India’s Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft has reached a critical milestone as it entered lunar orbit, bringing the country closer to carrying out a controlled landing of a lunar rover near the unexplored South Pole. The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) confirmed the success of the orbit reduction maneuver that brought the spacecraft closer to the surface of the Moon.
Chandrayaan-3, developed by ISRO, consists of a lander, propulsion module and rover. Its primary mission is to land safely on the challenging terrain of the moon’s south pole, conduct scientific experiments, and gather crucial data about the moon’s composition.
The spacecraft is expected to attempt a landing on the moon on August 23. If successful, India will become the fourth country to achieve this feat, after the United States, the former Soviet Union and China.
This is India’s second attempt to soft land on the Moon. The previous effort, Chandrayaan-2, faced challenges in 2019 when its rover crashed on the lunar surface. However, India’s first lunar mission, Chandrayaan-1, was successful in 2008 in discovering water molecules on the Moon.
India’s space program has evolved significantly over the years, becoming one of the world’s most populous nations and the fifth largest economy. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the country has shown growing space ambitions and technological advances.
“Chandroyaan-3 writes a new chapter in India’s space odyssey,” tweeted Prime Minister Modi, praising the dedication and ingenuity of India’s scientists.
With an investment of approximately $75 million in the Chandrayaan-3 mission, India is committed to pushing the boundaries of space exploration. As the spacecraft nears landing on the moon, the nation’s ambitions soar, cementing its place as a formidable player in the global space race.
This article is sourced from and written by AI.
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