India on Friday successfully launched its third lunar exploration mission, Chandrayaan-3, to make a soft landing and explore the lunar surface, in a bid to become the fourth country to land a spacecraft on the Moon.
The LVM3-M4 launch rocket carrying the craft lifted off from the country's main space center in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh, the Indian Space Research Organization said.
"Chandrayaan-3, in its precise orbit, has begun its journey to the Moon. Health of the Spacecraft is normal," tweeted ISRO after the launch.
Once the lander reaches its desired altitude, it will begin its descent for a soft landing on the south pole region of the Moon, which is expected to take place around Aug. 23 or 24.
After the launch, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, "14th July 2023 will always be etched in golden letters as far as India's space sector is concerned. Chandrayaan-3, our third lunar mission, will embark on its journey. This remarkable mission will carry the hopes and dreams of our nation."
Chandrayaan, which means "moon vehicle" in Sanskrit, started its mission with Chandrayaan-1 launched in 2008 and operated till 2009. Its mission included being a lunar orbiter and an impactor.
However, Chandrayaan-3 follows Chandrayaan-2 mission launched in 2019 which failed to achieve a soft landing on the Moon surface.
If Chandrayaan-3 is able to pull off the mission, India will join an elite club comprising three countries -- the United States, the former Soviet Union and most recently China -- all of which have achieved soft landings on the Moon.
