New Delhi: In a groundbreaking moment for India’s space exploration, Chandrayaan 3’s imminent soft landing on the moon’s south polar region is set to make history today, August 23. As the clock ticks closer to 6:04 pm, all eyes are on ISRO’s third lunar mission, eagerly awaiting its successful touchdown.
Aug 23, 2023, 6:17 PM: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation after Chandrayaan-3’s successful Moon landing.
He said, “The sky is not the limit for India'” while also mentioning that India’s recent achievement in its moon mission is not solely India’s accomplishment. This success is a victory for all of humanity and will also benefit other countries’ lunar missions.
Aug 23, 2023, 6:04 PM: On Wednesday evening, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) tweeted after the successful landing of the Vikram lander on the Moon, “Chandrayaan-3 Mission: ‘India, I reached my destination and you too!’: Chandrayaan-3”
Chandrayaan-3 Mission:
‘India🇮🇳,
I reached my destination
and you too!’
: Chandrayaan-3Chandrayaan-3 has successfully
soft-landed on the moon 🌖!.Congratulations, India🇮🇳!#Chandrayaan_3#Ch3
— ISRO (@isro) August 23, 2023
Aug 23, 2023, 5:49 PM: ISRO has announced that we are minutes away from the start of Chandrayaan-3’s power descent.
Aug 23, 2023, 5:45 PM: Only 15 minutes remain until India’s third lunar mission, Chandrayaan-3, embarks on a gentle and triumphant landing on the Moon.
Aug 23, 2023, 5:05 PM: According to Nilesh M Desai, the Director of Space Applications Centre-ISRO in Ahmedabad, the ISRO will delay the landing of their module on the moon’s surface if any unfavorable factors arise. The current scheduled landing time is August 23 at 6:04 pm, but if necessary, it may be postponed until August 27 to ensure a safe landing.
Aug 23, 2023, 5:00 PM: Today, as the Lander will attempt a soft landing on the Moon’s South Pole, students in Gaya sing ‘Saare Jahan Se Achha.’
#WATCH | School students in Gaya sing ‘Saare Jahan Se Achha’ as Chandrayaan-3 to attempt soft landing on Moon’s South Pole today pic.twitter.com/nfwvf8aHbW
— ANI (@ANI) August 23, 2023
Aug 23, 2023, 4:45 PM: Singer Kailash Kher expressed his well wishes for the success of the Chandrayaan-3 mission to the moon.
#WATCH | Mumbai: Ahead of Chandrayaan-3 landing on the moon, Singer Kailash Kher says, “It is a moment of pride for those who love India that Chandrayaan is going to land. Science and space are complicated subjects but I salute my fellow Indians as they are working hard for it… pic.twitter.com/g749KpRWb2
— ANI (@ANI) August 23, 2023
Aug 23, 2023, 4:30 PM: Senior Scientist CSIR Satyanarayana said, “We are going to join the elite group of four (countries) touching the Moon’s surface… Failures gives lessons. We have learnt a lot… They (ISRO) have taken enough cautions to have a soft landing of Chandrayaan-3 over the Moon’s surface.”
Aug 23, 2023, 4:15 PM: President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa sends his best wishes to India for their moon mission.
“I would like to congratulate India, particularly as you speak about the need for cooperation in Space, in a few hours India’s spacecraft Chandrayaan-3 will be landing on the moon. We congratulate you. This for us, as the BRICS family, is a momentous occasion and we rejoice with you. We join you in the joy of this great achievement…” he said
Aug 23, 2023, 3:15 PM: Visuals from ISRO Mission Control Centre in Bengaluru, Karnataka, as the anticipated soft landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the moon is just a few hours away.
#WATCH | Karnataka | Visuals from ISRO Mission Control Centre in Bengaluru, as the expected soft landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the moon remains just a few hours away. pic.twitter.com/2sVAAfSfCs
— ANI (@ANI) August 23, 2023
Aug 23, 2023, 3:00 PM: Watch as people from Odisha pray at a mosque in Bhubaneswar for the successful lunar landing of Chandrayaan-3.
#WATCH | Odisha | People offer special prayers at a mosque in Bhubaneswar for the successful lunar landing of Chandrayaan-3. pic.twitter.com/in2nNnEnDD
— ANI (@ANI) August 23, 2023
Aug 23, 2023, 2:15 PM: Following the gentle landing, the rover will disembark from the lander’s underside, making use of a side panel functioning as a ramp to reach the Moon’s surface. The lander could potentially encounter the obstacle of lunar dust created by the ignition of onboard engines in proximity to the lunar surface. The planned duration of the lander and rover’s operational activity is set for one lunar day, approximately equivalent to 14 earth days, in order to analyze the lunar environment. Nevertheless, ISRO experts do not dismiss the chance of their reactivation for an additional lunar day.
Aug 23, 2023, 1:45 PM: Yoga Ramdev performs puja for the success of the Chandrayaan-3 moon mission.
#WATCH | Uttarakhand: Yog Guru Ramdev performs puja in Haridwar for the success of the Chandrayaan-3 mission. pic.twitter.com/JkYK6xe1Fb
— ANI (@ANI) August 23, 2023
Aug 23, 2023, 1:30 PM: Congress leader Harish Rawat congratulates the scientists in advance for the Chandrayaan-3 moon mission.
#WATCH | On Chandrayaan-3 mission, Senior Congress leader Harish Rawat says, “It is a very big achievement & I want to congratulate the scientists in advance…We want that Chandrayaan-3 should land successfully…” pic.twitter.com/JQeGgl2qEB
— ANI (@ANI) August 23, 2023
Aug 23, 2023, 1:20 PM: ISRO Chairman G Madhavan Nair expressed the significance of this moment, labeling it a pivotal milestone for planetary exploration. He underscored the meticulous planning, simulations, and enhancements in design that ISRO has undertaken to elevate the mission’s chances of success.
Aug 23, 2023, 1:16 PM: Chandrayaan 3’s journey to this final stage has captured the attention of Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot, who extended an invitation to children to witness the live telecast of the soft landing from his residence. Gehlot lauded the efforts of the scientific community and everyone involved in this historic mission.
Aug 23, 2023, 1:11 PM: Former Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chief Chairman K Sivan said this is the “most significant milestone for planetary exploration.”
Chandrayaan-3: “Most significant milestone for planetary exploration,” says former ISRO chief
Read @ANI Story | https://t.co/9WMwOZ27yp#Chandrayaan3 #ISRO #LunarMission pic.twitter.com/r2KO9QCP1s
— ANI Digital (@ani_digital) August 23, 2023
Aug 23, 2023, 1:10 PM: Undoubtedly, the venture into the moon’s south pole presents unique challenges, and once accomplished, India will be the world’s first nation to achieve this feat. A video from CNBC sheds light on the intricacies and hurdles associated with achieving a successful soft landing in this unexplored region.
As #India awaits the historic touchdown of the #VikramLander on the #Moon, #Chandrayaan3 faces a myriad of challenges that come with the difficult task of achieving a soft landing
Here’s a video that highlights the challenges Chandrayaan-3 is expected to encounter#ISRO pic.twitter.com/hhVzregDo6
— CNBC-TV18 (@CNBCTV18Live) August 23, 2023
Aug 23, 2023, 1:05 PM: ISRO has tweeted, “All set to initiate the Automatic Landing Sequence (ALS). Awaiting the arrival of Lander Module (LM) at the designated point, around 17:44 Hrs. IST. Upon receiving the ALS command, the LM activates the throttleable engines for powered descent. The mission operations team will keep confirming the sequential execution of commands. The live telecast of operations at MOX begins at 17:20 Hrs. IST.”
Chandrayaan-3 Mission:
All set to initiate the Automatic Landing Sequence (ALS).
Awaiting the arrival of Lander Module (LM) at the designated point, around 17:44 Hrs. IST.Upon receiving the ALS command, the LM activates the throttleable engines for powered descent.
The… pic.twitter.com/x59DskcKUV— ISRO (@isro) August 23, 2023
Aug 23, 2023, 11:30 AM: International Sand Artist Sudarsan Pattnaik hailing from Odisha, has joined the celebration by creating a miniature sand sculpture in Denver, Colorado, USA, commemorating the impending achievement of Chandrayaan 3’s lunar landing.
#WATCH | International Sand Artist Sudarsan Pattnaik creates a miniature sand sculpture at Denver, Colorado in the US, for the successful lunar landing of Chandrayaan-3. pic.twitter.com/Nu4AXshPGm
— ANI (@ANI) August 23, 2023
Aug 23, 2023, 11:00 AM: The culmination of ISRO’s meticulous efforts and cutting-edge technology is reflected in the Chandrayaan-3 Lander Module (LM), consisting of the Vikram lander and the Pragyan rover. Scheduled for a touchdown near the moon’s south polar region at 6:04 pm today, India is poised to become the fourth nation in the world and the first to reach this previously untouched area of Earth’s celestial companion.
With the mission proceeding smoothly as planned, ISRO’s Mission Operations Complex (MOX) is abuzz with enthusiasm and excitement. Regular system checks and preparations are underway, capturing the energy and dedication invested in making this historical moment a reality. Visuals of the moon captured by the lander’s cameras offer a glimpse of the celestial body from an entirely new perspective.
