As of August 2023, Countries Successfully Soft-Landed On Moon and A Timeline of India’s Chandrayaan
The milestones of moon soft landings by Russia, USA, and China as of August 2023. Discover India's Chandrayaan journey, from Chandrayaan-1 to the upcoming Chandrayaan-3 soft landing attempt.
As of August 2023, this remarkable achievement has been realized by only three nations: Russia, the United States of America, and China. However, on the horizon is India, poised to become the fourth nation to achieve this feat, marking a significant milestone in space exploration history. In the following sections, we will delve into the achievements of these pioneering nations and India’s journey with the Chandrayaan missions.
Russia’s Pioneering Steps
Russia’s foray into lunar exploration dates back to 1959 when it became the first country to achieve a successful lunar landing. This initial achievement was followed by another significant milestone in 1966 when Russia accomplished the world’s first successful soft lunar landing. Building on this success, Russia continued its strides in lunar exploration by successfully retrieving lunar samples through an unmanned mission in 1970.
USA’s Lunar Dominance
The United States of America entered the lunar exploration race in 1966, achieving its first soft landing shortly after Russia. Over the years, the USA has remained at the forefront of lunar exploration with an impressive 11 soft landings as of 2022, holding the record for the highest number of successful soft landings. Moreover, the USA stands as the sole nation to have achieved the remarkable feat of landing humans on the moon, marking a historic achievement in space exploration.
China’s Lunar Conquests
In 2013, China made a significant mark in lunar exploration with the Chang’e 3 lander touching down, marking the first successful moon landing since the USSR’s Luna 24 mission. China continued to push the boundaries in 2019 when the Chang’e 4 mission achieved the first soft landing on the dark side of the moon. This milestone positioned China as the first country to soft land a spacecraft on the enigmatic ‘dark’ side, showcasing its commitment to cutting-edge lunar exploration.
India’s Chandrayaan’s Journey
India’s journey in lunar exploration began with Chandrayaan-1 in 2008. While Chandrayaan-1 was designed for impact rather than a soft landing, it successfully reached the lunar surface, marking India’s entry into the lunar exploration arena. The next chapter, Chandrayaan-2, encountered a setback in 2019 when its lander crashed during a landing attempt. However, the orbiter remained operational, providing valuable insights into the moon’s composition.
Chandrayaan-3’s Soft Landing
On August 23, 2023, India’s ambitious Chandrayaan-3 mission is set to attempt a soft landing on the lunar South Pole. The Chandrayaan-3 mission comprises the Lander Module (LM) with the lander named Vikram and the rover named Pragyan. The anticipated soft landing is scheduled for 6.04 pm IST, marking a pivotal moment in India’s lunar exploration journey.
Watch Live Chandrayaan-3’s Soft Landing
For those eager to witness this historic event, the live telecast of the Chandrayaan-3 landing operation will commence at 5:20 pm IST on August 23. Enthusiasts can catch the live streaming of the landing sequence on the ISRO website, its YouTube channel, and its social media profiles. Additionally, the live broadcast will be available on DD National TV, offering multiple platforms to be part of this momentous occasion.
The journey of lunar exploration has witnessed remarkable milestones achieved by Russia, the USA, and China. As of August 2023, India stands on the cusp of joining this elite group with its Chandrayaan-3 mission. The collaborative efforts of nations to explore the moon reflect humanity’s enduring curiosity and commitment to unlocking the mysteries of the cosmos.
