After Chandrayaan-3 successfully soft landed on the Moon's south pole on Wednesday, Chairman of INSPACe, Dept. of Space, Chairman SCALE, and DPIIT Pawan K. Goenka shared the first glimpses of Rover Pragyan of Chandrayaan-3 while it was coming out of the lander on the ramp.
Meanwhile, several world leaders congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the success of the mission at the banquet dinner during the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg. With the achievement, India becomes the first country to reach the south pole of Earth's only natural satellite.
Celebrations broke out at ISRO's Mission Operations Complex in Bengaluru as the lander (Vikram), which carries a rover (Pragyan) in its belly, touched down near the south polar region of the Moon.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday called the Chandrayaan-3's soft landing on the Moon "historic" and said it sounded the bugle for a "developed India". Modi, who is in South Africa to attend the BRICS Summit, virtually witnessed the historic landing of Chandrayaan 3.
"We are witness to the new flight of new India. New history has been written. This is a moment to cherish forever. India is now on the moon," PM Modi said in opening remarks. PM Modi said the Moon mission was not just India's alone and the success belongs to all of humanity.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday lauded India for the successful moon landing of Chandrayaan-3, saying it is something to rejoice about for all BRICS partners.
The Chandrayaan mission remained the focal point of Ramaphosa's welcoming remarks as he hosted a cultural performance and state banquet in Midrand on Wednesday evening BRICS nation leaders. Also present at the occasion were a host of other leaders from across Africa and Global South who have been invited to participate in the all-day BRICS-Africa Outreach and BRICS Plus Dialogue on Thursday.