moon journey of india

India on the moon! Chandrayaan-3 becomes 1st probe to land near lunar south pole

India just became the fourth nation to stick a lunar landing.

India has joined the moon-landing club.

The Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft touched down softly near the moon 's south pole today (Aug. 23), notching a huge milestone for the nation. India is now the fourth country to stick a lunar landing, after the United States, the former Soviet Union and China.

The historic touchdown occurred at 8:33 am ET (1233 GMT or 6:03 p.m. India Standard Time), according to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). "We have achieved soft landing on the moon! India is on the moon!" ISRO chairman Sreedhara Somanath announced after the landing.

"This success belongs to all of humanity and it will help moon missions by other countries in the future," India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a speech following the landing. "I'm confident that all countries in the world, including those from the global south, are capable of achieving such feats. We can all aspire to the moon and beyond."

A little over two hours after landing, ISRO posted images to X (formerly known as Twitter) showing the moon's surface as seen by Chandrayaan-3's during its descent, adding that the agency has successfully established a communication link between the spacecraft and mission control.

Related: Missions to the moon: Past, present and future

Soon, a solar-powered rover named Pragyan (Sanskrit for "wisdom") is expected to roll off Chandrayaan-3's Vikram ("valor") lander. The robotic duo will spend one lunar day (about 14 Earth days) exploring its new home, with the goal of collecting scientific data about the moon's makeup before its batteries drain after sunset.

Get the Space.com Newsletter

Breaking space news, the latest updates on rocket launches, skywatching events and more!

"The whole country is excited about this mission," Anil Bhardwaj, director of the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) in India, which built a few of the instruments onboard Chandrayaan-3, told Space.com prior to the landing. "We all hope that we will be successful in ... bringing out new science from this mission."

Chandrayaan-3 was India's second try at landing near the moon's south pole, a largely uncharted region of immense interest to scientists and exploration advocates alike. The south polar region is thought to harbor large amounts of water ice , which, if accessible, could be mined for rocket fuel and life support for future crewed missions. The country's first attempt at a lunar touchdown, in September 2019, failed when the Chandrayaan-2 lander crashed into the moon due to a software glitch.

Close to four years and many design and software upgrades later, the homegrown Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft launched atop a LVM3 rocket on July 14 from a spaceport in Sriharikota, on India's east coast. The spacecraft entered an elliptical orbit around the moon earlier this month, then performed multiple maneuvers to shift into a nearly circular path, which took it about 93 miles (150 kilometers) above the lunar surface.

Last Thursday (Aug. 17), the Vikram-Pragyan duo separated from the mission's propulsion module , which will study Earth from its orbit around the moon. The lander and rover, which had entered an egg-shaped lunar orbit after separation, braked successfully on Friday (Aug. 18) and then again on Sunday (Aug. 20) to get closer to the moon's surface.

While still in orbit around the moon on Monday (Aug. 21) and Tuesday (Aug. 22), the duo established contact with Chandrayaan-2 's orbiter, which has been circling the moon since 2019 and will serve as the critical communication link with Earth for the Chandrayaan-3 mission.

When the sun rose today on the targeted landing site, which was seen from Earth on one edge of the moon, mission control at ISRO's headquarters in Bengaluru commanded the lander to begin its descent to the lunar surface, activating its fully automatic landing system.

The historic landing was covered live by ISRO and broadcast by Indian public broadcaster Doordarshan. Once the powered descent began, the lander first braked to reduce its height from 18.6 miles (30 km) to just 0.4 miles (0.8 km) above the moon's surface. Then, the lander turned such that its altimeters, which measure height to the surface real-time using cameras onboard, faced downward in preparation for landing.

At 8:33 a.m. EDT (1233 GMT and 18:03 India time), the lander Vikram touched down in its target landing area, at roughly 70 degrees south latitude. This location is close to where Russia had hoped its first moon mission in 47 years, Luna-25, would land on Monday (Aug. 21). That effort, however, failed when the probe crashed into the moon over the weekend after a final orbital maneuver went sideways.

India's success today can be attributed to "extensive changes" to its landing strategy after Chandrayaan-2's 2019 crash, Bhardwaj said. Onboard algorithms that calculate spacecraft speed in real time during descent were reworked to allow for "more freedom to deviate" from protocol "but still do the landing," he added.

Other changes that helped facilitate the mission's success include a larger target landing zone, stronger legs for Vikram to withstand higher landing speeds and dynamic engines that adjusted the spacecraft's velocity for a smoother touchdown. 

Images of the moon that Chandrayaan-2's orbiter has been sending home since 2019 also painted a clearer picture of the landing site than what scientists knew previously, according to Bhardwaj. "There is not much of a hurdle in this [landing] area," he said.

Now that Vikram is settled on the moon, Pragyan is expected to roll onto the lunar surface and start analyzing lunar soil and rocks. 

Similar to the unfortunate rover on Chandrayaan-2, Pragyan's wheels are etched with the Ashoka Chakra, a religious symbol of a wheel with 24 spokes depicted on the Indian flag, and ISRO's logo. So when Pragyan inches along on the moon, ISRO hopes both symbols will be stamped onto the surface, where they will remain untouched for eons.

The lander Vikram is equipped to sense moonquakes near the landing site using an onboard seismometer, and to probe lunar soil to record its temperature.

Related:   Can NASA's Artemis moon missions count on using lunar water ice?

 — India launches historic Chandrayaan-3 moon rover to land at the lunar south pole

— What's next for India's Chandrayaan-3 moon rover mission?

— Latest news about India's space program  

The Chandrayaan-3 mission, which costs a modest 6 billion rupees ($73 million US at current exchange rates), is unfolding at a time when multiple nations — notably, the U.S. and China — are eyeing the moon for future crewed missions. NASA, for example, aims to land astronauts near the lunar south pole in late 2025 or 2026 on its Artemis 3 mission, and to build one or more bases in the region shortly thereafter.

Chandrayaan-3 could also help spur India's space program , leading to even greater accomplishments in the future. 

"It is going to be a game changer for the new generation," said Bhardwaj, adding that the success is important for the country's "strategic and geopolitical purposes" as well as to drive "the youth to do something different and unique."

When the sun sets upon the landing site in two weeks, the robotic duo will be left to fight a frigid night, which will be "very difficult to survive because the batteries will be drained out and it is too cold for electronics," Bhardwaj said.

Meanwhile, his team has geared up for what they hope will be a busy fortnight: "Our job starts after landing."

Update for 11 am ET: This story was updated to include Chandrayaan-3's image of the lunar surface during descent and ISRO's confirmation of communication link.

Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: [email protected].

Sharmila Kuthunur is a Seattle-based science journalist covering astronomy, astrophysics and space exploration. Follow her on X @skuthunur.

Boeing's Starliner capsule just landed with no crew aboard. What's next for this astronaut taxi?

Boeing Starliner capsule lands back on Earth, without astronauts, to end troubled test flight (video)

This Week In Space podcast: Episode 127 — Space Stations Inc.

• Unclear Engineer CONGRATULATIONS to India and its team . I watched live, and they made it look easy, but we all know that it is NOT easy. Really looking forward to the science results over the next couple of weeks. Hoping they do find real water ice in those shadows. Also wondering if the landers can actually survive the night, even though they are not designed to do so. That would also be great news, maybe more than doubling the data acquired. I was a little disappointed that so much of the live coverage had so little of the video transmission from the lander of the actual touch-down sequence. Half the screen was showing Indian President Modi, and the other half had some of the control room screens, with the lander video being a small part that was not always visible. But, I understand how important this is for India as a nation and as a member of the international community. I hope that India will release the whole sequence of the video of the touchdown cameras, and that Space.com will make it available to us, here. Reply
• DrRaviSharma Congratulations Team ISRO and collaborators e.g. ESA. I have worked as Scientific Secretary ISRO HQ and also earlier worked for the Apollo Program. This is great achievement as this is third mission and first successful landing. Lander photos and the rover coming out are now available. I also published an Op Ed Expert voices on Chandrayaan-2 in Space.com Jan-Feb 2020. https://www.space.com/india-moon-landing-not-a-failure.html Thanks. Ravi (Dr. Ravi Sharma, Ph.D. USA) NASA Apollo Achievement Award ISRO Distinguished Service Awards Ontolog Board of Trustees Particle and Space Physics Senior Enterprise Architect Reply
• DrRaviSharma We can not shy away from reality because we are not Ostriches!:):):) A Perspective on Space Collaboration through My Own life examples List is to illustrate How One’s life can be influenced or can influence others globally over the decades? NASA (ISS and Apollo-Soyuz) and ISRO (Aryabhata, Bhaskara) have Been helped in past By Soviet (Russian) space collaborations. NASA has Helped ISRO since early 1960’s (Sounding rockets, ATS for SITE Rural Direct TV) and INSAT Manufacture, etc., continuing sharing of payloads and now Artemis Accord. Thanks. Ravi (Dr. Ravi Sharma, Ph.D. USA) NASA Apollo Achievement Award ISRO Distinguished Service Awards Ontolog Board of Trustees Particle and Space Physics Senior Enterprise Architect Reply
• View All 3 Comments

Most Popular

• 2 Boeing's Starliner capsule just landed with no crew aboard. What's next for this astronaut taxi?
• 3 See Saturn at its biggest and brightest tonight before its rings 'disappear' in 2025
• 4 Boeing Starliner capsule lands back on Earth, without astronauts, to end troubled test flight (video)
• 5 Mars leaks faster when closer to the sun

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

• View all journals
• Explore content
• About the journal
• Publish with us
• Sign up for alerts
• 23 August 2023

India lands on the Moon! Scientists celebrate as Chandrayaan-3 touches down

• T. V. Padma

You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

An Indian spacecraft has become the first to land near the Moon’s rock- and crater-strewn south pole, making the country the world’s fourth to successfully perform a controlled landing on the body.

Access options

Access Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journals

Get Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription

24,99 € / 30 days

cancel any time

Subscribe to this journal

Receive 51 print issues and online access

185,98 € per year

only 3,65 € per issue

Rent or buy this article

Prices vary by article type

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Nature 620 , 927-928 (2023)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-023-02690-7

Reprints and permissions

Related Articles

Nature India: Where will India’s Moon rover land?

• Astronomical instrumentation
• Astronomy and astrophysics

Edward C. Stone obituary: physicist who guided Voyager probes to interstellar space

Obituary 10 JUL 24

Powerful Ariane 6 rocket poised to restore Europe’s access to space

News 03 JUL 24

The Milky Way is ‘less weird’ than we thought

News 28 JUN 24

Gravitational instability in a planet-forming disk

Article 04 SEP 24

This unlucky star got mangled by a black hole — twice

Research Highlight 22 AUG 24

‘I hope I get the opportunity to fly’: Meet Paralympian-turned-astronaut John McFall

News Q&A 22 AUG 24

Faculty Positions in School of Engineering, Westlake University

The School of Engineering (SOE) at Westlake University is seeking to fill multiple tenured or tenure-track faculty positions in all ranks.

Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China

Westlake University

Postdoctoral Associate- Genetic Epidemiology

Houston, Texas (US)

Baylor College of Medicine (BCM)

NOMIS Foundation ETH Postdoctoral Fellowship

The NOMIS Foundation ETH Fellowship Programme supports postdoctoral researchers at ETH Zurich within the Centre for Origin and Prevalence of Life ...

Zurich, Canton of Zürich (CH)

Centre for Origin and Prevalence of Life at ETH Zurich

13 PhD Positions at Heidelberg University

GRK2727/1 – InCheck Innate Immune Checkpoints in Cancer and Tissue Damage

Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg (DE) and Mannheim, Baden-Württemberg (DE)

Medical Faculties Mannheim & Heidelberg and DKFZ, Germany

Postdoctoral Associate- Environmental Epidemiology

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Quick links

• Explore articles by subject
• Guide to authors
• Editorial policies

Chandrayaan-3: All eyes on India's moonshot

A successful second attempt will make India the fourth country to achieve the feat of soft-landing on Earth's satellite. Here's all you need to know about India's third lunar exploration mission which starts its 42-day journey to the Moon today

• Most Popular

Neha is a versatile financial journalist with experience in leading English business news channels. Her wide-ranging reportage includes impactful undercover investigations, multi-billion dollar deal breaks, and incisive coverage of key corporate and policy developments. She's as comfortable anchoring live news on television, as she is writing insightful columns. She focuses on financial markets and global economy, moderates power-packed panels, and interviews influential industry leaders to get you the latest news, views and analysis of the stories that matter. Also, she curates, hosts and produces Pathbreakers and Money Talks. She holds a postgraduate degree and specialisation certificates in the area of finance from global institutes. When she's not fussing over inflation or balance sheets you may find her on a yoga mat in some beautiful part of the world. But she's always up for good coffee and interesting ideas.

• Masaba Gupta on the 'small' things that make a 'big' difference in life
• Why Amul is the ageless FMCG giant
• Monday markets mayhem: New York to Tokyo to Mumbai, trillions of dollars of investor wealth wiped off
• The banking sector is one of the few spaces with some upside for market investors: Prashant Jain
• Budget 2024: A clear path to fiscal consolidation
• Gold vs Equity: Which is a better hedge against global recession?
• Why India isn't a global manufacturing hub
• VCs are traders. They are not investors: Aswath Damodaran
• I don't see Zomato's value dramatically shifting from Rs 35 per share: Aswath Damodaran
• Fall of the Titans: How shoddy corporate governance destroys companies

• " class="general-icons icon-sq-googleplus popup">
• " class="general-icons icon-sq-youtube">

'Kalki' seeks to be the next Telugu-led global sensation

Photo of the Day: Ganesh Chaturthi festival 2024

Hungry times for Istanbul's street food sellers

Profit with purpose can be a viable pursuit: Hero Future Energies' Rahul Munjal

Should the SEBI chief step down?

Photo of the day: 2024 US Open champion Arnya Sabalenka

Photo of the day: Ganesh Chaturthi

How pets can influence home renovations and even real-estate decisions

Cathedrals enjoy 'revival' in attendance: Church of England

From Uniqlo's global dominance journey to the evolution of GenAI, our top stories of the week

Air pollution declined in Europe and China in 2023: UN

Fans speak: Playful 'Astro Bot' shows what PlayStation lacks

Amazon-enabled exports from India set to touch $20 billion by 2025

Photo of the day: All smiles

How India Eats: Steep cuts in thali costs in August

Chandrayaan

India's Moon Mission

Chandrayaan: India’s Journey to the Moon

1. Introduction

Chandrayaan, India’s ambitious lunar exploration program, has captured the attention and admiration of the world. This scientific endeavor showcases India’s technological prowess and its commitment to space exploration. In this article, we will delve into the details of Chandrayaan, its objectives, key missions, and the impact it has had on India’s space program and the global scientific community.

Table of Contents

2. chandrayaan: a gateway to the moon.

Chandrayaan, which translates to “Moon Craft” in Sanskrit, is India’s space mission designed to explore the Moon. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) spearheads this endeavor, aiming to enhance our understanding of Earth’s satellite and advance scientific knowledge.

3. The Objectives of Chandrayaan

Chandrayaan seeks to achieve several key objectives:

3.1. Mapping the Lunar Surface

One of the primary goals of Chandrayaan is to create high-resolution maps of the Moon’s surface, enabling scientists to study its topography, mineralogy, and the presence of water molecules.

3.2. Investigating Lunar Water

Chandrayaan aims to analyze the presence of water on the Moon and its distribution, providing crucial insights into the origin and evolution of lunar water.

3.3. Studying Lunar Exosphere

By studying the Moon’s thin atmosphere, known as the exosphere, Chandrayaan contributes to understanding the lunar environment and its interaction with the solar wind.

3.4. Exploring Helium-3

Chandrayaan has the potential to detect the presence of Helium-3, a rare isotope on Earth but believed to be abundant on the Moon. Helium-3 holds promise as a potential fuel for future nuclear fusion reactors.

4. Chandrayaan-1: Laying the Foundation

Chandrayaan-1 , launched in October 2008, marked India’s first lunar mission. It successfully achieved orbit around the Moon and conducted various experiments, including the discovery of evidence for water molecules on the lunar surface. The mission also carried instruments from other countries, fostering international collaboration in lunar exploration.

5. Chandrayaan-2: A Giant Leap Forward

Building upon the success of Chandrayaan-1 , India launched Chandrayaan-2 in July 2019. This ambitious mission consisted of an orbiter, a lander called Vikram, and a rover named Pragyan. Although the lander experienced a hard landing and communication was lost, the orbiter continues to function and provide valuable data.

6. Discoveries and Contributions

Chandrayaan has made significant contributions to our understanding of the Moon and space exploration. Some noteworthy discoveries and achievements include:

• Detection of water molecules in the lunar exosphere.
• Confirmation of the presence of hydroxyl and water ice in permanently shadowed regions of the Moon.
• Identification of unique geological features, such as lunar caves and volcanic tunnels.
• Mapping of the Moon’s surface composition, including the distribution of minerals and elements.
• Collaboration with international space agencies, fostering knowledge sharing and cooperation.

7. International Collaborations

Chandrayaan has fostered collaborations with various international space agencies, including NASA, ESA, and Roscosmos. These partnerships have allowed for the exchange of scientific data, sharing of expertise, and joint missions, contributing to a global scientific understanding of the Moon.

8. Future Missions and Beyond

India’s space program is not slowing down. ISRO has ambitious plans for future Chandrayaan missions, including Chandrayaan-3, which scheduled to launch in July 2023 and aims to land a rover on the Moon’s surface. Additionally, India has set its sights on manned lunar missions in the coming decades, further establishing its presence in space exploration.

9. Chandrayaan’s Impact on India

The Chandrayaan missions have had a profound impact on India’s scientific and technological landscape. They have showcased India’s capabilities in space research and exploration, leading to increased national pride and inspiring younger generations to pursue careers in STEM fields. Furthermore, the advancements made through Chandrayaan have practical applications in various sectors, such as telecommunications, weather forecasting, and disaster management.

10. Conclusion

Chandrayaan, India’s lunar exploration program, has propelled the nation into the league of countries actively involved in space exploration. Through its missions, Chandrayaan has made significant contributions to our understanding of the Moon, water presence, and lunar geology. With continued efforts and future missions, India aims to deepen its knowledge of the Moon and pave the way for future lunar exploration.

11. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Has india reached moon.

Yes, India has successfully reached the moon with its lunar missions. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has launched two lunar missions: Chandrayaan-1 and Chandrayaan-2.

Chandrayaan-1, launched on October 22, 2008, was India’s first mission to the moon. While it did not involve a manned mission, Chandrayaan-1 successfully entered the lunar orbit and conducted various experiments and observations, providing valuable data about the moon’s surface, mineral composition, and the presence of water ice.

Chandrayaan-2, launched on July 22, 2019, aimed to make a soft landing on the lunar surface. Although the landing attempt with the lander named Vikram was not successful and contact with it was lost during the descent, the orbiter component of Chandrayaan-2 remains operational and continues to orbit the moon, conducting scientific investigations.

So, while the manned mission to the moon is yet to be achieved by India, the country has reached the moon with its robotic lunar missions and made significant contributions to our understanding of Earth’s natural satellite.

What are the primary objectives of Chandrayaan?

The primary objectives of Chandrayaan include mapping the lunar surface, investigating lunar water, studying the lunar exosphere, and exploring the presence of Helium-3.

How did Chandrayaan contribute to the understanding of lunar water?

Chandrayaan confirmed the presence of water molecules and hydroxyl on the Moon’s surface and detected water ice in the permanently shadowed regions.

What does Chandrayaan mean in Sanskrit?

In Sanskrit, “ Chandrayaan ” is derived from two words: “ Chandra ” and “ Yaan .” “Chandra” means “moon,” and “Yaan” translates to “vehicle” or “craft.” Therefore, “Chandrayaan” can be understood as “ Moon Vehicle ” or “ Moon Craft ” in English. The name reflects the purpose of the mission, which was to explore and study the moon.

What impact has Chandrayaan had on India?

Chandrayaan has boosted India’s scientific and technological reputation, inspiring young minds and advancing various sectors, including telecommunications and weather forecasting.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

India’s Contribution to Lunar Exploration: Pioneering Paths and Breakthrough Discoveries

Exploring the lunar south pole: lessons from chandrayaan-3, exploring the cosmos: a journey through indian space research organization (isro) missions.

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

India Launches Lunar Mission With a Shot at Winning This Year’s Moon Race

Chandrayaan-3, a partial redo of a 2019 mission that ended in a crash, is the first of as many as six missions that could land on the moon in the coming months.

India Launches Moon Mission

A rocket lifted off from sriharikota, india, on july 14, carrying the chandrayaan-3 robotic lander and rover toward the moon..

“Three, two, one, zero. Plus 5 seconds.“ “Lift off normal.” “Here we have a majestic lift off of LVM3-M4 rocket carrying India’s prestigious Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft. Every Indian witnessing the launch live is content with the feeling of watching history in the making.” [applause]

By Kenneth Chang and Hari Kumar

India is on its way back to the moon after a rocket lifted off from Sriharikota, a launch site off the country’s East Coast, on Friday afternoon local time.

The mission, Chandrayaan-3, is largely a do-over after the country’s first attempt at putting a robotic spacecraft on the surface of the moon nearly four years ago ended in a crash and a crater .

Chandrayaan-3 is taking place amid renewed interest in exploring the moon. The United States and China are both aiming to send astronauts there in the coming years, and a half dozen robotic missions from Russia, Japan and the United States could head there this year and next.

If the robotic lander and rover aboard Chandrayaan-3 succeed in landing intact, that will be an accomplishment that no country other than China has pulled off this century, adding to the national pride India takes in its homegrown space program. A cadre of commercial space start-ups is also popping up in India.

Last month, India reached an agreement with the United States to send a joint mission to the International Space Station next year. The Indian Space Research Organization — India’s equivalent of NASA — is also developing its own spacecraft to take astronauts to orbit.

On Friday, at 2:35 p.m. local time (5:05 a.m. Eastern time), a rocket called Launch Vehicle Mark III lifted off from the Indian space base on an island north of the metropolis of Chennai.

As crowds waving Indian flags and colorful umbrellas cheered, the rocket rose into the sky. Sixteen minutes later, the spacecraft separated from the rocket’s upper stage, and a round of cheering and clapping erupted in the mission control center.

“It is indeed a moment of glory for India,” Jitendra Singh, the minister of state for India’s Ministry of Science of Technology, said in remarks after the launch, “and a moment of destiny for all of us over here at Sriharikota who are part of the history in the making.”

Over the coming weeks, the spacecraft will perform a series of engine firings to elongate its orbit before heading toward the moon. A landing attempt is scheduled to occur on Aug. 23 or 24, timed to coincide with sunrise at the landing site in the moon’s south polar region.

Landing on the moon in one piece is difficult, and many space programs have failed.

Chandrayaan means “moon craft” in Hindi. Chandrayaan-1, an orbiter, launched in 2008, and the mission lasted less than year. The Chandrayaan-2 mission lifted off successfully on July 22, 2019, and the spacecraft successfully entered orbit around the moon.

The landing attempt on Sept. 6, 2019, appeared to be going well until the lander was about 1.3 miles above the surface, when its trajectory diverged from the planned path .

The problems arose because one of the lander’s five engines had thrust that was slightly higher than expected, S. Somanath, the chairman of the Indian space agency, said during a news conference a few days ago.

The spacecraft tried to correct, but the software specified limits on how quickly it could turn. And because of the higher thrust, the craft was still some distance from its destination even as it was approaching the ground.

“The craft is trying to reach there by increasing velocity to reach there, whereas it was not having enough time to,” Mr. Somanath said.

Months later, an amateur internet sleuth used imagery from a NASA spacecraft to locate the crash site , where the debris of the Vikram lander and Pragyan rover sit to this day.

The Chandrayaan-2 orbiter continues to travel around the moon, where its instruments are being used for scientific study. For that reason, the Chandrayaan-3 mission has a simpler propulsion module that will push a lander and a rover out of Earth’s orbit and then allow it to enter orbit around the moon.

Although the design of the lander is largely the same, changes include stronger landing legs, more propellant, additional solar cells to gather energy from the sun and improved sensors to measure the altitude.

The software was also changed so that the spacecraft could turn faster if needed, and the allowed landing area has been expanded.

If they get to the moon, the lander and the rover will use a range of instruments to make thermal, seismic and mineralogical measurements of the area.

The mission is to conclude two weeks after the landing when the sun sets on the solar-powered lander and rover. If something comes up while Chandrayaan-3 is in orbit around the moon, the landing could be delayed a month until the next sunrise, in September, so that the spacecraft can spend a full two weeks operating on the surface.

While scientists will benefit from the lunar data collected by Chandrayaan-3, India, like other countries, is also exploring the solar system for reasons of national pride.

When the country’s Mangalyaan spacecraft entered orbit around Mars in 2014, children across India were asked to arrive at school by 6:45 a.m., well before the usual starting time, to watch the event on state television.

Narendra Modi, India’s prime minister, was at the mission control center in Bengaluru and hailed the Mars mission “as a shining symbol of what we are capable of as a nation.”

For the failed Chandrayaan-2 landing attempt, Mr. Modi was again at the space center, but his address afterward was more subdued. “We came very close, but we will need to cover more ground in the times to come,” he said to the scientists, engineers and staff.

Later in his address, Mr. Modi added: “As important as the final result is the journey and the effort. I can proudly say that the effort was worth it and so was the journey.” He was later seen embracing and consoling K. Sivan , then the chief of ISRO.

On Friday, the mood in the mission control room was jubilant after the spacecraft’s successful trip to orbit was confirmed. Optimism about Chandrayaan-3 also pervaded some Indian space enthusiasts who traveled to view the launch in person.

Neeraj Ladia, 35, the chief executive of Space Arcade, an astronomy equipment maker, was parked among around 100 cars viewing the launch five miles from the ISRO campus at Sriharikota.

“This time it will be a soft landing, definitely,” he said, referring to setting down on the moon in one piece. He added, “That is why the mood is very positive this time.”

Beyond Chandrayaan-3, the Indian space agency has other plans in motion. It is developing a spacecraft, Gaganyaan, for taking astronauts to orbit, but it has fallen behind its original goal of a crewed flight by 2022, and the mission is now expected no earlier than 2025.

India is increasing its collaboration with the United States for space missions. Earlier this year, the White House announced that NASA would provide training for Indian astronauts at the Johnson Space Center in Houston “with a goal of mounting a joint effort to the International Space Station in 2024.”

India has also signed the Artemis Accords, an American framework that sets out general guidelines for civil space exploration. The accords reinforce the United States’ view that the 1967 Outer Space Treaty allows countries to use resources like minerals and ice mined on asteroids, the moon, Mars and elsewhere in the solar system.

Another collaboration is the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar mission, or NISAR, which will use advanced radar to precisely track changes in the Earth’s land and ice surfaces. The satellite is scheduled to launch from India in 2024. India also has ambitions for missions to study the sun and Venus.

Several moon missions could be right at India’s heels. Russia is planning to launch Luna 25 in August, the latest in a long line of robotic missions to the moon. But it has been a long time since the last one: Luna 24 took place in August 1976, before the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Also scheduled to head to the moon in August is the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon, or SLIM, from the Japanese space agency JAXA.

Three NASA-financed missions are also on the way as part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services program — missions put together by private companies to take NASA instruments to the moon. Intuitive Machines of Houston has scheduled its first C.L.P.S. mission for no earlier than the third quarter of this year, heading for the south polar region.

Astrobotic Technology of Pittsburgh has its lander ready but is waiting on its ride — a new rocket developed by United Launch Alliance called Vulcan, which is not yet ready to fly .

A second Intuitive Machines mission is also penciled in for the fourth quarter of this year, but that seems likely to slide into next year.

There has been one landing attempt on the moon this year, in April, by the Japanese company Ispace . But that spacecraft crashed when its navigation system became confused.

Kenneth Chang has been at The Times since 2000, writing about physics, geology, chemistry, and the planets. Before becoming a science writer, he was a graduate student whose research involved the control of chaos. More about Kenneth Chang

Hari Kumar is a reporter in the New Delhi bureau. He joined The Times in 1997. More about Hari Kumar

• Paralympic Games 2024
• Paris Olympics 2024
• Lok Sabha Elections 2024
• UK Elections
• Firstpost Defence Summit
• Entertainment
• Web Stories
• First Sports
• Fast and Factual
• Between The Lines
• Firstpost America

Russia to build a nuclear power plant on the Moon. Are India and China joining in?

Fresh of the success of its successful Chandrayaan-3 mission, India is now reportedly interested in joining Russia’s lunar nuclear power plant project. The initiative, spearheaded by Russian state nuclear energy firm Rosatom, is part of Moscow’s bigger project of building a base on the Moon in partnership with China. But what do we know about the proposed power project? read more

Is India aiming for the Moon again?

According to a report, India is interested in joining Russia’s lunar nuclear power plant initiative.

This comes in the aftermath of India’s successful Chandrayaan-3 mission which made it the first to make a soft landing on the south pole of the lunar surface.

India is making plans to set up its first space station, Bharatiya Antariksha Station (BAS), by 2035.

The country, which signed the Artemis Accords in 2023, also wants to put a human on the Moon by 2040.

But what do we know about the programme? Why is it important?

Let’s take a closer look:

What do we know?

As per Eurasian Times , the project is being spearheaded by Russian state nuclear energy firm Rosatom.

This is part of a bigger project to build a base on the Moon in partnership with China.

The idea behind the lunar nuclear power plant is to provide power to the base.

The proposed plant will be a small one capable of generating around half a megawatt of energy.

TASS quoted Rosatom chief Alexey Likhachev as saying that both Moscow and New Delhi are keen to participate in the project.

Likhachev was quoted as saying at the Eastern Economic Forum, “The new solution that we are asked to implement is the option of a lunar nuclear power plant with an energy capacity of up to half a megawatt.”

“By the way, with the involvement of the international community, our Chinese and Indian partners are very interested in this. We are trying to lay the foundation for several international space projects,” Likhachev added.

Roscosmos in May announced that it had already begun working on the nuclear power plant.

It said the power plant would be established to the Moon by 2036.

Moscow said the plant would likely be built autonomously – without humans being directly involved, as per Eurasian Times.

As per The Times of India, Russia and China had announced plans to build a joint lunar base in 2021.

This base, called the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS), would go on line in phases from 2035 and 2045.

Why is it important?

According to Moneycontrol, nuclear power is critical to lunar exploration.

The outlet reported that Nasa, due to the limit of solar power, has been pondering using nuclear reactors to power lunar bases.

“While solar power systems have limitations on the Moon, a nuclear reactor could be placed in permanently shadowed areas (where there may be water or ice) or generate power continuously during lunar nights,” Nasa states.The Moon’s 14-day lunar nights makes a continuous supply of solar energy impossible.

Nuclear energy thus offers a constant and steady energy source needed to establish a long-term presence on the Moon.

It quoted experts as saying that despite the difficulties involved with the project, safety remains a top concern.

It said scientists are confident that conveying nuclear fuel to the moon is safe and that there are minimal radiation risks even taking into account a failure to launch.

They noted that reactors are designed to automatically shut down in case of any problems.

The Times of India quoted experts as saying that India is playing its diplomatic cards carefully.

They noted how New Delhi sent Shubhanshu Shukla of the Gaganyaan mission to Nasa’s Houston facility.

Shukla will be heading to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Axiom-4 missio – a collaboration between ISRO and Nasa.

India in 2023 with its Chandrayaan-3 mission became just the fifth nation to achieve a successful robotic landing on the Moon.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had then urged ISRO to pursue “new and ambitious goals” including sending astronauts to Moon by 2040.

With inputs from agencies

Related Stories

From a slow start to a concrete policy, how India has shaped space research with hits and misses

National Space Day: How India is taking giant leaps in space sector

India's Chandrayaan-3 unveils lunar secrets: Did the Moon once host a magma ocean?

First anniversary of Chandrayaan-3 mission: When India pioneered landing on lunar south pole

Joann Sfar, Thomas Bidegain to Adapt ‘Journey to the End of the Night’ for the Big Screen With Aton Soumache, Alain Attal Producing (EXCLUSIVE)

By Elsa Keslassy

Elsa Keslassy

International Correspondent

• Joann Sfar, Thomas Bidegain to Adapt ‘Journey to the End of the Night’ for the Big Screen With Aton Soumache, Alain Attal Producing (EXCLUSIVE) 1 hour ago
• Michael Douglas Reminisces About Meeting Now-Wife Catherine Zeta-Jones During Career Tribute at Deauville Film Festival 3 days ago
• International Oscar Race: Morocco Picks Nabil Ayouch’s ‘Everybody Loves Touda’ 3 days ago

“Journey to the End of the Night,” a literary masterpiece penned by controversial French author Louis-Ferdinand Céline, is being adapted for the big screen by Joann Sfar (“The Rabbi’s Cat,” “Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life”) and Thomas Bidegain (“A Prophet,” “Emilia Pérez”).

Well-established producers Aton Soumache (“The Little Prince”) and Alain Attal (“Beating Hearts”) are developing the project through their respective banners, Magical Society (jointly led with Sfar) and Tresor Films.

Related Stories

Venu Legal Fight Is About More Than FuboTV: What’s at Stake for the Entire Industry

Uzo Aduba Says Attending the DNC and Watching Kamala Harris Accept Nomination Felt Like an 'Outstanding Check Had Finally Been Paid on the American Dream'

Popular on variety.

The book is a darkly comic semi-autobiographical work following the journey of disillusioned anti-hero Ferdinand Bardamu across decades. The book charts Bardamu’s adventures, from World War I to French West Africa and New York, where he finds work on an assembly line at Ford Motor Company before moving back to France and becoming a doctor in a poor Paris suburb.

Sfar and Bidegain’s adaptation will explore the protagonist’s inner journey and dark existential quest in the wake of war and social misery.

“I read ‘Journey’ when I was 15, and it’s one of those masterpieces that shaped me; I read it without knowing anything about Louis-Ferdinand Céline, and you can imagine how that complicated my life later on. I can’t unlearn this book,” Sfar says.

He says Bidegain is his favorite screenwriter because they share the “same tastes, the same laughter, and the same dislikes.” Sfar says he’s “always worked on symbols that unite or divide French society—Gainsbourg, Saint-Ex, Japrisot;” and with this adaptation of Céline, he’s reached a “point of maximum tension.” “That’s where we need to dig,” says Sfar.

Bidegain says the novel “remains a relevant key to understanding our times.” “The list is long of those who have grappled with Bardamu’s adventures, his desperate humor, his clinical insight, the novel’s impossible picaresque structure, the unwieldy figure of its author, and the Himalaya of Céline’s language,” says Bidegain, whose recent screenwriting credits include Jacques Audiard’s Cannes prizewinning musical thriller “Emilia Pérez.”

“It took a giant like Joann for this project to come to life. Our joyful meeting swept away any doubts — our shared desire for cinema, to create images and meaning, our irreverent fascination with this great work… And here we are, hard at work, full of enthusiasm,” Bidegain continues.

Soumache and Attal, who are also both Jewish, said in a joint statement that the project to adapt Celine’s novel felt like an “immense responsibility, but also an unprecedented creative adventure.”

“Alongside Joann Sfar and Thomas Bidegain, we have the ambition to translate this literary masterpiece onto the screen with all its power, depth, and complexity,” they added.

The pair said they have “gathered an exceptional artistic team to capture the tormented and masterful essence of Céline’s work.” They also suggested they will take some liberty with the novel to deliver a “cinematic reinterpretation of Bardamu’s existential and tragic journey,” which will showcase Sfar and Bidegain’s “unique and singular vision that will resonate with a wide audience.”

More from Variety

DNC Night 1 Highlights: Joe Biden Urges ‘Beat Donald Trump’ in Nearly 50-Minute Speech; Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Fires Up Crowd

‘Star Wars Outlaws’: Disney Tests Gamers’ Appetite for Hollywood IP

Brad Pitt and George Clooney Dance to 4-Minute Standing Ovation for ‘Wolfs’ During Chaotic Venice Premiere

George Clooney, Daniel Craig, Fernando Alonso … the Stars Align to Celebrate the Unveiling of Aston Martin’s Vanquish in Venice: ‘It’s a Masterpiece’

High-Resolution 8K Has Its Places, but TV Might Not Be One of Them

Joe Biden Delivers Lengthy Farewell at Convention: ‘America, I Gave My Best to You’

More from our brands, ‘chimp crazy’ star tonia haddix would change (almost) nothing .

This Speedy New RIB Can Soar to a Blistering 55 Knots at Full Tilt

NCAA Could Roll Dice on Winning House Case at SCOTUS

The Best Loofahs and Body Scrubbers, According to Dermatologists

Chicago Med’s Jessy Schram on the Possibility of Hannah/Dean Romance: ‘Nothing Is Completely Off the Table’