Chandrayaan-3 LIVE: 'India Is on the Moon,' Says ISRO Chief After Vikram Landing
Chandrayaan-3 Landing: Catch all the live updates here.
The Chandrayaan-3 landing module called 'Vikram' is expected to touchdown at the Moon's South Pole on Wednesday evening, 23 August.
(Photo: PTI)
Chandrayaan-3 Landing Time and Live Updates: India made history after the Chandrayaan-3 landing module called 'Vikram' touched down on the Moon's South Pole on Wednesday evening, 23 August.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) via live video from South Africa. "Like our scientists said, India is on the Moon now," he said on the historic feat.
Students of Ashadeep School hold a banner wishing successful landing of Chandrayaan-3's on Moon's surface, in Surat on Tuesday, 22 August.
The Vikram lander successfully separated from the propulsion module on 17 August, and has been orbiting closer to the Moon as well as snapping images of the far-side of the surface.
(Photo: PTI)
(Photo: PTI)
(Photo: PTI)
(Photo: PTI)
(Photo: PTI)
(Photo: PTI)
India has become the first country to land a probe and explore the south polar region of the Moon.
A few days ago, Russia's Luna-25 smashed into the Moon's surface while attempting to make a soft-landing in the same region.
Only three other countries (Russia, China, and the United States) have successfully landed a rover on the Moon.
The Vikram landing module is reportedly named after the father of the Indian space programme – Vikram Sarabhai
It cost Rs 615 crore to develop and launch the Chandrayaan-3 rocket which reportedly weighs around 3,900 kg.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)
'We Are Confident': ISRO Chairman
“We are confident as everything has been all fine so far and there have been no contingencies faced until this juncture. We’ve done all the preparations and all systems have performed as we needed them to until this stage. Now, we are preparing for the landing with multiple simulations, verification and double verification of systems, checking of instruments’ health is being done today (Monday) and tomorrow (Tuesday),” ISRO Chairman Somanath was quoted as saying by The Times of India days before the launch.
Prayers Offered Ahead of Landing
Mahant of Sri Mankameshwar temple Mahant Devaigya Puri performs 'puja' and 'havan' for the safe landing of Chandrayaan -3, in Lucknow on Tuesday, 22 August.
Monks offer prayers during a Ganga Aarti for ISRO's lunar mission Chandrayaan-3's safe landing on the Moon, in Rishikesh on Tuesday, 22 August.
Earthen lamps are lit in a formation that reads Chandrayaan at Assi Ghat as prayers were offered for ISRO's lunar mission Chandrayaan-3's successful landing on the Moon's surface, in Varanasi on Tuesday, 22 August.
A priest performs havan for the successful landing of ISRO's Chandrayaan-3 on the lunar surface of the Moon, in Kolkata.
Locals offer prayers for the successful landing of ISRO's Chandrayaan-3 on the lunar surface of the Moon, at Pandav Nagar in New Delhi.
Indians from across the country offered their prayers a day prior to the soft landing of the Chandrayaan-3 landing module on the Moon.
A Ganga Aarti for India's lunar mission was held at Parmarth Niketan Ghat in Rishikesh, news agency ANI reported. Meanwhile, people offered namaz for a successful landing in Lucknow's Islamic Centre of India. Members of the Indian diaspora in the US also reportedly conducted a 'havan' in the state of Virginia.
PM Modi To View Landing Virtually
Prime Minister Modi will reportedly watch the event virtually from South Africa, where he is attending the ongoing BRICS Summit.
Back home, the Uttar Pradesh government announced that the live telecast of the landing will be screened in all government-run schools and educational institutions.
'I Am Super Excited': Sunita Williams
"Landing on the Moon will provide us with invaluable insights. I am truly thrilled that India is at the forefront of space exploration and the pursuit of sustainable living on the Moon. These are truly exciting times," Indian-American Sunita Williams said in a statement shared by National Geographic India as part of a special broadcast.
"Filled with enthusiasm for lunar exploration, I'm looking forward to seeing the scientific research that should come out of this landing and the rover taking samples, it is just going to be a great step," she added.
'All Set To Initiate...': ISRO
"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," read the Indian space agency's latest update on X (formerly Twitter).
"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," it added
The live telecast of the landing will start from 5:20pm, as per ISRO's tweet.
Special Assemblies To Be Held at IITs, IIMs
The central government on Wednesday asked universities and higher education institutions, including IITs and IIMs, to hold special assemblies meant for watching the live-telecast of the Chandrayaan-3 moon landing, news agency PTI reported.
'ISRO Team Belongs to India: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee
Hailing the Chandrayaan-3 lunar mission as a matter of pride, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said, "The ISRO team belongs to India. Their hard work is a testament of the country's progress which has come from the people, scientists and economists, and not any political entity."
"Scientists from across the country, including Bengal, have greatly contributed to the mission. I applaud the efforts of all those who have worked hard at taking India's lunar exploration to greater heights!" Banerjee further tweeted.
Leaders Across Party Lines Extend Best Wishes
"Our scientists have done a very great job. I wish the entire team (of ISRO) who has contributed to the success of Chandrayaan-3. I wish them all the best," said Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar on Wednesday.
Commenting on Chandrayaan-3's scheduled landing, former J&K CM Farooq Abdullah told PTI, "India has progressed tremendously and has been progressing in space since the time of APJ Abdul Kalam. All of us are proud of our scientists."
Meanwhile, Union Ministers Anurag Thakur and Jyotiraditya Scindia reacted prior to the lunar landing. "I am among the 140 crore Indians extending their best wishes for (landing of) Chandrayaan-3. India has taken a big leap in the space sector and we all are waiting for the success of Chandrayaan-3," Thakur was quoted as saying by PTI.
"Citizens of India are eagerly waiting for the country to create history with the successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the Moon. We are confident that India's flag will fly high," Scindia said.
What's On Board Chandrayaan-3?
With the landing attempt expected to take place in just a few hours, what will Chandrayaan-3 do once it lands on the Moon? How will it carry out its missions? What science payloads will it use?
Watch the video below to find out.
'Big Day': Kartikeya Sarabhai
"It is a big day. It is a fantastic thing for anyone on the planet not just India to be able to send with this precision which we have been able to send Chandrayaan-3 and also through a process that is different from others. In science and engineering, we learn from mistakes...It will be a great thing for humanity because no one has been able to land on the south side of the moon," Kartikeya Sarabhai, son of ISRO founder Vikram Sarabhai told news agency ANI.
'Momentous Occasion': South African President Cyril Ramaphosa
"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," said South African President Cyril Ramaphosa during the 15th BRICS Summit in Johannesburg.
'We Are Going To Join the Elite Group of Four': Senior Scientist, CSIR
"We are going to join the elite group of four (countries) touching the Moon's surface... Failures gives lessons. We've learnt a lot...They (ISRO) have taken enough cautions to have a soft landing of Chandrayaan-3 over the Moon's surface," Satyanarayana, Senior Scientist, CSIR said on Chandrayaan-3 landing, as quoted by ANI.
Vikram's Power Dissent Begins
The power dissent of the Vikram lander has begun. The module is minutes away from touchdown on the Moon.
PM Modi Joins ISRO Live from South Africa
Prime Minister Narendra Modi joined in the final countdown of the Vikram lander in the ISRO office via video from South Africa.
Vikram Lander 1 KM Away from Moon
The Vikram lander module is one km away from the Moon's surface.
Chandrayaan-3 Lands on Moon, India Makes History
India made history after the Chandrayaan-3 landing module called 'Vikram' touched down on the Moon's South Pole on Wednesday evening, 23 August.
PM Modi Addresses ISRO After Successful Landing
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is currently addressing ISRO after the Vikram lander successfully landed on the Moon.
"Like our scientists said, India is on the Moon now," he said while congratulating the space agency on this historic feat.
"India’s successful Moon mission is not India’s alone. This is a year in which the world is witnessing India’s G20 presidency. Our approach of 'One Earth, One Family, One Future' is resonating across the globe," he added.
'Sky Is Not the Limit': MoS Jitendra Singh
"While the world fantasises about the moon, we have actually felt the moon...the world dreams of the moon, and we have seen the dream getting converted into reality…sky is not the limit", said Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh after successful landing of Chandrayaan-3.
ISRO Chief Thanks Chandrayaan-3 Team
ISRO chief S Somanath thanked his team which worked on Chandrayaan-3.
The team includes:
Programme Director: P Veeramuthuvel
Associate Director: Kalpana
Mission Operations Director: Srikanth
Director, UR Rao Space Centre: M Sankaran
'Unsuccessful Attempt Made It Possible': ISRO Chief
"The unsuccessful attempt made it possible for us to achieve this feat. We are excited. As PM said, this is just the beginning. This is not just for Chandrayan-3 but for all other future missions. Thanks to everyone for your prayers, excitement and love for the nation. This success is dedicated to all of you. The next mission is Gaganyaan. We are targeting to have it on September or in the first week of October. The rover will come out in a few hours. Sometimes it takes a day also. Once the rover comes out, it will do two experiments," ISRO chief said.
'Significant': CJI DY Chandrachud
"The success of the lunar mission places India in a select group of nations to have successfully achieved the landing on the lunar surface. It is more significant because India is the only nation to achieve the lunar landing on the south pole of the Moon," said CJI DY Chandrachud on successful landing of Chandrayaan-3.
'Momentous Occasion': President Droupadi Murmu
"It is truly a momentous occasion -- a kind of event that happens once in a lifetime," said President Droupadi Murmu in her address to the nation after Chandrayaan-3's soft landing on the Moon.
People Celebrate Chandrayaan-3's Successful Landing
People from across the country are celebrating the successful soft landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the Moon.
Guwahati: People celebrate after the successful soft landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the Moons surface, at Guwahati Planetarium, on Wednesday, 23 August.
Students celebrate after the successful soft landing of Chandrayan-3 on the Moons surface, in Lucknow, Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2023.
People celebrate the successful soft landing of ISRO's lunar mission Chandrayaan-3's Lander Module (LM) on the Moon, in Patna, on Wednesday, 23 August.
A man holds a banner congratulating ISRO after its lunar mission Chandrayaan-3s successful soft landing on the Moon's surface, at B M Birla Planetarium, Kotturpuram, in Chennai, on Wednesday, 23 August.
Police personnel celebrate after the successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the Moons surface, in Agra.
School students celebrate after the soft landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the lunar surface, in Hyderabad.
'Collective Success': Mallikarjun Kharge
"The success of Chandrayaan3 is the collective success of every Indian. An elated nation with 140 crore aspirations witnessed today yet another achievement in its six-decade long space programme," tweeted Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.
NASA Administrator Congratulates ISRO
NASA administrator Bill Nelson congratulated ISRO on the successful landing of Chandrayaan-3.
"Congratulations ISRO on your successful Chandrayaan-3 lunar South Pole landing! And congratulations to India on being the 4th country to successfully soft-land a spacecraft on the Moon. We’re glad to be your partner on this mission!" Nelson tweeted.
Chadrayaan-3 Lander Shares Images From Moon
"The communication link is established between the Ch-3 Lander and MOX-ISTRAC, Bengaluru. Here are the images from the Lander Horizontal Velocity Camera taken during the descent," ISRO tweeted.
Pragyan Rover Rolls Out of Vikram
The Pragyan rover which will be used to probe the lunar surface, fully exited the belly of the Vikram lander on Thursday morning, 24 August, news agency PTI reported citing ISRO sources.
What Next?
The 'Pragyan' rover and Vikram lander will have the next 14 Earth days (or one lunar day) to carry out experiments and relay the data back to ISRO mission control, according to a report by Hindustan Times.
The 14 Earth days after that will see extreme cold weather on the Moon, during which both the rover and the lander will reportedly become inactive. They were built to last for a duration of 14 days and will stay on the Moon, the report added.
However, there is a possibility of Pragyan and Vikram coming back to life when the Sun shines on the lunar surface again.