The video was filmed on 17 August and released a day later by the Indian Space Agency. Chandrayaan-3 was launched on July 14 from India’s main launch site in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh.
As planned, the spacecraft will land on August 23 at the Moon’s south pole, a region that has never been directly explored. Scientists have discovered water ice here, which could be used to make fuel, oxygen and even drinking water for future lunar missions.
Close-up of the Moon as recorded by the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft on August 5. Photo: Reuters
Russia’s Luna-25 is also on its way to the Moon’s south pole, aiming to take a more direct route and land on August 21. After a gap of 47 years, Russia again launched a spacecraft to the Moon on 11 August. According to Russian space agency Roscosmos, Luna-25 will remain in lunar orbit for 5-7 days before landing at one of three possible landing sites.
The rough terrain could make it difficult to land on the Moon’s south pole. Chandrayaan-3’s “predecessor”, Chandrayaan-2, collided with Earth’s satellite in 2019, near the spot where Chandrayaan-3 attempted to land this time.
According to the report, if the ships of both India and Russia land successfully and especially on the south pole of the moon, both will get some national interest. reuters,
For Russia, the mission is a test of more independent action in space, at a time when space ties between them and the West have been strained by the conflict in Ukraine.
As far as India is concerned, reaching the Moon will give it the title of a space power, which will encourage further investment in satellite-related industries.
