India etched themselves into the history books as they became the first country to successfully land a spacecraft near the moon’s south pole region.
Chandrayaan-3 made a soft landing on the lunar surface at 6.04 PM IST on August 23 following a 40-day journey, starting from the Sathish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
Countless Indians remained riveted to their television screens and mobile devices, eagerly following the live broadcast of the landing. As news of the successful outcome spread, a tangible wave of euphoria and national pride swept the country.
Inside the ISRO headquarters, scientists exchanged heartfelt embraces, their faces adorned with smiles as they rejoiced and danced in celebration.
This lunar landing marked a monumental milestone, making India the fourth nation to accomplish such a feat, and it’s expected that the mission could cement its status as a global superpower in space.
Previously, only the United States, China and the former Soviet Union have completed soft landings on the lunar surface.
The moment caught the attention of the world. Muscle and Health examines the best reactions from across the globe.
South-Side of the Moon
The Moon’s South Pole has garnered increased attention from the scientific community owing to recent revelations about the presence of water ice.
In 2019, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) embarked on the Chandrayaan-2 mission, aiming to land at the lunar South Pole region. However, a software glitch led to a crash landing on the moon, hampering their efforts.
Before the anticipated landing of Chandrayaan-3 lunar orbit, Russia rejoined the quest for its own lunar mission after almost half a century. Sadly, their Luna-25 mission ended in a crash landing on the lunar surface, underscoring the challenges and risks of venturing into uncharted lunar territory.
Following a monumental moment for India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the scientists and said,
“No country has reached the South Pole of the Moon before. With the hard work of our scientists, we have reached there. India’s successful Moon mission is not just India’s alone…This success belongs to all of humanity. When we see such historic moments, it makes us very proud. This is the dawn of new India.“
Chandrayaan-3 breaks world streaming record
Before Chandrayaan-3 etched its historic mark on the lunar surface, it had already begun setting remarkable records on Earth.
A staggering 5.6 million viewers worldwide converged on ISRO’s official YouTube channel at 5:53 PM IST, surpassing the previous live stream record of 3.4 million viewers held by Ibai.
As space enthusiasts spanning the globe awaited with bated breath for the Vikram Lander Module’s descent onto and near the Moon’s south pole at 6:04 PM on Wednesday, August 23, the digital realm buzzed with the excitement of this unprecedented achievement.
By the time Chandrayaan-3 gracefully touched down, an astounding 8 million viewers had joined the virtual spectacle, marking the zenith of YouTube’s live-streaming history in peak viewership. This event showcased India’s prowess in space exploration and underscored the nation’s significant digital impact.
Putin and Russia humble after setback
President Vladimir Putin called the Moon landing an “impressive” achievement days after Moscow’s mission crashed.
The unmanned Luna-25 spacecraft was Russia’s first mission to the Moon in 47 years. Launched on Friday, August 11, it was in a race with India’s Chandrayaan-3 lunar lander to reach the lunar south pole.
It was due to execute a soft landing on Monday but fell into an uncontrollable descent before colliding with the surface of the Moon.
“This is a big step forward in space exploration and, of course, a testament to the impressive progress made by India in the field of science and technology,” read a statement from the Kremlin following the crash.
The setback of this mission vividly underscores Russia’s waning prominence as a space powerhouse, a far cry from its stature during the era of the initial space rivalry with the United States throughout the Cold War.
In those historic days, Moscow was at the forefront, launching the first-ever satellite to orbit the Earth, Sputnik 1, back in 1957. Furthermore, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin etched his name in history as the pioneer to venture into space in 1961.
USA and NASA acknowledge significant achievement
The US Department of State’s Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs has emphasized that the triumph of Chandrayaan-3 will ignite the “imagination” of future generations.
Congratulations to our #ArtemisAccords partner @isro on the successful landing of #Chandrayaan-3 on the Moon. Your success will power the imagination and light the future of people worldwide.
