India has become the fourth nation to land a spacecraft on the moon.
Gatekeepers News reports that India landed its Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft on the moon to accomplish such a feat.
This mission could cement India’s status as a global superpower in space.
Only the United States, China and the former Soviet Union have ever completed soft landings on the lunar surface in the past.
Indian spacecraft Chandrayaan-3, the word for “moon craft” in Sanskrit, travels after it was launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, India, Friday, July 14, 2023.
The country’s space agency said the Indian spacecraft blazed its way to the far side of the moon Friday in a follow-up mission to its failed effort nearly four years ago to land a rover softly on the lunar surface.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is currently in South Africa for the BRICS Summit, watched the landing virtually and shared broadcasted remarks on the livestream.
Modi said, “On this joyous occasion…I would like to address all the people of the world,” adding that, “India’s successful moon mission is not just India’s alone. This is a year in which the world is witnessing India’s G20 presidency. Our approach of one Earth, one family, one future is resonating across the globe.
“This human-centric approach that we present and we represent has been welcome universally. Our moon mission is also based on the same human-centric approach,”
The Indian Prime Minister added. “Therefore, this success belongs to all of humanity, and it will help moon missions by other countries in the future.”
