India Lands On Moon’s South Pole As First Nation
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
NEW DELHI (Worthy News) – India has become the first nation in known human history to successfully land near the Moon’s South Pole, just days after Russia’s space lander crashed into the area.
“India is now on the Moon,” said Prime Minister Narendra Modi immediately after the unmanned Chandrayaan-3, which means “Mooncraft” in Sanskrit, touched down on the lunar surface.
As the aircraft landed at 6:04 pm, India time control technicians cheered wildly and embraced their colleagues.
Supporters of India’s Chandrayaan-3 space mission believe craters that are permanently in shadow on the dark side of the Moon may hold frozen water.
That is seen as of critical importance for establishing long-term human settlements on the planet.
The attempt – India’s third lunar mission – comes days after Russia’s unmanned Luna-25 spacecraft spanned out of control and crashed into the Moon.
Experts said Russia’s crash underscored how difficult it is to land in the south pole region, where the surface is “very uneven” and “full of craters and boulders”.
SETBACK FOR PUTIN
The crash also came as a setback for Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was eager to show his nation still has what it takes to be a significant player in space despite Western sanctions over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Yet late Wednesday, the spotlight focused on India with Modi smiling broadly and waving his Asian nation’s flag in a live broadcast to announce the mission’s success as a triumph that extended beyond his country’s borders.
“On this joyous occasion, I would like to address the people of the world,” added Modi from the sidelines of the BRICS diplomatic summit in South Africa.
“India’s successful moon mission is not just India’s alone,” he stressed. “This success belongs to all of humanity.”
The Chandrayaan-3 mission has captivated public attention since launching nearly six weeks ago in front of thousands of cheering spectators.
Celebrations were held across India, the world’s most populated country of over 1.4 billion people that is fast catching up with advanced nations, though many still live in poverty.
Only three other countries in history have pulled off controlled or “soft” lunar landings: the United States, China, and the former Soviet Union. India is the first to land on the Moon’s south pole area amid an ongoing space race between powers.
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