17 August 2023, Mumbai: India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission is brimming with confidence as it vies with Russia to explore uncharted lunar territory. The nation’s Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Jitendra Singh, expressed optimism about the mission’s success, claiming India will become the first country to touch down on the lunar south pole. Singh highlighted that the exclusive findings from the mission would have global benefits. He noted that while the USA and USSR began space exploration earlier, it was India’s Chandrayaan that astounded the world with images of lunar surface water.
Fourth Country to land on moon
India is set to become the fourth country to land on the moon, and uniquely, its Chandrayaan-3 will target the elusive lunar south pole. The mission is scheduled to touch down on August 23, putting India in a race with Russia, whose lunar spacecraft Luna-25 aims for a soft landing on August 21. Jitendra Singh assured that Chandrayaan-3’s design ensures a safe landing window between 5.30 PM and 6.00 PM, a momentous event anticipated by people worldwide.
Jitendra Singh credited PM
Jitendra Singh credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for creating a conducive environment for space endeavors. He projected India’s space sector to become a $1 trillion economy due to its current growth trajectory.The core goals of ISRO’s Chandrayaan-3 mission encompass showcasing a secure and gentle lunar landing, demonstrating rover mobility on the moon’s surface, and conducting on-site scientific experiments.
The Race
Singh reminisced about Chandrayaan-1, which initially revealed the presence of lunar surface water. Chandrayaan-3, he affirmed, would take these achievements to the next level.
Chandrayaan-3, India’s third lunar exploration mission, embarked on its journey on July 14 and successfully entered lunar orbit on August 5. Meanwhile, Russia’s Luna-25, launched on August 10, is taking a more direct trajectory to the moon, aiming for a landing on August 21. The Russian spacecraft’s swifter acceleration can be attributed to its lower lift-off mass compared to Chandrayaan-3.
As the race between India and Russia intensifies, eyes from across the globe remain fixed on these groundbreaking missions, eager to witness history in the making.