Bengaluru, Aug 23 (FN Bureau) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said the momentous moment of Chandrayaan-3’s successful soft-landing on the South Pole of the Moon is the triumph of the New India, and it is about crossing the ocean of difficulties, besides it is the cry of developed India. “When we see such a history being made before our eyes, life becomes blessed. Such historical events become the eternal consciousness of a nation’s life. This moment is unforgettable. This moment is unprecedented. This moment is the victory cry of a developed India. This moment is the triumph of the new India. This moment is about crossing the ocean of difficulties. This moment is about walking on the path of victory,” he said. “When we see such a history being made before our eyes, life becomes blessed. Such historical events become the eternal consciousness of a nation’s life,” he added. Modi further said: “This moment holds the capability of 1.4 billion heartbeats. This moment signifies new energy, new belief, and new consciousness in India.
This moment is the call of India’s ascending destiny.” The first light of success in the dawn of the ‘Amrit Kaal’ has showered this year, and India took a pledge on Earth, and fulfilled it on the Moon, PM Modi said, adding, “And our scientific colleagues also said, “India is now on the moon.” Today, we have witnessed the new flight of New India in space.” Extending his heartfelt congratulations to Team Chandrayaan and all the scientists of the country who worked tirelessly for years for this moment, Modi said though he is currently in South Africa to participate in the BRICS Summit, his heart was also focussed on the Chandrayaan Mission. “As a new history unfolds, every Indian is immersed in celebration, and festivities have begun in every household. From my heart, I am also connected with my fellow countrymen and my family members with enthusiasm,” he said. Modi said through the hard work and talent of India’s scientists, the country has reached the South Pole of the Moon where no other country in the world has ever reached. From today onwards, the myths associated with the Moon will change, narratives will change, and even proverbs for the new generation will change, Modi said.
“In India, we refer to the Earth as our mother and the Moon as our ‘Mama’ (maternal uncle). It used to be said that “Chanda Mama is quite far away.” Now a day will come when children will say, “Chanda Mama is just a ‘tour’ away,” he said. On this joyous occasion, Modi said India’s successful moon mission is not India’s alone and this success belongs to all of humanity. “This is a year in which the world is witnessing India’s G-20 presidency. Our approach of ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’ is resonating across the globe. This human-centric approach that we represent has been welcomed universally. Our moon mission is also based on the same human-centric approach. Therefore, this success belongs to all of humanity,” he said. This will also help moon missions by other countries in the future, Modi said and expressed confidence that all countries in the world, including those from the Global South, are capable of achieving such feats. “We can all aspire for the moon and beyond,” he said.
MOdi said this achievement of the Chandrayaan Mission will propel India’s journey beyond the Moon’s orbit. “We will test the limits of our solar system and continue working to realize the infinite possibilities of the universe for humanity. We have set many big and ambitious goals for the future,” he said. Soon, PM Modi said ISRO will launch the ‘Aditya L-1’ mission for in-depth study of the Sun, and following that, Venus is on ISRO’s agenda. Through the Gaganyaan mission, the country is diligently preparing for its first human spaceflight mission, and India is repeatedly proving that the sky is not the limit. Modi said science and technology are the foundation of a bright future for India, and this day will inspire all Indians to move towards a brighter future. “The country will remember this day forever. This day will inspire all of us to move towards a brighter future. This day will show us the path to fulfilling our resolutions. This day symbolizes how victory is achieved by taking lessons from defeat.
Once again, heartfelt congratulations to all the scientists of the country and best wishes for future missions! Thank you very much,” he said. Earlier, India made history on Wednesday after its Chandrayaan-3 mission succeeded in soft-landing on the South Pole of the Moon. India became the first nation to land on the south pole of the moon, and fourth to land on the north pole of it. This was ISRO’s third attempt to land Chandrayaan on the Moon four years after its predecessor crashed on the lunar surface. ISRO came out trumps during the critical process of soft-landing, which was dubbed by many including ISRO officials as 17 minutes of terror. The lander fired its engines at the right times and altitudes, and used the right amount of fuel, besides scanning the lunar surface for any obstacles before it finally touched down on the Moon. The Rs 600 crore Chandrayaan-3 mission was launched on July 14 onboard Launch Vehicle Mark-III (LVM-3) rocket, for a 41-day voyage to reach near the lunar south pole. The soft-landing was attempted days after Russia’s Luna-25 spacecraft crashed into the Moon after spinning out of control. After the second and final deboosting operation on August 20, the LM was placed in a 25 km x 134 km orbit around the Moon.