Chandrayaan-3 sets off on journey to the Moon

India’s third moon craft successfully blasted off on Friday afternoon from Andhra Pradesh’s Sriharikota spaceport, marking the first stage of a complicated 40-day mission that aims to vault the country into an elite club of nations that have successfully landed on the lunar surface.

- Soumya Pillai

Built at a cost of nearly ₹600 crore by the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro), Chandrayaan 3 was launched at 2.35pm from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre using a Launch Vehicle Mark-3, formerly known as the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mk-III. The craft carried a rover (Pragyan) and a lander (Vikram) that will aim to become the first to land on the south pole of the moon, which has generated tremendous scientific interest in recent years due to the presence of water ice.

“We are expecting it (Chandrayaan-3) to enter into lunar orbit by August 1 and two-three weeks from then, separation of the propulsion module and lander module will happen on August 17. The final descent is currently planned for August 23, at 5.47pm. That is the plan if it goes as per the schedule,” said Isro chief S Somanath.

Scientists inside the mission control centre (MCC) waited with bated breath to see Chandrayaan-3 separate from the rocket about 16 minutes after lift-off even as thousands of spectators broke into loud cheers as the rocket lifted off in plumes of golden and white smoke.

If Chandrayaan-3 lands on the moon — something its predecessor was unable to do when it veered off course in the final moments before the descent on September 6, 2019, and crashed on the lunar surface — it will make India only the fourth country (after the United States, the erstwhile Soviet Union, and China) to achieve a soft landing.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the launch of the mission as a “new chapter” in the country’s space odyssey. “It soars high, elevating the dreams and ambitions of every Indian. This momentous achievement is a testament to our scientists’ relentless dedication. I salute their spirit and ingenuity!” he tweeted.