Making India proud, ISRO has been awarded the Leif Erikson Lunar Prize for Chandrayaan-3’s trailblazing soft-landing close to the lunar south pole.
On 23 August 2023, India turned into the fourth country to reach a a hit lunar touchdown becoming a member of the ranks of the US, China and Russia. It additionally made historical past as the primary nation to the touch down the Moon’s South Pole — an unexplored area that scientists imagine may cling necessary reserves of frozen water and treasured components.
For the reason that 23 August landing, Chandrayaan-3’s exploration of the lunar floor yielded a large number of necessary discoveries. This sort of was once the presence of sulphur. The Laser-Prompted Breakdown Spectroscope (LIBS) software aboard the Pragyan rover showed this. This match additionally marked the primary of its sort in-situ size of the lunar south pole’s elemental composition. This discovering is important because it raises questions on whether or not the part is intrinsic to the lunar floor or a results of meteoritic affect.
After weeks of exploration, the Vikram Lander and Pragyan Rover have been put into sleep mode by means of ISRO on September 4 and a pair of respectively, and have been to be reactivated on 23 September. Alternatively, efforts to restore the lunar duo failed.
Alternatively, ISRO’s efforts didn’t move ignored. The distance company was once bestowed with the celebrated Leif Erikson Lunar Prize by means of Husavik Museum for its “indomitable spirit in advancing lunar exploration and contributing to figuring out celestial mysteries”. The embassy’s submit added, “ISRO Chairman Mr S Somanath despatched a message; Amb Mr Shyam gained the prize on ISRO’s behalf”.
Leif Erikson Lunar Prize has been awarded by means of Husavik Museum for @ISRO‘s indomitable spirit in advancing lunar exploration & contributing to figuring out celestial mysteries #Chandrayaan3
ISRO Chairman Mr S.Somanath despatched a message; Amb Mr Shyam gained the prize on ISRO’s behalf percent.twitter.com/0l8LjJj7SF— India in Iceland (@indembiceland) December 19, 2023
Exterior Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar additionally took to X (previously referred to as Twitter) to precise his admiration for ISRO’s accomplishment. “Congratulations ISRO for the 2023 Leif Erikson Lunar Prize. Chandrayaan provides extra laurels to the country.”
Congratulations @isro for the 2023 Leif Erikson Lunar Prize.
Chandrayaan brings extra laurels to the country. https://t.co/o2DrR7VpNU— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) December 20, 2023
The award rite takes position once a year in Húsavík and falls into 3 classes. Those come with the Leif Erikson Award to an explorer for an entire life success in exploration; the Leif Erikson Younger Explorer Award to an explorer below the age of 35 for achievements in exploration; and the Leif Erikson Exploration Historical past Award.
Not too long ago, the inside track of the Propulsion Module (PM) of Chandrayaan-3 transitioning from lunar orbit to Earth’s orbit made headlines.
Within the months following Chandrayaan-3’s ancient feat, ISRO additionally introduced Aditya-L1 on 2 September to check the sun setting. The spacecraft has effectively passed through a couple of maneuvers, together with 4 earth-bound manoeuvres and a the most important Trans-Lagrangean Level 1 Insertion (TL1I) manoeuvre.
Edited by means of Padmashree Pande.