Prime Minister Modi will observe the virtual endeavor of Chandrayaan-3's lunar landing

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is currently present in South Africa to participate in the BRICS Summit, will virtually observe the landing endeavour of India's lunar mission, Chandrayaan-3, today. The Chandrayaan-3 mission's lander module, consisting of the Vikram lander and the Pragyan rover, is scheduled to make a landing attempt at 6.04 pm today on the moon's southern pole. Successful completion of this landing would mark India as the first nation to achieve a spacecraft landing on the moon's south pole.

Anticipation and enthusiasm are widespread throughout the country, with prayers for Chandrayaan's triumph, schools arranging for students to watch the live broadcast of the event, and space enthusiasts organising celebratory gatherings. Launched on July 14 via the Launch Vehicle Mark-III (LVM-3) rocket, the ₹ 600 crore Chandrayaan-3 mission embarked on a 41-day journey to reach proximity to the lunar south pole.

The module will undergo internal assessments and await sunrise at the designated landing site. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has noted that the powered descent, aimed at achieving a gentle landing on the moon's surface, is anticipated to commence around 5:45 pm on Wednesday.

A day prior to the planned touchdown, ISRO confirmed that the Chandrayaan-3 mission is proceeding according to schedule. This second endeavour by India to land on the moon, following an unsuccessful attempt in 2019, is being viewed as a testament to the resilience of the nation's scientific institutions.

During the previous attempt, PM Modi had travelled to Bengaluru to witness the intended landing of the lander. Despite the mission's setback, a touching moment unfolded between the Prime Minister and former ISRO chief K Sivan. As the space agency declared the loss of contact with the lander, PM Modi embraced and offered solace to Mr. Sivan, who became emotional.