Last year, this time, India achieved a big feat, something that made us all feel proud. Yes, I am talking about the success of Chandrayaan-3. ISRO landed on the Moon’s south pole on August 23, 2024. This made India the fourth country to achieve a soft landing on the lunar surface and the first to reach the Moon’s South Pole.
Now that it has been a year since the Vikram lander touched down on the Moon, let’s take a look back at the momentous day.
If you remember, Vikram lander began its final descent at 5.47 PM on August 23, 2024. It took the rover 15 minutes and these 15 minutes had everyone holding their breath. It was even referred to as the “15 minutes of terror”—the most critical phase of the mission.
The lander started its descent from about 30 kilometres above the lunar surface. It traveled at a speed of 1.68 km/sec. The first phase involved a rapid deceleration, reducing its velocity to approximately 400 m/sec. Then there was a crucial orientation change that then aligned the lander vertically for its final approach.
When it moved down to an altitude of 800 to 1,300 metres, it entered the fine braking phase. During this phase, onboard cameras and sensors assessed the terrain to confirm the landing site. This was an important step so that Vikram Lander could avoid the complications that led to the Chandrayaan-2 crash in 2019. At about 150 metres above the surface, the lander conducted a hazard detection check. It then went for the final 73-second descent.
It was at 6:04 PM that the Vikram Lander touched down softly on the lunar south pole. And that moment is edged in history forever. After the touchdown, the lander powered up its systems and prepared to send out the Pragyan rover. And then the lunar exploration started.