NEW DELHI. India has achieved a monumental feat by becoming the first country to successfully land a spacecraft near the moon’s south pole. The remarkable endeavor, undertaken by the world’s most populous nation, could potentially unlock reserves of frozen water in unexplored lunar regions, marking a significant scientific and technological triumph.
Following a previous unsuccessful lunar landing attempt in 2019, India now joins an exclusive group that includes the United States, the Soviet Union, and China as only the fourth nation to accomplish this milestone. A lander carrying a rover successfully touched down on the lunar surface at 6:04 p.m. local time, eliciting jubilant celebrations across the country. The achievement underlines India’s rising prowess as a technological powerhouse, aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of projecting India’s ascendance onto the global stage.
Addressing the achievement from South Africa, where he was participating in the BRICS summit, Prime Minister Modi proudly declared, “India is now on the moon. India has reached the south pole of the moon — no other country has achieved that. We are witnessing history.”
The lunar rover is set to disembark from the lander within hours or a day, engaging in experiments, including analyzing the mineral composition of the lunar surface. The mission, launched over a month ago at an estimated cost of $75 million, is anticipated to last for another two weeks. Indian Space Research Organization’s Chairman, S. Somnath, stated that the next objective would involve a manned lunar mission.
This achievement comes at a crucial time for India, which has recently become the world’s fifth-largest economy. The success of this lunar mission could potentially boost Prime Minister Modi’s popularity ahead of an upcoming significant general election.
India’s achievement is highlighted by the recent mishap with Russia’s Luna-25, intended for the same lunar area, which veered into an uncontrollable orbit and crashed. India’s successful landing serves as a beacon of hope, following Russia’s setback, and reinforces India’s growing influence on the global stage.
Global leaders, including NASA Administrator Bill Nelson and European Space Agency’s Director General Josef Aschbacher, acknowledged India’s emergence as a modern space power.
The mission, referred to as Chandrayaan-3, commenced from Sriharikota in southern India on July 14. This lunar exploration aims to study permanently shadowed moon craters, potentially holding frozen water, which could serve as a valuable resource for future space missions.
India’s space program has progressively advanced since the 1960s, launching satellites for itself and other nations. It achieved a major milestone by placing an orbiter around Mars in 2014. India’s collaboration with the United States in planning its first mission to the International Space Station further underscores its growing space capabilities.
Despite challenges and past failures, India’s resolute dedication to space exploration has culminated in a triumphant landing, positioning the nation as a formidable player in the global space arena.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
