"We have achieved soft landing, India is on the Moon" These words by chief of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), S Somnath, will go down in the history books.
From becoming the first nation to land on south pole of the Moon to launching a spacecraft to study the Sun environment, extraordinary is just an understatement what ISRO has achieved since 2023. As India is celebrating first anniversary of successful landing on lunar surface, we will have a look into a detailed timeline of events from launch to landing.
India became the first country to land any spacecraft on the uncharted territory of south polar region with the Chandrayaan-3 on August 23, 2023.
July 7, 2023: ISRO completed the vehicle electrical tests and invited citizens to observe the launch from the special Launch View Gallery at SDSC-SHAR, Sriharikota.
July 11, 2023: The 'Launch Rehearsal' simulating the total launch preparation was conducted.
Chandrayaan-3 mission:
— ISRO (@isro) July 11, 2023
The ‘Launch Rehearsal’ simulating the entire launch preparation and process lasting 24 hours has been concluded.
Mission brochure: https://t.co/cCnH05sPcW pic.twitter.com/oqV1TYux8V
Credit - @isro X handle
July 14, 2023: Sucessful launch of Chandrayaan-3 into orbit through LVM3 M4 vehicle.
July 15, 2023: ISRO scientists completed the first orbit-raising maneuver (also known as Earthbound firing-1) at ISTRAC/ISRO, Bengaluru.
July 17, 2023: The second orbit-raising maneuver was completed.
July 22, 2023: The fourth orbit-raising maneuver (Earth-bound perigee firing) is conducted.
July 25, 2023: Scientists completed next Orbit-raising maneuver.
August 1, 2023: The spacecraft is inserted into the translunar orbit.
August 5, 2023: Chandrayaan-3 is successfully inserted into the lunar orbit.
August 14, 2023: The chandrayaan-3 mission reached its orbit circularisation phase.
August 17, 2023: The Vikram Lander Module is separated from the Propulsion Module successfully.
August 23, 2023: 'I reached my destination and you too!': Chandrayaan-3 sent the message after successful soft-landed on the moon.
... ... and here is how the Chandrayaan-3 Rover ramped down from the Lander to the Lunar surface. pic.twitter.com/nEU8s1At0W
— ISRO (@isro) August 25, 2023
Credit - @isro X handle
August 24, 2023: First-ever Made in India rover, Chandrayaan-3 ROVER ramped down from the Lander and “India took a walk on the moon!” as mentioned by ISRO.
Chandrayaan-3 mission performed various scientific discoveries, like confirming the occurrence of sulfur on the Moon and developing the first temperature-depth profile of the south polar region in the Moon.
Laurie Leshin, Director of National Aeronautics and Space Administration or NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, lauded the effort of ISRO: "We are so impressed with Chandrayaan-3 and the future plans for Indian space exploration, and we look forward to having many more partnerships between NASA and ISRO. The respect for India's space programme - it was already very high because India has accomplished so much in space - but now it's off the charts.”
National Space Day - 2024
— ISRO (@isro) July 22, 2024
The historic landing of #Chandrayaan3 on the Moon is celebrated as National Space Day every year on August 23.
Dr. S. Somanath, Chairman, ISRO, invites all citizens to participate in these activities and join the nationwide celebrations.#NSpD2024 pic.twitter.com/odtAfy1yTc
Credit - @isro X handle
Among many, the next big projects by ISRO are NISAR (a collaborative venture by ISRO and NASA), Chandrayaan-4, and Gaganyaan. According to ISRO website; “Gaganyaan project envisages demonstration of human spaceflight capability by launching crew of 3 members to an orbit of 400 km for a 3 days mission and bring them back safely to earth, by landing in Indian sea waters.”
This massive feat was not only a testament to ISRO's capabilities but also a ray of hope for a nation that has long aspired to become the part of elite club in space exploration. It was a culmination of extensive planning and implementation, making India as only the fourth country to achieve the soft landing on the Lunar surface, followed by the United States, the Soviet Union, and China.
