Is India the first country to reach south pole of moon?
India made history by becoming the first country to successfully land on the south pole region of the Moon with Chandrayaan-3.
The mission's objectives include demonstrating safe and soft-landing on the lunar surface, lunar roving, and conducting in-situ scientific experiments.
The Lander Module of Chandrayaan-3, consisting of the lander (Vikram) & the rover (Pragyan), touched down near the Moon's south polar region.
This makes India the fourth nation to achieve this feat and the first to reach the previously unexplored south pole.
Chandrayaan-3 follows Chandrayaan-2, which encountered issues during its lunar phase when the lander 'Vikram' crashed into the Moon's surface in 2019.
The mission cost Rs 615 crore and was launched on July 14, 2023, embarking on a 41-day journey to the lunar south pole.
The most critical part of the landing was reducing the lander's velocity from 30 km height to the final landing and reorienting the spacecraft from horizontal to vertical direction.
After landing, the rover will descend from the lander's belly using a side panel as a ramp.
The lander and rover will have a mission life of one lunar day (about 14 Earth days).
The goal is to study the lunar environment, with the possibility of extending their operations for another lunar day.