 "People watch a live stream of Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft's landing on the moon, inside an auditorium of Gujarat Science City in Ahmedabad, India, August 23, 2023. File Image/Reuters")
We take a look at August 23 as part of Firstpost’s ongoing History Today series.
On this day in 2023, India etched its name in history as Chandrayaan-3 successfully landed on the Moon, making the nation the first to reach the lunar south pole.
Beyond this remarkable feat, the date also recalls Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s appointment as India’s first deputy prime minister in 1947, the transmission of humanity’s first photograph of Earth from the Moon in 1966, and the 1973 hostage crisis in Stockholm that gave rise to the term “Stockholm syndrome.”
Chandrayaan-3 lands on the Moon
On August 23, 2023, India etched its name in the annals of space exploration by achieving what many had thought improbable: a successful soft landing on the lunar south pole through its Chandrayaan-3 mission.
This achievement made India the fourth country in history — after the United States, the Soviet Union, and China — to perform a controlled landing on the Moon.
Yet, what made this success stand out globally was its location: no other nation had ever landed a spacecraft in the treacherous southern polar region of the Moon, a site believed to hold vast reserves of water ice.
India’s lunar journey began with Chandrayaan-1 in 2008. The orbiter not only placed India in the league of lunar explorers but also made a groundbreaking discovery: water molecules on the Moon’s surface.
This revelation gave fresh impetus to lunar science worldwide, as the presence of water ice could be vital for future human settlement and as a resource for rocket fuel.
A decade later came Chandrayaan-2 in 2019.
While its orbiter continues to operate successfully around the Moon, relaying crucial data, the mission suffered a major setback when its lander, Vikram, crashed during the final stages of descent.
For Isro scientists, it was a devastating blow, as years of work seemed to collapse in those fateful final moments. However, rather than being discouraged, the failure only sharpened India’s resolve.
Chandrayaan-3 was conceived as a lander-focused mission, designed to rectify the errors of its predecessor and attempt a precise soft landing once again.
Unlike Chandrayaan-2, Chandrayaan-3 did not carry an orbiter of its own. Instead, it relied on the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter still in lunar orbit to communicate with Earth. This kept the mission leaner and more cost-effective.
The spacecraft consisted of two primary components:
Vikram lander (named after Dr Vikram Sarabhai, the father of India’s space programme)
Pragyan rover (meaning “wisdom” in Sanskrit)
The lander was equipped with instruments like a seismometer to detect moonquakes, thermal probes to measure surface temperatures, and spectrometers to study the composition of lunar soil.
Pragyan, a six-wheeled rover, was designed to traverse the surface, analyse rocks and soil, and send data back via the lander.
A notable feature of Chandrayaan-3 was its engineering. The lander carried stronger legs to withstand impact, improved sensors for terrain mapping, and redundancies in case of system failures.
Every detail was scrutinised, informed by lessons from the Chandrayaan-2 setback.
On August 23, 2023, millions of Indians tuned in live as Chandrayaan-3 approached the Moon.
Isro’s Mission Operations Complex in Bengaluru was a picture of tense anticipation. Engineers, scientists, students, and ordinary citizens were glued to screens as Vikram descended toward the lunar surface.
At 6:04 pm IST, the lander gently touched down near the Moon’s south pole. The room erupted in jubilation. Tears, cheers, and applause filled the control centre as Isro scientists embraced one another.
Across India, people poured into streets, temples, and community centres to celebrate. The moment was symbolic of more than scientific achievement — it was a testament to India’s growing place on the world stage as a scientific power.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was attending the Brics summit in South Africa at the time, joined the Isro telecast virtually.
Addressing the nation, he declared: “India is now on the Moon. This success belongs to all of humanity, and it will help future lunar missions by other countries.”
The Moon’s south pole has long fascinated scientists. Unlike other regions, its craters are permanently shadowed and never receive sunlight. Within these dark craters lie deposits of water ice, preserved for billions of years.
The availability of water could make the south pole a hub for future lunar exploration.
Water is not only vital for sustaining human life but can also be broken down into hydrogen and oxygen, forming rocket fuel — turning the Moon into a potential refuelling station for deeper space missions.
Chandrayaan-3’s success was thus not just a symbolic victory but one of immense scientific promise. By landing at the south pole, India positioned itself at the frontier of lunar exploration.
The data collected by Pragyan and Vikram continues to aid international efforts to understand this challenging and valuable region.
In the days following the landing, ISRO confirmed several successful deployments:
The rover Pragyan rolled out onto the surface, leaving imprints of Isro and the Indian emblem on lunar soil.
The Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscope (LIBS) detected elements like sulfur, aluminum, calcium, and iron in the lunar surface — findings that confirmed theories about the Moon’s geology.
The seismometer detected lunar seismic activity, offering insights into the Moon’s interior structure.
Temperature probes recorded drastic variations, with surface temperatures fluctuating between near-boiling hot during the day and extreme cold at night.
Although the mission was designed to last for one lunar day (14 Earth days), Isro scientists attempted to revive Pragyan and Vikram after the lunar night.
While the rover eventually fell silent, the mission had already surpassed its objectives.
One of the most striking aspects of Chandrayaan-3 was its cost — around ₹615 crore (approximately $75 million). In comparison, this was a fraction of what many space agencies spend on similar missions.
For instance, Hollywood’s science-fiction movie Interstellar had a production budget of about $165 million, more than double Chandrayaan-3’s cost.
This cost-effectiveness has become ISRO’s hallmark.
The success of Chandrayaan-3 drew praise from around the world. Nasa Administrator Bill Nelson congratulated ISRO, noting the importance of international cooperation in lunar science.
The European Space Agency and Russia’s Roscosmos also extended congratulations.
Chandrayaan-3 symbolised a democratization of space science, where emerging economies could make significant contributions.
Chandrayaan-3’s triumph has set the stage for future Indian missions. Isro is now focused on the Gaganyaan mission, which aims to send Indian astronauts into space.
Other ambitious projects include Aditya-L1, a mission to study the Sun, and future lunar ventures, potentially in collaboration with global agencies.
The mission also reignited enthusiasm among India’s youth for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
Classrooms and universities reported surges of interest in space sciences, echoing the way the Apollo missions inspired an entire generation of Americans.
In many ways, Chandrayaan-3 was more than just a landing — it was a national movement.
Sardar Patel appointed India’s first deputy PM
On August 23, 1947, just days after India gained independence, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was appointed as the country’s first deputy prime minister.
Often called the “Iron Man of India,” Patel played a decisive role in integrating over 500 princely states into the Indian Union.
His appointment reflected his stature as one of the chief architects of modern India, alongside Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
Patel also served as Home Minister, overseeing internal security and administrative integration at a time of immense turmoil following Partition.
First view of Earth from the Moon
On August 23, 1966, NASA’s Lunar Orbiter 1 transmitted the first-ever photograph of Earth taken from the vicinity of the Moon.
The black-and-white image showed Earth as a distant crescent against the vastness of space, providing humanity with a humbling new perspective on its place in the universe.
This milestone laid the groundwork for future lunar missions, including the Apollo programme.
The photograph also influenced the environmental movement by highlighting Earth’s fragility, inspiring later iconic images such as “Earthrise” and “Blue Marble.”
“Stockholm Syndrome”
The term “Stockholm syndrome” originated from a bank robbery in Stockholm, Sweden, that began on August 23, 1973.
Armed criminals held four hostages inside a bank vault for six days.
Remarkably, the captives began sympathising with their captors and resisted rescue attempts.
This psychological response, where victims develop emotional bonds with their abusers, came to be known as Stockholm syndrome.
The incident not only shocked Sweden but influenced the study of human psychology.
Also Watch:
With inputs from agencies