The successful Chandrayaan-3 mission has opened up the potential to use the Moon as a take-off point for future planetary missions, and bolstered India’s credentials to participate in such futuristic explorations, veteran space scientist K Kasturirangan said. Kasturirangan also highlighted the significance of exploring the south pole of the Moon, stating that it can provide valuable insights due to the lack of sunlight and the absence of other kinds of radiations. The ISRO chairman also mentioned the possibility of utilizing the Moon’s resources, such as water, for future missions.

The successful landing of the Chandrayaan-3 mission’s lander module, Vikram, and the subsequent deployment of the Rover Pragyan has marked a significant milestone in India’s space program. It has demonstrated the country’s ability to land an object outside the Earth and manoeuvre it for further exploration. India has become the fourth nation, after the US, China, and the erstwhile USSR, to accomplish the feat of mastering soft-landing technology.

Kasturirangan emphasized that the Chandrayaan-3 mission will enhance scientific knowledge and further showcase India’s technological prowess. He also expressed the country’s eagerness to explore the potential for human settlements and the utilization of the Moon as a platform for other space explorations. India’s participation in the Artemis Accords, a set of principles guiding civil space exploration and use in the 21st century, will facilitate this goal. The Artemis Accords, led by the United States, aim to return humans to the Moon by 2025 and subsequently expand space exploration to Mars.

India’s involvement in the Artemis Accords signifies a significant leap forward in space cooperation, as it contributes to the common vision of space exploration for the benefit of all humankind. Kasturirangan concluded by highlighting India’s successful mastery of space technology and expressing pride in the achievements of the Chandrayaan-3 mission.