ISRO and Chandrayaan-3
Chandrayaan-3 is India's third lunar exploration mission by ISRO, which achieved a historic soft landing near the Moon's south pole.
Chandrayaan-3 is India's third lunar exploration mission by ISRO, which achieved a historic soft landing near the Moon's south pole.
The mission
Chandrayaan-3 comprised a propulsion module, the Vikram lander and the Pragyan rover. It demonstrated safe soft-landing and roving on the lunar surface.
A historic first
With its landing, India became the first country to soft-land near the Moon's south polar region and the fourth country to achieve a soft landing on the Moon.
Why the south pole
The lunar south pole is scientifically valuable because permanently shadowed craters may hold water ice, important for future exploration.
Why it matters for UPSC
ISRO missions like Chandrayaan-3 are prime Science & Technology current-affairs topics — the landing site, spacecraft components and 'firsts' are commonly asked.
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What did Chandrayaan-3 achieve?
A successful soft landing near the Moon's south pole, making India the first country to land in that region.
What were the lander and rover of Chandrayaan-3 called?
The lander was Vikram and the rover was Pragyan.