Bengaluru: While the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) scientists kept them glued to the monitors, analysing every bit of data transmitted by Chandrayaan-3’s Vikram lander on the eve of crucial soft-landing, excitement ran high in the country with people engaged in talking and praying for the success the highly watched moon mission.
Safe landing of the Chandrayaan-3 lander has become all the more important as, if the mission succeeds, India will become the first country to launch its exploration near the southern pole of the only natural satellite of Earth. Russia’s latest bid to launch its scientific exploration of the southern part of the Moon had failed, as its spacecraft Luna-25, crashed on to the Moon’s surface after entering in to unassigned orbit.
Also Read: Chandrayaan-3: ISRO releases lander’s videos of Moon surface
The excitement rose in the country with people praying for its success, schools marshaling students to watch a live telecast of the event, and space enthusiasts organizing parties to celebrate. As per details, ISRO’s Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft is all set to land on the lunar south pole at 6.04 pm on Wednesday, days after a Russian vehicle trying to achieve the same feat failed.
If ISRO’s mission succeeds, it will be the first to land on the lunar south pole, which is a region whose shadowed craters are thought to contain water ice that may support a future moon settlement.
After a failure in 2019, India’s second attempt to land on the moon is being seen as a display of the tenacity of its scientific institutions.
Also Read: Russia’s lunar spacecraft, Luna-25, crashed on Moon’s surface
Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh administration ordered all schools to hold special screenings as the ‘landing of India’s Chandrayaan-3 is a memorable opportunity, which will not only encourage curiosity but will also instill passion in our youth towards inquiry’.
While in Gujarat, the science and technology council has invited over 2,000 school students ‘to witness the historic moment’ on a large screen. On the eastern side, the West Bengal state culture ministry is throwing a “Science Party” to celebrate the mission, asking people to “embark on an exhilarating educational adventure” with a live telecast.
Also Read: Lander leaves Chandrayaan-3, gears up for soft landing on moon
Apart from this, religious prayer ceremonies were organized on Tuesday in Mumbai and Varanasi cities for the success of the mission. Some followers of Hindu religion were seen performed Rutrabhishek in Jaipur to invoke divine blessings for safe landing of the lander. In Lucknow, Imam Eidgah Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahali said, “Children offered namaz at Darul Uloom Farangi Mahal Lucknow and prayed for the successful landing of Chandrayaan-3.”
ISRO has been sharing regular updates of the mission through posts on X, formerly Twitter. “The mission is on schedule. Systems are undergoing regular checks. Smooth sailing is continuing,” it said on Tuesday.
“The Mission Operations Complex (MOX) is buzzed with energy & excitement!”
