NEW DELHI: Today, in the Rajya Sabha, the remarkable tale of India's stellar space odyssey, known as Chandrayaan-3, shall take center stage. This successful lunar landing mission, orchestrated by ISRO (the Indian Space Research Organisation), etched India's name alongside the elite quartet of nations, comprising the United States, Russia, and China, that have accomplished this celestial feat.
The deliberations on Chandrayaan-3's monumental triumph are scheduled for the first half of the day, immediately following the presentation of various reports by the standing committees on labor, textiles, and skill development, along with the committee on public accounts.
This pivotal discussion has been formally enshrined as the fifth item of business in the Rajya Sabha's agenda, aptly titled "India's illustrious voyage into space, distinguished by the triumphant soft landing of Chandrayaan-3."
Notably, India's ascent to the lunar milestone was not just marked by a soft landing but also by the historic placement of a lander on the hitherto unexplored southern pole of the moon. Chandrayaan-3's spacecraft now stands sentinel near the Moon's South Pole, following its triumphant soft landing on the 23rd of August.
The achievement of Chandrayaan-3's lander module, securely touching down on the moon's southernmost point, bestowed upon India the prestigious distinction of being the first nation to achieve this historic feat. This accomplishment also laid to rest the disappointment stemming from the Chandrayaan-2's unfortunate crash landing, four years prior.
India joined an elite quartet of nations, including the United States, China, and Russia, as the fourth country to achieve a successful moon landing. After their lunar arrival, the Vikram lander and the Pragyan rover diligently carried out a myriad of tasks on the lunar terrain. These tasks encompassed the discovery of sulphur and other trace elements, the measurement of relative temperatures, and the keen observation of lunar surroundings.
Chandrayaan-3, India's third lunar mission, had outlined its objectives clearly: a secure and gentle lunar landing, the deployment of a rover for lunar exploration, and the execution of in-situ scientific experiments. Presently, the Vikram lander and Pragyan rover are in a state of dormancy, with plans for reactivation slated for around September 22.
In a recent update, the Indian Space Research Organisation released a captivating three-dimensional 'anaglyph' image of the Chandrayaan-3 Vikram lander, captured from the moon's southern polar region.
The parliamentary session, a special five-day affair, commenced on Monday and is set to conclude on Friday. This momentous discussion on Chandrayaan-3 serves as a testament to India's unwavering commitment to space exploration and its ceaseless pursuit of scientific excellence.