India’s Chandrayaan-3 makes historic touchdown on the Moon’s south pole

India’s Chandrayaan-3 successfully landed on the Moon’s south pole on 23 August 2023, making India the fourth country to land on the Moon and the first to land on the south pole. The spacecraft soft-landed near the south pole of the Moon, an unexplored and hard-to-reach territory that scientists believe contains a significant amount of underground water ice and may give clues about the history of the solar system. This landing marks a significant milestone for India in space exploration, cementing its position as a superpower.

Why does it matter?

Days after Russia’s failed attempt, the success of Chandrayaan-3 is a major achievement for India, which could start a space technology and exploration race with China, the US, and Russia. The government could increase R&D funding for rocket and satellite communication technologies for more ambitious space programs, including the first Indian manned lunar mission. Furthermore, the historic landing will inspire a new generation of Indian scientists and engineers to pursue careers in the field.