Moon landing successful: India’s Chandrayaan-3 makes history

On Wednesday, India achieved the groundbreaking accomplishment of landing an unmanned spacecraft on the moon. This achievement comes in the wake of a recent failure by a Russian vehicle that crashed due to firing its thrusters for an extended period. The Indian spacecraft successfully touched down near the moon’s south pole, an area of great interest to numerous nations due to the presence of water in the form of ice. The landing of the Chandrayaan-3 mission is a significant triumph for India, as it demonstrates the country’s growing ambitions in space.

Unlike its rivals such as China and Russia, India has aligned itself with the United States by signing the Artemis Accords, an agreement that governs space exploration activities. This partnership enhances India’s prominence in the global space industry and contributes to the growth of its economy and technology sector. Additionally, India has showcased its military space capabilities by successfully targeting a satellite with a missile in 2019. India’s lunar landing success further elevates its standing on the world stage.

The Chandrayaan-3 mission is part of a broader trend towards lunar exploration. Japan is also set to launch a spacecraft to the moon this week to test its landing capabilities. Later this year, two American companies working with NASA will embark on their own lunar missions under the Artemis program. NASA, with the goal of establishing a sustained human presence on and around the moon, plans to return astronauts to the lunar surface for the first time since the Apollo missions in 1972. A small space station, called Gateway, will be assembled near the moon to support these efforts.

India’s successful moon landing is a testament to the country’s determination and resilience. Despite a previous failure, India remained committed to its space exploration goals and persevered. The country’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, expressed his pride in India’s achievement while witnessing the landing. As a responsible space power, India prioritizes the peaceful and sustainable use of outer space. The Artemis Accords provide a rule-based framework for India’s space endeavors.

In the quest for lunar exploration, water plays a crucial role. The presence of water near the lunar south pole has captivated scientists and space agencies worldwide. Water is essential for human survival and could also be utilized as rocket fuel when separated into its component parts. India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission aims to study the composition of the moon’s soil and rocks, with the deployment of a rover planned. This mission is expected to last approximately 14 days.