New Delhi: The Chandrayaan-3 mission, an ambitious project by India, achieved a significant milestone when its lander, designed to release a 26-kg lunar rover, successfully touched the moon’s surface at 6:04 pm. This triumphant landing, especially in the challenging terrain of the moon’s south pole – a location untouched by any other nation and believed to house potential reserves of frozen water and rare elements – stands as a testament to ISRO’s dedication and perseverance.
Named ‘Pragyan’, which translates to ‘wisdom’ from Sanskrit, the rover has been innovatively crafted with six wheels to navigate the moon’s expanse and conduct a range of experiments. Boasting a size of 91.7 x 75.0 x 39.7 cm, it comes equipped with navigation cameras, a solar panel that can produce 50 W, and communication capabilities with the lander.
As detailed by ISRO, both the lander and the Pragyan rover house five scientific instruments to further our understanding of the moon. Among these, the Rover’s Alpha Particle X-Ray Spectrometer (APXS) will analyze the moon’s chemical composition, and the Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscope (LIBS) will study lunar soil and rocks. ISRO emphasized that these instruments will revolutionize lunar research, adding depth to our knowledge about the moon’s surface and composition.
In recognition of this stellar achievement, Congress leader Sonia Gandhi penned a heartfelt letter to ISRO’s chairman, S Somanath, applauding the success of the Chandrayaan 3 mission. The spacecraft’s landing on the lunar south pole is not only a historical first for India but also a significant milestone for global space exploration.
President Draupadi Murmu, after witnessing the live broadcast of the landing, expressed her admiration on Twitter. She remarked, “Today, our brilliant scientists have not only scripted history with Chandrayaan-3’s successful landing but have redefined geographical frontiers. This monumental event, a once-in-a-lifetime experience, fills every Indian with pride. My heartiest congratulations to the entire ISRO team and everyone involved. I look forward to even more remarkable achievements in the future.”