India’s Bold Chandrayaan-3 Spacecraft Inches Closer to Historic Landing on the South Pole of the Moon

Just days after a Russian probe crashed in the same landing zone on August 19, India is poised to make history by landing a spacecraft on the South Pole of the moon.

The Luna-25, Russia’s first lunar expedition in more than 50 years, came to an abrupt end when its spacecraft crashed into the moon just days after it was launched into orbit.

India might become the only country to ever complete such a feat when the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft touches down on the south pole of the moon.

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has assured that as of August 22, everything is proceeding according to schedule.

The public will be able to see the event through the India’s space agency live broadcast at 5:20 pm on television today. Chandrayaan-3 cameras were able to collect images, including one taken on August 20 that India’s space agency shared Tuesday.

There are three key objectives for the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft mission.

To conduct experiments for science there on the Moon.

To demonstrate the Moon’s surface after the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft made a smooth and safe landing there.

To show the motion of a rover on the moon. 

In lunar orbit for more than two weeks, the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft has been operating without hitch.

Four years ago, India’s last attempt to land a spacecraft on the moon failed when ground control lost communication just before touchdown. Chandrayaan-3’s successful landing would solidify India’s position as a world superpower in space exploration.

Only the United States, China, and the former Soviet Union were able to execute soft landings on the lunar surface.

The Chandrayaan-3’s six-wheeled lander and rover module was launched from a Launchpad in Srihari Kota, in southern India, in July last month with plans to arrive on the moon later in August.

A budget of £59 million was allocated to the mission.