Chandrayaan-3 Lunar Mission Receives Blessings through Havan Ceremony at Kamakhya Temple
As the Chandrayaan-3 lander approaches its lunar destination, a unique blend of science and spirituality unfolds in India. A ‘havan’, a religious ritual, took place at the revered Kamakhya Temple in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, invoking blessings for the success of India’s third lunar mission. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has announced that Chandrayaan-3 is scheduled to achieve its lunar landing on August 23 at approximately 18:04 hours IST.
In a recent meeting between ISRO Chairman S Somanath and Union Minister Jitendra Singh, the current status and preparedness of the Chandrayaan-3 mission were discussed. Somanath confirmed that all systems were functioning impeccably, and no contingencies were anticipated for the scheduled landing. The health of the Chandrayaan-3 module will be continually monitored over the next two days, with the final landing sequence scheduled to be uploaded and tested two days before the critical event.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh expressed his confidence in Chandrayaan-3’s successful soft landing this time, and he hopes that this mission will mark a significant milestone in planetary exploration under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
To ensure broad public access to this historic event, ISRO has made arrangements for live coverage on multiple platforms. Viewers can watch the live broadcast on ISRO’s website, YouTube channel, Facebook, and the national broadcaster DD National TV starting from 17:27 IST on August 23, 2023.
This mission holds immense significance for India. While the previous Chandrayaan-2 mission encountered partial success due to communication issues after a challenging landing, Chandrayaan-3’s lander module has achieved a breakthrough by establishing a two-way connection with the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter that still orbits the moon. This development offers promising prospects for enhanced communication and data relay capabilities.
The Chandrayaan-3 mission has unveiled new images of the lunar far side area, further enriching our understanding of Earth’s natural satellite. India’s accomplishment will position it as the fourth nation to achieve a successful lunar landing, following in the footsteps of the United States, Russia, and China. Notably, India will distinguish itself by being the sole country to achieve a landing on the lunar south pole.
The primary objectives of Chandrayaan-3 are ambitious and multifaceted. These include demonstrating a safe and gentle landing on the lunar surface, showcasing the capabilities of lunar roving, and conducting in-situ scientific experiments. The mission’s development journey commenced in January 2020, with an original launch target of 2021. However, the unforeseen delays brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic extended this timeline.
Jitendra Singh fondly recalled the success of the initial Chandrayaan-1 mission, which revolutionized our understanding of the Moon by discovering the presence of water on its surface. This discovery not only captivated global space agencies like NASA but also contributed to their subsequent experiments.
Chandrayaan-3’s launch took place on July 14, 2023, utilizing the GSLV Mark 3 (LVM 3) heavy-lift launch vehicle from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, at 2:35 PM. As the anticipated lunar landing approaches, a sense of excitement, aspiration, and unity surrounds Chandrayaan-3, embodying India’s remarkable journey in space exploration.