Source: The Weather Network | Original Published At: 2023-08-23 19:11:00 UTC
Key Points
- India's Chandrayaan-3 becomes first spacecraft to land on moon's south pole
- Makes India fourth nation to achieve lunar landing after US, China, Russia
- PM Modi links achievement to 'new India' during BRICS summit attendance
- Nationwide celebrations mark successful mission following Russia's recent failure
- Mission highlights India's growing space capabilities and geopolitical standing
Reuters “India is on the moon”
By Nivedita Bhattacharjee
BENGALURU (Reuters) – An Indian spacecraft landed on the rugged, unexplored south pole of the moon on Wednesday in a mission seen as crucial to lunar exploration and India’s standing as a space power, just days after a similar Russian lander crashed.
“This moment is unforgettable. It is phenomenal. This is a victory cry of a new India,” said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who waved the Indian flag as he watched the landing from South Africa where he is attending a BRICS summit.
Scientists and officials clapped, cheered and hugged each other as the spacecraft landed and people across India broke out in celebration, setting off firecrackers and dancing in the streets.
“India is on the moon,” said S. Somanath, chief of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) as the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft landed, making India the fourth nation to successfully land a spacecraft on the moon after the United States, China and Russia.
This was India’s second attempt to land a spacecraft on the moon and comes less than a week after Russia’s Luna-25 mission failed. People across the country were glued to television screens and said prayers as the spacecraft approached the surface.
Nearly 7 million watched the YouTube live stream.