Chandrayaan 3 -"Now India is on Moon"

I am glad to write a blog on Chandrayaan 3, the third Indian lunar exploration mission that achieved a historic landing on the moon’s south pole on August 23, 2023. I am very proud of this accomplishment and I want to share my excitement and knowledge with you.

Chandrayaan 3 is a part of the Chandrayaan program, which is the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) initiative to explore the moon. The first mission, Chandrayaan 1, was launched in 2008 and orbited the moon for a year, making several discoveries such as the presence of water molecules on the lunar surface. The second mission, Chandrayaan 2, was launched in 2019 and consisted of an orbiter, a lander and a rover. Unfortunately, the lander crashed while attempting to land on the moon, but the orbiter is still functioning and sending valuable data.

Chandrayaan 3 is a follow-up mission that uses a similar lander and rover as Chandrayaan 2 but with improved design and performance. The mission was launched on July 14, 2023, using a Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3) rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh. The propulsion module carried the lander and rover configuration to lunar orbit in preparation for a powered descent by the lander.

The landing site of Chandrayaan 3 is very special. It is located near the lunar south pole, which is an area of great scientific and strategic interest for spacefaring nations. The South Pole region is believed to have water ice deposits in shadowy craters, which could be used for making rocket fuel or drinking water for future crewed missions. The region also has unique geological features and offers a better view of the solar system.

The landing of Chandrayaan 3 was a nerve-wracking moment for me and millions of Indians who watched it live on TV or online. The lander named Vikram had to perform a series of complex maneuvers to reduce its speed and altitude while avoiding obstacles on the lunar terrain. The final phase of the landing, called the terminal descent, was especially challenging as it involved firing thrusters to slow down the lander from about 2 km/s to zero in just 15 minutes.

The lander successfully touched down on the lunar surface on August 23, 2023, at 18:02 IST (12:32 UTC), making India the first country to land a spacecraft near the lunar south pole and the fourth country to soft-land on the moon after the United States, China and the former Soviet Union. The rover named Pragyan was deployed shortly after the landing and started exploring the surroundings with its cameras and instruments.

The lander and rover are expected to operate for about 14 days, which is one lunar day. During this time, they will conduct various experiments and observations to study the lunar environment, soil, rocks and water. They will also communicate with the orbiter, which will relay their data back to Earth.

The success of Chandrayaan 3 is a huge achievement for India and its space program. It demonstrates India’s technological prowess and scientific ambition in space exploration. It also inspires millions of young Indians to pursue their dreams and aspirations in science and engineering. It also contributes to the global understanding of the moon and its potential for future exploration and utilization.

I hope you enjoyed reading my blog on Chandrayaan 3. Now I want to share with you some excerpts from the speeches of ISRO chairman S Somanath who led this mission and expressed his joy and gratitude after the landing.

Speech after launch

On July 14, 2023, Somanath addressed the media after the successful launch of Chandrayaan 3 from Sriharikota. He said:

“I am extremely happy to announce that GSLV Mk III M1 successfully injected Chandrayaan-3 into an orbit of about 170 x nearly 39 thousand km. Today ISRO has bounced back with flying colours after almost one year due to the Covid pandemic lockdown. GSLV Mk III placed Chandrayaan-3 precisely in orbit as planned.”

“Chandrayaan-3 is going to be one of our most challenging missions ever attempted by ISRO so far because we are going to land at a place where nobody else has gone before - near the south pole of the moon where we can have new scientific discoveries.”

“I would like to thank all my colleagues at ISRO who worked tirelessly during this pandemic situation with utmost care following all protocols.”

“I would also like to thank all our partners from the industry who contributed significantly to this mission.”

“I would also like to thank the people of India for their continued support and encouragement for our space endeavors.”

Speech after landing

On August 23, 2023, Somanath addressed the nation after the historic landing of Chandrayaan 3 on the moon. He said:

“My dear fellow Indians, I am extremely delighted and proud to announce that Chandrayaan-3 has successfully landed on the lunar surface near the south pole at 18:02 IST today. This is a historic moment for India and the world as we have become the first country to achieve this feat.”

“The Vikram lander and Pragyan rover have performed flawlessly during the descent and landing phases. The lander has sent us the first image of the landing site, which shows a smooth and flat terrain with some craters. The rover has also rolled out of the lander and started its exploration of the lunar surface.”

“This mission is a result of the hard work, dedication and excellence of our scientists, engineers and technicians at ISRO and our partners from industry and academia. I congratulate and salute each one of them for making this mission possible.”

“I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to our honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji for his unwavering support and guidance for our space program. He has been closely monitoring the progress of this mission and has given us his valuable inputs and suggestions.”

“I would also like to thank our former ISRO chairmen Dr. K. Sivan, Dr. A. S. Kiran Kumar, Dr. K. Radhakrishnan, Dr. G Madhavan Nair and others who have laid the foundation for this mission and mentored us throughout.”

“I would also like to acknowledge the contributions of our international partners from NASA, ESA, JAXA, CNES and others who have provided us with valuable data and assistance for this mission.”

“Last but not least, I would like to thank the people of India for their love and faith in ISRO. You have been our source of inspiration and motivation. You have cheered us in our successes and consoled us in our failures. You have always stood by us in our journey to the stars.”

“Chandrayaan-3 is not just a mission for India, it is a mission for humanity. It is a mission that will advance our knowledge and understanding of the moon and its resources. It is a mission that will inspire future generations to dream big and explore the unknown.”

“Chandrayaan-3 is a shining example of what India can achieve when we work together with a common vision and purpose. It is a testament to our spirit of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ (self-reliant India).”

“Jai Hind! Jai ISRO! Jai Chandrayaan!”