INDIA ON MOON: Became fourth country to send a spacecraft on the Moon

...NRIs worldwide applaud after the landing of Chandrayaan-3

Los Angeles, August 23, 2023
NRIpress.club/Ramesh/ A.Gary Singh

On Wednesday at 6.04 pm, Chandrayaan-3’s Lander Module comprising the lander (Vikram) and the 26-kg rover (Pragyan), made the soft landing became fourth country to send a spacecraft on the moon and became the first country to land a spacecraft on south pole of the Earth’s natural satellite.

The lander and the six-wheeled rover (with total mass of 1,752 kg) are designed to operate for one lunar daylight period (about 14 Earth days). The Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft touched down softly near the moon's south pole today (Aug. 23), notching a huge milestone for the nation.

"This success belongs to all of humanity and it will help moon missions by other countries in the future," India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a speech following the landing. "I'm confident that all countries in the world, including those from the global south, are capable of capturing success. We can all aspire to the moon and beyond."
ISRO posted images to X, a little over two hours after landing (formerly known as Twitter) showing the moon's surface as seen by Chandrayaan-3's during its descent, adding that the agency has successfully established a communication link between the spacecraft and mission control.

About 14 days, the robotic duo will spend one lunar day exploring its new home, with the goal of collecting scientific data about the moon's makeup before its batteries drain after sunset.

It had multiple sensors to ensure a safe touchdown, including an accelerometer, altimeters, Doppler velocimeter, inclinometer, touchdown sensor, and a suite of cameras for hazard avoidance and positional knowledge.

NRIs worldwide wave the Indian Tricolour during the celebration of the successful soft landing of ISRO's Chandrayaan-3 on the surface of the Moon.