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) Sreedhara Somanath.

Vikram lander, which measures over six feet (two meters) high, launched from India on July 14. It used a propulsion module on its course towards the Moon.

After entering lunar orbit on August 5, the Chandrayaan 3 lander detached from its propulsion section. Then positioned itself for its final approach to the Moon on Wednesday, August 23. It landed at approximately 12:33 UTC.

Here is how the Lander Imager Camera captured the moon’s image just prior to touchdown. pic.twitter.com/PseUAxAB6G

— ISRO (@isro) August 24, 2023

Chandrayaan-3 mission: India is the 4th country to land a spacecraft on the Moon

This is a significant achievement for India, redeeming the country after its failed attempt at a lunar landing in 2019.

It is also a historic moment, making India the fourth country to successfully land a spacecraft on the Moon’s surface.

The event puts India on the map as a rising space power. Showcasing the country’s deep space program and earning its bragging rights in the global space community.

The Vikram lander is currently operating on the near side of the Moon at a latitude of about 69 degrees south. Which is closer to the lunar south pole than any previous mission.

“Chandrayaan” means “moon craft” in Sanskrit.

Chandrayaan-3 Mission:
‘India🇮🇳,
I reached my destination
and you too!’
: Chandrayaan-3

Chandrayaan-3 has successfully
soft-landed on the moon 🌖!.

Congratulations, India🇮🇳!#Chandrayaan_3#Ch3

— ISRO (@isro) August 23, 2023

India’s space program has achieved success on the international stage in the past. With its first Moon mission, an orbiting Indian-built platform called Chandrayaan 1.

Launched in 2009 using a National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) science instrument, the mission found evidence of water ice inside craters at the Moon’s south pole.

India collaborated with NASA on its latest feat of successfully soft-landing a spacecraft on the Moon. With that, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson sends his congratulatory remarks to India.

Nelson posted on X (formerly Twitter), saying, “Congratulations to India on being the 4th country to successfully soft-land a spacecraft on the Moon. We’re glad to be your partner on this mission!”