The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has launched the Chandrayaan-3 mission with the ambitious goal of landing a rover at the lunar south pole. If successful, this mission would be a remarkable achievement, solidifying India’s position as a significant player in space exploration.
The Chandrayaan-3 mission aims to deploy a lander and rover near the moon’s south pole by August 23. The rocket, named LVM3, took off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, leaving a trail of smoke and fire in its wake.
Only three other space agencies—the United States, China, and the former Soviet Union—have previously achieved successful moon landings. However, none of them specifically targeted the moon’s south pole.
The mission’s name, Chandrayaan-3, is derived from Sanskrit and translates to “moon vehicle.” It includes a 2-meter-tall lander that will deploy a rover near the moon’s south pole. The rover will conduct various experiments and remain operational for nearly two weeks.
It’s important to note that ISRO’s previous mission, Chandrayaan-2, successfully deployed an orbiter in 2020. However, the lander and rover experienced a crash near the anticipated touchdown site of Chandrayaan-3.
