India marked a significant milestone in space exploration with the Chandrayaan-3 mission, which successfully landed on the Moon’s south polar region on August 23, 2023. This achievement made India the fourth country to accomplish a soft landing on the lunar surface and the first to reach the Moon’s South Pole.
The historic event is now celebrated annually as National Space Day in India. The critical phase of the mission, often referred to as the “15 minutes of terror,” commenced at 5:47 PM IST on August 23, 2024. During this phase, the Vikram lander executed a series of intricate maneuvers to ensure a safe landing. Starting from an altitude of 30 kilometers above the lunar surface and traveling at a speed of 1.68 km/sec, the lander decelerated rapidly, reducing its speed to 400 m/sec before reorienting for the final approach.
As the lander descended to an altitude between 800 and 1,300 meters, it entered the fine braking phase. Onboard cameras and sensors assessed the terrain to confirm a safe landing site, a crucial step that prevented a repeat of the Chandrayaan-2 crash in 2019. At an altitude of 150 meters, the lander performed a hazard detection check, guiding the final descent.
At 6:04 PM IST, the Vikram lander successfully touched down on the lunar south pole, marking a historic achievement for India and the global space community. Following the landing, the lander powered up its systems to deploy the Pragyan rover, beginning India’s lunar surface exploration mission.
