23-8-2023 (NEW DELHI) India is gearing up for its second lunar landing attempt, a mission of great significance for lunar exploration and India’s reputation as a space superpower. This endeavor comes just days after a Russian lander faced an unfortunate crash.
The Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft is scheduled to attempt its landing on the lunar south pole at approximately 6.04 pm local time (7.34 pm Thailand time) on Wednesday. This marks the second effort by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to land on the moon’s south pole. In 2019, Chandrayaan-2 successfully deployed an orbiter but encountered a landing failure.
“Landing on the south pole (of the moon) would actually allow India to explore if there is water ice on the moon. And this is very important for cumulative data and science on the geology of the moon,” explained Carla Filotico, a partner and managing director at the consultancy SpaceTec Partners.
Anticipation and excitement surrounding the upcoming landing are running high. Newspapers have featured banner headlines, and news channels are running countdown timers to the event. Prayers have been offered in temples, mosques, and churches across the country, while schoolchildren eagerly await live screenings of the landing.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to watch the landing from South Africa, where he is attending the ongoing BRICS summit.
The lunar south pole presents challenges due to its rugged terrain, making a successful landing a historic achievement. The presence of water ice in the region holds the potential to supply fuel, oxygen, and drinking water for future lunar missions.
