ISRO Achieves Historic First: Chandrayaan-3 Successfully Lands Near Lunar South Pole.


Web Desk: In a groundbreaking achievement, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched the Chandrayaan-3 mission on July 23, 2023. Equipped with the Vikram lander and Pragyaan rover, the mission aimed to explore the challenging lunar south pole. On August 23, 2023, both the lander and rover successfully touched down on the Moon's dark and frigid south pole, marking a significant milestone in space exploration.


The lunar south pole presents unique challenges, including perpetual darkness, extreme temperatures dipping below -230 degrees Celsius, and rugged terrain filled with craters ranging from centimeters to kilometers in size. These conditions have deterred other space agencies from attempting landings in this area.

ISRO's interest in the lunar south pole dates back to their Chandrayaan-1 mission in 2008, which detected the presence of water using onboard instruments. Although the Chandrayaan-2 mission in 2019 faced technical issues during the landing attempt, the setback led ISRO scientists to develop the Chandrayaan-3 mission, incorporating a lander, rover, and propulsion module.

With Chandrayaan-3's Pragyaan rover now stationed on the Moon's south pole, ISRO scientists plan to conduct a series of groundbreaking experiments. The rover will analyze the chemical composition of the lunar surface, locate possible water sources, and study rocks to gain insights into the formation of the early solar system.

The thin lunar atmosphere, known as an exosphere, plays a crucial role in the mission. During cold lunar nights, elements like helium, argon, sodium, and potassium fall to the surface. ISRO scientists intend to leverage these conditions to study the moon's atmosphere using the Pragyaan rover. This study will focus on identifying specific elements present in the lunar exosphere.

To further enhance scientific understanding, ISRO plans to deploy equipment on the lunar surface to measure "moonquakes," analogous to earthquakes on Earth. The Chandrayaan-3 mission's Pragyaan rover is designed to operate for approximately one lunar day, equivalent to 14 Earth days.

Remarkably, the Chandrayaan-3 mission comes at a relatively affordable cost of 615 crore Indian rupees, making it a budget-friendly endeavor compared to Hollywood movie budgets. With this successful landing, India has become the first country in the world to achieve a soft landing near the lunar south pole, solidifying its position as a frontrunner in space exploration and scientific discovery.