India’s Lunar Mission Nears Successful Touchdown After 6 PM Today

India is on the verge of achieving a significant lunar milestone as it prepares for its latest lunar landing attempt, a historic endeavor for the world’s most populous country. Chandrayaan-3, translating to “Mooncraft” in Sanskrit, is scheduled to softly land shortly after 6:00 pm India time (1230 GMT) near the relatively unexplored southern pole of the Moon, marking a world-first achievement for any space program.

Following a failed Indian attempt in 2019 and Russia’s recent lunar mission crash in the same area, India’s former space chief, K. Sivan, expressed optimism after reviewing images sent by the lander. He conveyed confidence that the final stage of the mission would be successful. Corrections were implemented by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) based on lessons learned from the previous failure.

Chandrayaan-3 launched approximately six weeks ago, taking longer to reach the Moon than the Apollo missions of the 1960s and 1970s due to the utilization of less powerful rockets. The probe orbited Earth multiple times to gain speed before embarking on its month-long journey to the Moon.

The spacecraft’s lander, Vikram, detached from its propulsion module last week and has since been transmitting images of the lunar surface. ISRO confirmed the mission’s schedule was on track, and excitement filled the mission control complex in anticipation of the landing.

With a budget of $74.6 million, India’s aerospace program is cost-effective due to its approach of adapting existing technology and leveraging highly skilled engineers who earn lower wages than their foreign counterparts. India’s space accomplishments include orbiting Mars in 2014 and planning a three-day manned mission into Earth’s orbit next year.

Former ISRO chief Sivan highlighted the scientific significance of exploring the lesser-known lunar south pole, which has been previously explored only by Russia, the United States, and China. Russia, which recently launched its own lunar probe, faced challenges that led to a crash landing. Sanctions, corruption, and a lack of innovation have hampered Russia’s space industry.

The potential success of Chandrayaan-3 marks India’s continued advancement in space exploration, contributing to scientific understanding and expanding its growing aerospace program.