India prepares for historic Moon landing
India is on the cusp of achieving a groundbreaking feat by becoming the first nation to successfully land a spacecraft on the Moon's southern pole. This significant milestone follows closely on the heels of a Russian probe's unfortunate crash in the same lunar region.
The imminent landing attempt represents a momentous occasion for the world's most populous nation, as it rapidly approaches milestones established by established space powers.
Chandrayaan-3, a term derived from Sanskrit meaning "Mooncraft," is poised to make its lunar descent shortly after 6 p.m. Indian Standard Time (12:30 GMT) on Wednesday, targeting the relatively uncharted lunar southern pole.
It is worth noting that a previous Indian lunar landing mission met with failure in 2019. Nevertheless, this latest endeavor arrives just days after Russia's inaugural moon mission in nearly half a century ended in a crash on the lunar surface.
Former Indian space agency chief, K Sivan, expressed optimism regarding the current mission's prospects. He pointed to recent images sent back by the lander, suggesting that the final stage of the voyage was on course for success. 'It is giving some encouragement that we will be able to achieve the landing mission without any problem,' he conveyed during a media briefing on Monday.
Sivan further disclosed that the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) had made crucial adjustments following a mishap four years ago when contact with the preceding lunar module was lost moments before its intended landing. These modifications are expected to enhance the chances of a successful touchdown for Chandrayaan-3.
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