The ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization) officially announced today that its Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft has successfully landed on the surface of the Moon, after launching on July 14 with a budget of just $74-million. If all goes to plan Chandrayaan-3 should remain functional for roughly 14 days, running a series of experiments, while the rover will make its first appearance within the next few days once deployed from the lander.
This successful landing aims to spark a passion for exploration among India’s youth, as the country’s previous attempt to land a robotic spacecraft near the Moon’s mysterious south pole failed in 2019. Over the next few days, you’ll see its six-wheeled lander and rover module make use of its payloads, which are set to provide data on the properties of lunar soil and rocks, including their chemical as well as elemental compositions.
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- Realistic Modular Model - This modular set includes a descent stage with gold-colored landing pads, panels, opening camera, laser hatches, and movable...
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Photo credit: Reuters
Congratulations ISRO on this historic landing. ESA is proud to support the Chandrayaan-3 mission. Our ground stations are a core element of ESA’s support to its international partners, and I am pleased that with this activity, we are further strengthening ESA’s relationship with ISRO and with India. I look forward to supporting further pioneering ISRO missions, such as Aditya-L1, in the future,” said Rolf Densing, Director of Operations at ESA’s ESOC mission operations.
