The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is on the cusp of making history at approximately 18.04 hours IST today. If things go well, as are widely expected by the scientists, Vikram- the Chandrayaan-3 lander will touchdown with Pragyan (the rover) in its belly. Upon mission being successfully completed, India will become the fourth country to master the technology of soft-landing on the lunar surface after the US, China and the erstwhile USSR. The Chandrayaan-3 is India’s moon mission that took off on July 14, 2023 and is aimed at the lunar south pole, a region filled with frozen water.
According to space scientists, the chances of success are exceedingly high. Speaking on landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the moon, Former ISRO Scientist Yagnaswami Sundara Rajan said that the chances of success are exceedingly high. “About 80% changes are done in Chandrayaan-3. Many things have been incorporated into Chandrayaan-3. Earlier it was seeing only the height when it is landing, called altimeter, now in addition to that, they’ve also added a velocity meter called doppler, so you will know the height and also velocity, so that it can control itself.
Talking about Chandrayaan-3, former ISRO scientist Mylswamy Annadurai said that the priority is the safe landing of the lander. He also informed that the required fuel and the power source have been enhanced compared to Chandrayaan-2. “The Chandrayaan-3 has a wider area of 4.5 km*2.5 km. The priority is a safe landing. Compared to Chandrayaan-2, the required fuel has also been enhanced. The power source has also been enhanced. The preparation is going very well. The preparedness of the system also looks very confidently going.”
Director of Space Applications Centre Nilesh M Desai, said that he fully trusts that the soft landing of Chandrayan-3 will take place successfully. He said, “August 23 is not just an important day for ISRO but for the entire country. The landing is supposed to take place at 5:47 PM from a height of 30 km. We fully trust that the soft landing of Chandrayaan-3 will be successful.”
Director General of the Indian Space Association, Lt Gen (Retd) Anil Kumar Bhatt said that “it will be a proud moment for the people of India.” “When Chandrayaan-3 will do a soft landing, we will be among the four countries which have done successful soft landing on the moon till now. “This is a fail-safe mission. This will be a proud moment for the people of the country,”
Notably, the ‘Vikram’ lander module of the spacecraft successfully separated from the propulsion module on Thursday, and subsequently underwent crucial deboosting manoeuvres and descended to a slightly lower orbit. The Chandrayaan-3 mission’s lander is named after Vikram Sarabhai (1919–1971), who is widely regarded as the father of the Indian space programme.
Within the country, irrespective of party lines and leanings, political parties, leaders and people are appreciating this stupendous achievement of the country. While praising the Chandrayaan-3 mission, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said that it is a great achievement for the country.
Students in large numbers attended SAC- ISRO exhibition on Chandrayaan 3 in Gujarat’s Ahmedabad on Aug 22. They interacted with the HOD Nilesh Bhatt and other members of the exhibition centre. The exhibition was organised ahead of the expected landing of Chandrayaan 3 on the lunar surface on Aug 23.
Students from a school in Chennai performed an awareness programme on the Chandrayaan-3 mission on Aug 22. The students dressed in black and the face painted as the moon formed a large circle to depict the lunar surface. The circle inscribed a paper cutting of Chandrayaan 3 in a corner and the model of ‘Vikram Lander’ in another probably portraying the South Pole. Together they gave salutations to the Indian Spacecraft looking towards the sky. Notably, India will be the 4th country in the world to achieve this feat after the US, Russia, and China, and the 1st to land on the lunar south pole.
Students in large numbers on Aug 22 visited Regional Science Centre, Bhopal ahead of the expected landing of Chanadrayaan-3 on Aug 23. They learnt about the landing process of the soft landing of the Vikram lander on the lunar surface. “Chandrayaan-2 was not a fully failed mission. In the world of space, nothing is a failure. Failure is also a learning lesson for us. The orbiter of Chandrayaan-2 will be playing an important role in Chandrayaan-3 because of relaying its signals. The 3D mapping done by Chandrayaan-3 is no less than a treasure. Chandrayaan-3 is fully prepared to accomplish the mission. If a change comes, in science we take it positively,” said Saket Singh Kaurav.
Ahead of the successful gentle landing of India’s ambitious Chandrayaan-3 on the Moon’s South Pole, a Ganga Aarti was dedicated to India’s lunar mission. Ganga Aarti was performed with tricolour in hands at Parmarth Niketan Ghat in Rishikesh.
Reports of appreciations, accolades and worships are coming from all across the globe. Chief Growth Officer of Redwire Space Mike Gold on August 23 praised India’s Chandrayaan 3 mission and said that the mission itself is an overall success, whether it succeeds or not.
Mike Gold said, “We are entering into a new era the Artemis era of exploration of the Moon where we’re going not just once, not just twice but to establish a permanent presence on the Moon. And this mission will gather invaluable data to help drive our understanding of the Moon, our ability to utilize resources and ultimately where we’re going to establish settlements on the Moon. So this is a vital part of that process. And by the way, whether the mission succeeds or landing or not, the mission itself, in my opinion, is an overall success…”
A team of Sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik extended best wishes ahead of the expected soft landing of the Chandrayaan-3 on August 23. People loved the sand art at the beach.
Notably, the ‘Vikram’ lander module of the spacecraft successfully separated from the propulsion module on August 17, and subsequently underwent crucial deboosting manoeuvres and descended to a slightly lower orbit. The Chandrayaan-3 mission’s lander is named after Vikram Sarabhai (1919–1971), who is widely regarded as the father of the Indian space programme.
Sri Lankan High Commissioner to India, Milinda Moragoda on August 22 said that the lunar mission is not only pride for India but also for the sub-continent. “It is a moment of pride for India, but also for us as we are also a part of the sub-continent. So, congratulations India,” said Sri Lankan High Commissioner to India Milinda Moragoda.