Huge moment for India: Chandrayaan-3 soft-lands on Moon
India's moon mission was a roaring success as Chandrayaan-3 completed a successful soft-landing on the Moon's south pole
India broke out into celebrations as Chandrayaan-3 soft-landed on the lunar south pole at 6.04 pm on Wednesday (August 23) without any hiccups.
With this, India has joined the elite club of only three other countries — US, China, and the erstwhile Soviet Union — that have managed to soft-land on the lunar surface. More significantly, it became the first country to reach the uncharted south pole of Earth’s only natural satellite.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi joined in from South Africa as ISRO live-streamed the landing. The rough-braking and fine-braking phases went exactly as planned and the Lander Module touched down on the lunar south pole smoothly in the scheduled time.
Chandrayaan-3’s Lander Module, comprising the Vikram lander and the Pragyan rover, arrived at the designated landing point around 5.44 pm, as ISRO had tweeted at 12.52 pm on Wednesday.
“All set to initiate the Automatic Landing Sequence (ALS). Awaiting the arrival of Lander Module (LM) at the designated point, around 17:44 Hrs. IST. Upon receiving the ALS command, the LM activates the throttleable engines for powered descent. The mission operations team will keep confirming the sequential execution of commands. The live telecast of operations at MOX begins at 17:20 Hrs. IST,” ISRO’s tweet read.
“We learnt our lessons from Chandrayaan-2,” said scientist Nambi Narayan. Scientific analyst Ravikumar said six types of updates were made from Chandrayaan-2. For instance, height adjusting techniques were updated in Chandrayaan-3, explained Ravikumar.
Chandrayaan-3 was ISRO’s second attempt in four years to soft-land a craft on the lunar surface. Chandrayaan-2 failed in the attempt in the final stages in 2019.
Live Updates
- 23 Aug 2023 4:02 PM IST
Ramdev performs ‘yajna’, priests recite Hanuman Chalisa
Yoga guru Ramdev performed a yajna on the Acharyakulam campus in Haridwar while priests recited Hanuman Chalisa at a temple on the banks of the Ganga on Wednesday for the successful landing of Chandrayaan-3.
Ramdev performed the yajna and havan amid the chanting of Vedic hymns by the students of Acharyakulam, praying for the successful completion of the mission.
A group of priests in the holy city recited Hanuman Chalisa and played cymbals at Sri Ram Mandir on the banks of the Ganga.
“We are praying for the successful landing of Chandrayaan-3…. It will also be another big step by the country towards becoming Vishwa Guru,” said Ujjwal Pandit, a priest who participated in the prayers. (PTI) - 23 Aug 2023 3:41 PM IST
Proud feeling because lander was named after Vikram Sarabhai: Son
Kartikeya Sarabhai, son of physicist and founder of India’s space programme Vikram Sarabhai said on Wednesday said the Chandrayaan-3 project represents the “new India” and every citizen is proud of this project.
In a tribute to Vikram Sarabhai, ISRO has named Chandrayaan-3’s lander as “Vikram”.
“It is a great day for all of us — not only Indians but globally — because no one was able to reach the southern side of the moon. People had tried in the past, but failed. There is a likelihood of water there in a different form,” Kartikeya Sarabhai, an environmentalist, told PTI.
“It is a very proud feeling for us because the lander has been named after Vikram Sarabhai. But this pride is for all of us, not just the immediate family. Different components of this lander are made by different people. So, it actually integrated so much of India into it. Scientists from all over the country were involved. It represents new India,” he said.
Chandrayaan-2 was not a failure because it is still helping the latest moon mission, he said.
“We were heartbroken when the Chandrayaan-2 lander could not make it. But we learnt so much. Chandrayaan-2 is helping Chandrayaan-3 in finding the right location to land. So, it was indeed a success because we learnt from our mistakes. We are making our own path as we are going towards 2047. That is what Chandrayaan is. It has found its way,” said Sarabhai.
Vikram Sarabhai’s daughter and activist Mallika Sarabhai said the Indian Moon mission is a step forward for the entire humanity.
“I believe in effort and science. I believe that ISRO scientists have done hard work and it will be a fulfilment of one of my father’s dreams. He dreamt of using science and technology not for a race with other countries, nor to prove how great we are. But to see how mankind, humanity and the planet can get better, safer and more dignified for all,” she told PTI.
“I see this as a step forward for the entire humanity because no one has landed on the south side of the moon. It is not about India alone. It is about the human spirit. I think my father was about the human spirit. For my father and my mother, science and art were the language to make life better for people, to bring justice, to bring happiness and dignity,” she added. (PTI) - 23 Aug 2023 3:33 PM IST
Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah express hope of Chandrayaan-3’s success
National Conference (NC) leaders Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah on Wednesday expressed hope that Chandrayaan-3 will successfully complete its journey to the moon.
“We are very hopeful that the journey of Chandrayaan-3 will be completely successful today. We are eagerly waiting for the pictures and videos from the part of the moon where no country has so far managed a soft-landing,” Omar Abdullah told reporters at the party office in Srinagar.
NC president Farooq Abdullah also lauded “our scientists” for doing “yeoman’s service” to put India on the space map.
“I and all of us are proud of our scientists who have done a yeoman’s service to put India on the space map. Congratulations to everyone,” Farooq Abdullah told PTI.
Remembering former President APJ Abdul Kalam, “who was a pillar in all these things”, he said India has progressed tremendously in the space sector ever since he was elected to the top constitutional post.
Excited students in Jammu and Kashmir were seen cheering for the successful landing of Chandrayaan-3's lunar module on the moon's surface, calling it a proud moment for the country. (PTI)
