India successfully lands spacecraft on the moon shortly after Russian mission fails.

India’s​ Chandrayaan-3 Moon​ Rover Begins Exploration

The moon rover of India’s ​ Chandrayaan-3 exited the spacecraft on Thursday to​ begin exploring the surface of the lunar south pole and conducting experiments,‌ and was braced⁤ for new challenges, the space agency chief said.

The spacecraft landed on⁢ the unexplored south pole of the ‍moon on Wednesday, making India the first ⁤country to achieve this feat just days after Russia’s Luna-25 failed in a similar​ mission.

Russia’s first attempt at a moon‌ landing ‌in 47​ years ended when its spacecraft crashed⁤ into the moon after ‌a‍ problem ‌preparing for pre-landing orbit.

The soft, textbook touchdown by⁢ the ​lander⁤ after ‌a⁤ failed attempt in 2019 sparked widespread ⁢jubilation and celebration in the world’s most​ populous country. The media hailed the ⁤historic landing‍ as ‌India’s biggest scientific⁤ feat.

Indian Space ‌Research Organisation (ISRO) chief S. Somanath ⁤said the lander and the rover were in good condition, and “both are working‍ very well” but the experiments⁣ were ‌yet⁣ to start.

“All‍ activities are on schedule. All systems are normal,” ISRO posted on X, formerly Twitter. “Rover mobility ‍operations have commenced.”

The rover, named “Pragyan,” has two instruments to ⁤conduct element and chemical‌ composition experiments, and a robotic path planning⁢ exercise for future exploration.

Chandrayaan ‍ means ‍”moon vehicle” in Hindi and Sanskrit. The rover is expected ​to ⁤remain functional for two weeks, or⁣ one lunar day, the⁤ period ‍of time its solar-powered equipment‍ is built to‍ last.

Possible Challenges

Somanath said there were “many issues” on the moon’s surface that ISRO will experience for⁤ the first time, especially lunar dust‌ and temperatures ⁤that could impact moving parts.

“The mechanisms, the moving items ⁢… can get entangled with the dust there. It can‍ get into the moving​ parts and ‌jam ​them, the bearings of the system may not work,⁣ the motors may not work,” ⁢he told ‌the CNN News⁣ 18 TV channel.

Lunar dust is different from that on the surface of earth and in the absence of air on ‌the moon, it could stick to materials of the rover, impacting its operation, he said.

“All this ⁤creates problems in those mechanisms⁢ … so let us ​see how it goes,” the ⁤scientist said. “We will⁤ face it. … That’s why we are exploring. If everything is known, what is the fun in doing it?”

Accomplished ​with a budget of about⁣ 6.15 billion rupees ($75 ⁣million), ⁢this was India’s second attempt⁣ to touch down on the moon. A previous mission in 2019, Chandrayaan-2, successfully deployed an orbiter but‍ its lander crashed.

The moon’s ⁤rugged south pole is coveted because of its ‍water​ ice, or frozen ⁣water, which could prove⁢ to be a source of fuel,​ oxygen, and drinking water for future missions, but its ‌rough terrain makes landing ⁤challenging.

Celebrations

People across the country ⁤tuned in to watch ‍the landing on Wednesday, with nearly 7 ​million people viewing the YouTube live stream alone.

Prayers were held at​ places of worship, and schools organised live screenings for students.

Besides boosting India’s standing as a space power and its reputation for ⁤cost-competitive ‌space engineering, the landing is also seen as a major moment of national ⁤pride.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he has been congratulated by⁢ everyone⁣ since Wednesday and that the world saw ‌the successful landing not as one country’s ​achievement but that of all ‌of⁣ humanity.

“It is a matter of pride⁣ and a pat on ‌the back ‍for Indian scientists,” Modi said at the BRICS summit in Johannesburg ⁢on ⁤Thursday.

Indian newspapers had banner⁢ headlines reading: “The moon is Indian,” “India goes where no ⁢nation’s gone before,” and “India⁣ lights up the dark side⁢ of the moon,” among others.

“Lunar landing is the most significant Indian scientific achievement,” the Times of India said in an editorial.

(Reporting by‌ YP Rajesh and Sakshi Dayal; Editing⁢ by‍ Gerry Doyle, Toby Chopra ‌and Bernadette Baum)