India set to launch historic Moon mission Chandrayaan-3
India will launch its third Moon mission with the aim to be the first to land near its little-explored south pole.
The Chandrayaan-3 craft with an orbiter, lander and a rover is set for lift off on Friday from Sriharikota space centre.
The lander is due to reach the Moon on 23-24 August, according to space officials.
If successful, India will become the fourth country to achieve a soft landing on the Moon, following the US, the former Soviet Union and China.
Chandrayaan-3 is expected to build on the success of its earlier Moon missions.
Its last attempt Chandrayaan-2 – which also comprised an orbiter, a lander and a rover – was launched in July 2019 but it was only partially successful. Its orbiter continues to circle and study the Moon even today, but the lander rover failed to make a soft landing and crashed during touchdown.
