India has etched its name in the annals of space exploration by becoming the first nation to successfully land a craft, Chandrayaan-3 near the Moon's south pole.

The resounding success of the Chandrayaan-3 mission, meaning "Mooncraft" in Sanskrit, has not only catapulted India's name to the forefront of space innovation but has also solidified its position as a visionary player in the world of ambitious yet cost-effective space programs. Amidst cheers of jubilation from mission control technicians and colleagues, the Chandrayaan-3 touched down precisely at 6:04 pm India time (12:34 GMT). This triumphant landing follows a Russian probe's unfortunate crash in the same region and comes four years after India's previous lunar attempt was thwarted in its final moments. https://twitter.com/sriram1970uae/status/1694357126246711531 Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, exuding pride and joy, waved the tricolour flag of India during a live broadcast, signalling the mission's success of Chandrayaan-3 as a milestone of significant global significance. Addressing the world from the BRICS diplomatic summit in South Africa, Modi stated, "India’s successful moon mission is not just India’s alone. This success belongs to all of humanity." [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] India Lands on the Moon's South Pole | Credit: The Independent | Source: Google[/caption] The Chandrayaan-3 mission, a source of immense fascination since its launch nearly six weeks ago, captured the imagination of millions across the nation. Hindu prayer rituals were performed by politicians, seeking divine blessings for the mission's triumph, while schoolchildren avidly followed the landing's final moments through live broadcasts in their classrooms. Unlike the swift Apollo missions of the 1960s and 1970s, Chandrayaan-3 took a longer route to the Moon, propelled by rockets less powerful than those employed by the United States. https://twitter.com/isro/status/1694360664675127726 This required multiple orbits around Earth to accumulate the necessary speed for its month-long journey. Vikram, the lander whose name translates to "valour" in Sanskrit, detached from its propulsion module last week. It has since been relaying captivating images of the lunar surface after entering the Moon's orbit on August 5. With Vikram successfully landing, the next phase involves the exploration of the Moon's terrain by a solar-powered rover, which will transmit invaluable data back to Earth over a two-week period. India's space program is rapidly approaching milestones set by established players such as the United States and Russia. Despite its comparatively modest budget, the South Asian nation has made significant strides in space exploration, culminating in this historic landing. The Chandrayaan-3 mission's price tag of $74.6 million stands in stark contrast to the expenditures of other nations, a testament to India's resourceful and pragmatic approach to space engineering. By emulating and adapting existing technology and leveraging its pool of highly skilled engineers, India has unlocked the secret to cost-efficient space exploration. In 2014, India achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first Asian country to place a craft into orbit around Mars. Additionally, the nation is gearing up for a crewed mission into Earth's orbit in the coming year. The success of Wednesday's landing marks a momentous achievement for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), which experienced a heart-wrenching setback in its previous lunar mission in 2019. The Chandrayaan-2 lunar module lost contact moments before its scheduled landing, leaving the nation in disappointment. Former ISRO chief K. Sivan underscored the significance of India's exploration of the relatively uncharted lunar south pole, emphasizing its potential to contribute immensely to scientific knowledge. Notably, only Russia, the United States, and China had previously achieved controlled landings on the Moon. Russia's recent lunar probe launch aimed for a similar feat but encountered a setback as the Luna-25 crashed during its descent. India's accomplishment, in this context, becomes even more noteworthy, solidifying its status as a rising star in the realm of space exploration. The triumph of Chandrayaan-3 serves as a testament to India's commitment to scientific advancement, innovation, and global collaboration in the quest for understanding the cosmos.