India is celebrating its second National Space Day. This event marks the day India landed on the Moon. On August 23, 2023, the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (Isro) Chandrayaan-3 mission successfully landed near the lunar south pole. This achievement made India the first nation to reach this unexplored area, which was later named Shiv Shakti Point.
The moment brought widespread joy. Scientists and engineers at mission control clapped, and citizens across the country gathered to watch the historic landing spread on screens. This event signals a new era for India’s space goals.
Chandrayaan-3 landing marks India Success
Chandrayaan-3’s landing resulted from years of hard work and innovation, especially after the partial failure of Chandrayaan-2 in 2019.
On landing day, Chandrayaan-3 carried out a series of complex manoeuvres. The spacecraft began its powered descent, navigating on its own with advanced sensors, cameras, and algorithms.
Precision thrusters adjusted their path in real time while the lander avoided dangerous terrain with onboard risk detection systems. After slowing from an initial speed of nearly 1.7 km/s, Chandrayaan-3 made a gentle vertical landing, with its four legs absorbing the final impact. Cheers erupted at mission command when India’s national flag appeared in the visual feeds from the Moon.
Chandrayaan-4 planned to launch in 2028
Chandrayaan-3 success showed India’s dedication to safe, cost-effective, and innovative planetary exploration. ISRO is preparing for Chandrayaan-4, which is expected to launch around 2028. This mission will be a lunar sample return effort, aiming to collect samples from the Moon’s surface and bring them back to Earth for scientific study.
The mission will use a complex two-phase launch strategy that involves multiple spacecraft modules. ISRO plans to launch these modules separately and then assemble them in space, which will be the first step for the agency. This approach helps ISRO overcome the limits of its current rocket capabilities and showcases its skills in orbital assembly.
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