After a nail-biting descent, the moment of truth finally arrives. The news blaze up on displays around the world: “Chandrayaan-3 has made a soft landing on the lunar south pole.”
Chandrayaan-3 Moon landing recent updates
As the clock ticks down to 6.04 PM IST on August 23, the world watches with bated breath as the Chandrayaan-3 mission makes its final decline towards the Moon. The mission, which starts 40 days ago at the Sathish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota, has been a massive effort by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to explore our closest celestial neighbour.
As the Vikram lander closes its destination, tension and excitement are palpable. All eyes are fixed on the live stream, gladly awaiting the first glance of the soft lunar landing. The atmosphere is tense as the final moments of the fall draw near.
The tension was palpable as the countdown to the launch of the Chandrayaan-3 mission began. Scientists at the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) had worked tirelessly for months, fine-tuning all information of the spacecraft to insure a successful mission.
At 5.44 PM IST, the moment of truth had arrived. The team at ISRO initiated the mission’s automatic landing sequence, setting the Vikram lander on a course towards the lunar surface. From here on out, it was up to the spacecraft’s onboard computers and logic to guide it safely down to the Moon.
The stakes were high for India, as the previous Chandrayaan-2 mission had ended in disappointment when the Vikram lander crashed onto the Moon. This time, the primary aim was clear—demonstrate India’s ability to complete a soft landing on the lunar surface.
As the minutes flashed by, the world held its breath. Finally, word came through from the control room at ISRO. The Vikram lander had successfully landed on the Moon, becoming the fourth nation to gain a soft landing after the United States, the Soviet Union, and China.
