The Chandrayaan-3, developed by the Indian Space Research Organization, consists of a lander, propulsion module, and rover aiming to safely land, collect data, and conduct scientific experiments on the moon.
It is India's second attempt at a soft landing after the Chandrayaan-2 in 2019 failed. The first lunar probe, Chandrayaan-1, orbited and crash-landed on the moon in 2008.
The mission aims to land near the moon's unexplored South Pole, a continuation of India's lunar exploration since the discovery of water molecules on the moon's surface by Chandrayaan-1.
The journey, covering over 300,000 kilometers, is expected to reach the moon in the coming weeks. The Chandrayaan-3 mission costs approximately $75 million.
India's space program, which dates back over six decades, has seen significant progress under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, including a Mars mission and launching a record 104 satellites in one mission. Future plans include setting up an independent space station by 2030 and sending an orbiter to Venus.