India first to land spacecraft near moon’s south poleAFP, BENGALURU, IndiaIndia yesterday became the first nation to land a craft near the moon’s south pole, a historic triumph for the world’s most populous nation and its ambitious, cut-price space program. This handout screen grab taken and received from the live feed of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) website on August 23, 2023, shows the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft seconds before its successful lunar landing on the south pole of the Moon. India on August 23, became the first nation to land a craft near the Moon’s south pole, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi calling it a "historic day". India has landed a spacecraft near the moon’s south pole, an unchartered territory that scientists believe could hold vital reserves of frozen water and precious elements, as the country cements its growing prowess in space and technology. Students with painted faces surround a replica of the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft in Chennai, India, on Tuesday.

Source: Taipei Times August 23, 2023 16:43 UTC