India successfully launches the groundbreaking Chandrayaan-3 mission with the objective of landing a spacecraft on the moon.
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| isro.gov.in |
India has successfully launched its Chandrayaan-3 mission, aiming to become the fourth country to achieve a controlled landing on the moon. The spacecraft took off from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in southern Andhra Pradesh state. Over a million people watched the historic launch on YouTube, while crowds gathered at the space center. The Indian Space Research Organization confirmed that Chandrayaan-3 is in a precise orbit and on its way to the moon, with the spacecraft's health reported as normal. The mission is set to reach the lunar surface on August 23. This is India's second attempt at a soft landing, following the unsuccessful Chandrayaan-2 mission in 2019
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| isro.gov.in |
India's Chandrayaan-3 mission, developed by ISRO, consists of a lander, propulsion module, and rover. Its goal is to safely land on the moon, gather data, and conduct scientific experiments to learn about the moon's composition. Only the United States, Russia, and China have achieved successful soft landings on the lunar surface. Indian engineers have been working on this mission for years, with the aim of landing near the challenging terrain of the moon's South Pole, which remains unexplored. Chandrayaan-1, India's first lunar mission, discovered water molecules on the moon, while Chandrayaan-2 successfully entered lunar orbit but faced a rover crash-landing. Despite the setback, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed support for the space program. Modi stated that the mission will cover a distance of over 300,000 kilometers and reach the moon in the coming weeks. The Chandrayaan-3 mission has cost approximately $75 million
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| isro.gov.in |
India's space program has a history of more than six decades, starting when the country was newly independent and facing economic challenges after the partition. In 1963, India launched its first rocket into space, but it lagged behind the United States and the former Soviet Union in the space race.
However, India has since undergone significant changes. It is now the world's most populous country and the fifth-largest economy. With a young population and a thriving innovation and technology sector, India has been catching up in its space ambitions under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Modi, who came to power in 2014 with a vision of national pride and a bright future for India, sees the country's space program as a symbol of its increasing global significance.
India's achievements in space exploration include becoming the first Asian nation to reach Mars in 2014 with the Mangalyaan probe. The country also set a record by launching 104 satellites in a single mission. In 2019, India conducted an anti-satellite test, demonstrating its technological capabilities.
India's rapid progress in space technology has attracted significant investment and attention from world leaders. During a state visit to the United States, Prime Minister Modi and President Joe Biden expressed a desire for increased collaboration in the space economy. India's space ambitions extend beyond the moon and Mars, with plans proposed to send an orbiter to Venus.
Overall, India's space program represents its aspirations for growth, recognition, and technological advancement, highlighting the country's position as a rising global player in the space arena.
