New Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu called Chandrayaan-3’s historic moon landing Wednesday an event that happens once in a lifetime.
“Our scientists have not only made history but have also remade the idea of geography. It is truly a momentous occasion… making all Indians proud,” she said.
Murmu congratulated space agency ISRO and everybody involved in this mission and wished them greater accomplishments ahead.
“The success of Chandrayaan, I believe, is also a major achievement for the whole of humankind,” the President said in her message after the mission lander Vikram successfully touched down on the moon’s south pole region around 6.04 pm.
With the landing Wednesday, India became the first country to reach the moon’s south pole, and only the fourth after the US, China and the former USSR to send an uncrewed spacecraft to the lunar surface.
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) scientists and officials were seen clapping, cheering and hugging each other as the spacecraft landed – an achievement seen as crucial to lunar exploration and also boosting India’s standing as a space power.
“India is on the moon,” ISRO chief S. Somanath said as the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft landed on the lunar south pole.
The South Pole’s rough terrain, with craters and deep ditches, makes a landing difficult, and a first landing is historic for any space programme. The region’s ice could supply fuel, oxygen and drinking water for future missions, and even prop up a permanent moon colony.
“This is a victory cry for new India,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, who was seen waving the Indian flag as he watched the landing operation from South Africa, where he is attending the 15th BRICS Summit. “We are witnessing history,” he said.
Vikram will now deploy a ramp for the Pragyan rover to roll out on the lunar surface. Pragyan can communicate only with Vikram, which in turn will communicate with the Earth directly.
The duo is carrying six scientific instruments or payloads to explore the moon’s surface, particularly to seek out the region’s water ice, and will remain operational for one lunar day or 14 Earth days.
Congratulatory messages continued to pour in Wednesday after the historic touchdown.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said: “Congratulations ISRO on your successful Chandrayaan-3 lunar South Pole landing! And congratulations to India on being the 4th country to successfully soft-land a spacecraft on the Moon. We’re glad to be your partner on this mission!”
Director General of the European Space Agency (ESA) Josef Aschbacher said: “Incredible! Congratulations to ISRO, Chandrayaan-3, and to all the people of India!! What a way to demonstrate new technologies AND achieve India’s first soft landing on another celestial body. Well done, I am thoroughly impressed.”
NASA and ESA have been among the various contributors and collaborators for the Chandrayaan-3 mission.
Also read: ‘Unforgettable, phenomenal:’ PM Modi on historic moon landing, talks of ISRO’s next targets