Chandrayan-3 live updates: PM Modi says scripts new Chapter; Soft landing on Moon to be done on August

The Indian Space Research Organisation launched its third lunar mission – Chandrayaan 3 on-board the heavylift LVM3-M4 rocket in Sriharikota on July 14.

The Vikram lander of the mission is planned to soft land on the surface of the South Pole region of the Moon on August 23 at 5.47 p.m.

At the end of the 25.30 hour countdown, the LVM3-M4 rocket, the largest and heaviest in its class and dubbed as ‘Fat Boy’ lifted off majestically at a prefixed time at 2.35 p.m. from the second launch pad, discharging thick plumes of smoke.

Today’s lunar expedition follows the 2019 Chandrayaan-2 mission where space scientists are aiming for a soft landing on the surface of the moon. A successful mission would see India enter an elite club of nations achieving such a feat, the others being the United States, China and the former Soviet Union.

Total cost of the project:

Union Minister Jitendra Singh said that the Chandrayaan-3 project cost around Rs 600 crore. He addressed the media following the successful launch of Chandrayaan-3 along with ISRO chief S Somnath.

#WATCH | Andhra Pradesh | India has taken a lead in space technology… Today Americans also value Indian talent and astronauts.. Infact they are looking to send an Indian astronaut in space…I am so proud that we all witnessed the history in making… I also thank PM Modi and… pic.twitter.com/08xv8SOmK1

— ANI (@ANI) July 14, 2023

SRO scientists aim at mastering soft landing on the lunar surface.

With the Chandrayaan-3 mission, ISRO scientists are aiming at mastering soft landing on the lunar surface, a challenging technical aspect that is planned for late August. India’s attempt to soft land its rover on the lunar surface failed during Chandrayaan 2 mission.

A successful mission would make India only the fourth country to achieve the rare feat after the United States, China and the former USSR (now Russia).