The Indian Space Association, a prominent consortium of private space and satellite companies in India, has lauded ISRO and the Indian government for their recent accomplishment of safely landing the Chandrayaan-3 lander on the moon’s southern pole at 6:04 PM today.
The accomplishment marks India as the fourth nation to softly land on the moon’s surface, following the USA, China, and the previous Soviet Union. Notably, India is the first to achieve this feat on the moon’s south pole.
Chandrayaan-3 Sends Heartening Message
In the aftermath of the landing, Chandrayaan-3 transmitted a message: “‘India, I reached my destination and you too!’: Chandrayaan-3.” This achievement highlights how space is becoming more accessible and displays India’s firm resolve in conquering challenging space endeavors.
It also bodes well for India’s involvement in the upcoming era of lunar exploration, which aims to establish lasting structures on the moon.
Chandrayaan-3 Mission Highlights
Launched on July 14, 2023, from Sriharikota, India, the Chandrayaan-3 mission involves the Vikram lander and Pragyan rover. The lander’s main task is to softly land on the moon’s surface, enabling the rover to perform on-site chemical analyses. This mission strives to advance novel technologies crucial for future interplanetary missions.
Private Companies’ Contribution
In addition to ISRO’s efforts, several private companies such as Larsen & Toubro (L&T), Walchandnagar Industries, Centum Electronics, Godrej & Boyce, and Ananth Technologies have played pivotal roles in the successful launch and landing of Chandrayaan-3 and other ISRO missions. Their contributions often go unnoticed, despite their significant impact over many years.
Commenting on the occasion, Lt. Gen. AK Bhatt (Retd.), Director General, Indian Space Association, said:
We celebrate ISRO’s triumphant landing of the Chandrayaan-3, a testament to India’s robust spirit of space exploration and our proficiency in the space sector. This achievement not only underscores the potential of the Indian space sector but also positions India among a select group of nations that have accomplished this remarkable feat. It heralds a wealth of opportunities for private entities, fostering the growth of the lunar space economy and signaling a significant shift.
These moon landings will catalyze our efforts to cultivate a thriving lunar economy and stimulate more extensive celestial exploration, extending to Mars and beyond. The inclusion of more private participants and our burgeoning spacetech startups in future missions will be a crucial stride towards space exploration and commercialization. This step signifies our commitment to making India a frontrunner in the global space economy.