Sattwik Mandal, a student of class 5, shares the day he was when India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission successfully landed on the moon’s southern pole.
As a fifth-standard student, I was always fascinated by space. My room was full of posters of rockets, planets, and astronauts. I would often spend hours gazing at the stars, imagining what it would be like to travel among them. My excitement was at its peak when I learnt that India was attempting to land on the moon’s southern pole with Chandrayaan-3. I eagerly marked the date on my calendar, counting down the days.
On 14th July 2023, at exactly 14:35 IST, my heart raced with anticipation. My parents and I were glued to the television, watching the live broadcast from ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation). The atmosphere at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, was electric. I could see the tension and excitement on the faces of the scientists as the LVM3 M4 vehicle stood tall on the launch pad, ready to carry the lander named Vikram and the rover named Pragyan to the moon.
As the countdown began, I held my breath. “Ten… nine… eight…” the announcer’s voice echoed. My fingers were crossed tightly, and I could feel my heart pounding. “Three… two… one… lift-off!” The rocket roared to life, and a plume of smoke and fire erupted from the base as it soared into the sky. I jumped up, cheering along with my parents. The journey had begun, and now all we could do was wait.
The days that followed were filled with anticipation. I checked the news every day, eager for updates on the mission. I knew that a few years back, ISRO had launched Chandrayaan-2, which sadly failed to land. But I also knew that ISRO did not give up easily. This time, they were determined to succeed, and I believed in them.
Finally, the big day arrived—23rd August 2023. I came home from school, my bag forgotten in the hallway as I ran to the living room. The television was already on, showing live footage from ISRO’s mission control room. The landing was scheduled for 18:03 IST. I could hardly sit still. The clock seemed to move slower than ever, each minute feeling like an hour.
As the moment approached, the room fell silent. My parents and I were on the edge of our seats, our eyes fixed on the screen. The announcer’s voice was calm, but I could hear the excitement behind it. “We are now approaching the lunar surface,” he said. “The Vikram lander is descending.”
My heart was in my throat as I watched the animated graphics showing the lander’s approach. I could see the tension on the faces of the scientists, their eyes glued to their monitors, fingers hovering over keyboards, ready to act. The clock ticked closer to 18:03. I held my breath.
Then, suddenly, there was a cheer. The room erupted in applause. The screen showed the words: “Successful landing!” Vikram had touched down on the Southern Pole of the lunar surface.
I jumped up, shouting with joy. My parents hugged me, tears of pride in their eyes. I felt like I was part of something incredible, something bigger than myself. India had done it! We were the first country to land on the Southern Pole of the moon.
As I watched the celebrations at ISRO, I thought about the scientists who had worked so hard to make this possible. They didn’t give up after Chandrayaan-2; instead, they learnt from it, kept going, and made history. Their dedication and perseverance had inspired me.
That night, as I lay in bed, I looked out of my window at the moon, shining bright in the night sky. Somewhere up there, Vikram and Pragyan were exploring, uncovering the mysteries of the lunar surface. I knew that one day I wanted to be like those scientists, exploring the unknown and pushing the boundaries of what we could achieve. Chandrayaan-3 had not just landed on the moon; it had landed in my heart, igniting a passion for space and exploration that I knew would stay with me forever. Waiting for the next adventure of Chandrayaan.
