ISRO’s Chandrayaan-3 mission, aimed at accomplishing a soft landing on the lunar surface, has commenced today with a successful launch from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.

The spacecraft is scheduled to take over a month to reach the moon’s surface. If all goes well, India will become the fourth nation, following the United States, the former Soviet Union, and China, to achieve this remarkable feat, Indian Express reported.

The primary objective of the mission is to achieve a gentle touchdown on the lunar surface, a task that its predecessor could not accomplish. Furthermore, Chandrayaan-3 aims to explore the moon with the help of a rover. Successfully achieving a soft landing will position India among the elite group of countries that have successfully landed on the moon, including the United States, Russia, and China.

Following its launch on Friday, the spacecraft entered an orbit around the Earth at an altitude of 179 km. In the upcoming days, a series of maneuvers will be executed to gradually increase its orbit, enabling it to overcome the Earth’s gravity and set a trajectory towards the moon.

As the spacecraft approaches the moon, it will need to be captured by the moon’s gravity. Once captured, the lander, carrying the rover within it, will separate from the propulsion module and initiate its powered descent. This critical stage will determine the success of the mission, as it paves the way for the rover to explore the lunar surface.

The Chandrayaan-3 mission represents a significant step forward for India’s space exploration ambitions. It holds the potential to provide valuable insights and data about the moon’s surface, contributing to our understanding of Earth’s celestial neighbor. The entire nation eagerly awaits the outcome of this daring endeavor.