India launches Chandrayaan-3 lunar rover

India has launched its Chandrayaan-3 mission, aiming to become the fourth country to achieve a controlled landing on the Moon. The spacecraft, named Chandrayaan (meaning “moon vehicle” in Sanskrit), took off from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in southern Andhra Pradesh state.

Chandrayaan-3 A historical mission

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) confirmed that Chandrayaan-3 is in a precise orbit and on its way to the Moon, with the spacecraft’s health reported as normal. Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the achievement, acknowledging the scientists’ dedication.

The mission is scheduled to land on the Moon’s surface on 23rd August. Chandrayaan-3, developed by ISRO, consists of a lander, propulsion module, and rover, and its objective is to safely land on the lunar surface, gather data, and conduct scientific experiments to enhance our understanding of the moon’s composition. The six-wheeled lander and rover module of Chandrayaan-3 is configured with payloads that would provide data to the scientific community on the properties of lunar soil and rocks, including chemical and elemental compositions.

The successful landing would make India the fourth nation to achieve this feat, following the United States, Soviet Union, and China.

Previous mission to the Moon

Despite a previous failed attempt with Chandrayaan-2 in 2019, India remains determined to advance its space program and delve into the moon’s unexplored South Pole. India’s Chandrayaan-1 mission in 2008 discovered water molecules on the lunar surface. The country has invested approximately $75 million in the Chandrayaan-3 mission, which is expected to cover a distance of over 300,000 kilometres (186,411 miles) to reach the Moon. India’s space program, which has made significant progress in recent years, symbolizes the country’s growing prominence on the global stage and its aspirations for future greatness.