Highlights: Pragyan rover rolls out of Chandrayaan-3 lander on Moon

At 6pm, S Somanath, the chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro), knew that his agency had done it. He got up from his seat at ISRO Telemetry Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) in the Peenya industrial area of Bengaluru, smiled at the anxious faces around him, and nodded his head as if to tell himself the mission was successful. Read more

The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro)’s remarkable feat has opened new vistas for the country’s space programme in the lucrative market of space exploration and commerce and is expected to assist private space companies increase their share of the global launch market.

Following the successful completion of the lunar project, shares of 13 Indian space-sector companies, including PTC Industries Ltd, Zen Technologies Ltd. and Centum Electronics Ltd., rallied and added more than $2.5 billion in market value this week, according to data complied by Bloomberg.

The Make in India programme dates back to 2014, the first year of the Narendra Modi government’s first term in office, and is aimed at attracting investments in the manufacturing sector. Since then, the government has focussed heavily on indigenising a space programme that so far leaned heavily on foreign manufacturers.

India erupted in rapturous celebrations on Wednesday, feting the milestone landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the Moon’s lunar surface, as scores of people burst crackers, distributed sweets, and went out on the streets with the Tricolour in their hands and songs on their lips. Read more

As the lander approached the lunar surface, dozens of people in a government-run planetarium started praying with folded hands. They switched to cheering and clapping once the lander touched down.

A man waved a banner reading ’’The Moon in India’s arms.”

Shrini Singh, a New Delhi resident, said she got goosebumps. ’’It’s a very happy moment … you can see the energy. It’s beyond words.”

Mitakshi Sinha, a student, said the successful mission motivated her. "And now I also want to be part of ISRO,” she said, referring to the country's space agency. 

India's Permanent Representative at the UN Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj said by aiming for the Moon, India has not only reached it, but also set its sights on the limitless possibilities that lie ahead. (PTI)

Congratulations to all the scientists at @isro as #Chandrayaan3 has successfully soft-landed on the moon. The entire country is proud. Bharat Mata Ki Jai!

Union Minister and BJP MP from Amethi Smriti Irani on Wednesday shared pictures of two people from her constituency working at ISRO and congratulated them for the successful Chandrayaan-3 mission.

In a giant leap for its space programme, India's Moon mission Chandrayaan-3 touched down on the lunar south pole at 6.04 pm on Wednesday, propelling the country to an exclusive club of four and making it the first country to land on the uncharted surface.

The women and child development minister, in a post on X, said, "The boys at Amethi are not far behind.. serving at ISRO since 2017 Harshit Baranwal has contributed to the Lander Testing Team as Scientist Quality Engineer for mission Chandryaan-3. Proud of you Harshit."

In another post she wrote, "Shweta Baranwal from Amethi serving at ISRO... proud of her achievements (I'm almost preening like her Ma)."

P Palanivel, father of Chandrayaan-3 project director P Veeramuthuvel, on Wednesday celebrated the successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 lander module on the moon’s South Pole and said that he is very happy and his son worked hard.

P Veeramuthuvel's father watched Chandrayaan-3's mission live feed from his Vilupuram home and cheered for the ISRO scientists for the successful landing on the Moon.

"Today Chandrayaan-3 very successfully landed. So this happiness goes to each and every person in India as well as Tamil Nadu. So I am very very happy. My son worked hard. As a father, I am sharing the happiness with you. I am very happy," Chandrayaan-3 project director P Veeramuthuvel's father told ANI.

Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin spoke to Chandrayaan-3 project director P Veeramuthuvel earlier today after lander module's soft landing on Moon's surface. He earlier congratulated the Indian space agency. 

"Congratulations to @ISRO on the successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 !! A monumental achievement that places India as the fourth country to conquer the lunar surface…Kudos to the entire team for their tireless efforts and innovation. A giant leap for India's space exploration" he said.

"What a proud and amazing moment for Indians living everywhere."

Here's how Indian diaspora members in Johannesburg, South Africa reacted to the soft landing of Chandrayaan-3 on Moon surface.

"While superpowers like the US, Russia, and China watch in agast amazement, India stuns the world with this humongous achievement. For the first time ever, our nation stamps it’s proud identity by landing #Chandrayaan3 on the south pole of the moon! My heartfelt congratulations to our @ISRO team. You have made us proud!! #ProudIndian #SaluteIndia #JaiHind," Rajinikanth said.

The families of two ISRO scientists from Assam were 'over the moon' over the successful soft-landing of Chandrayaan-3 rover on the lunar surface. The family members of scientists Nidhi Sharma and Chayan Dutta of Tinsukia and Lakhimpur towns respectively cried tears of joy as the touchdown happened.

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chief S Somanath announced that Aditya-L1 mission to study the Sun will be most probably launched in the first week of September. Aditya-L1 would be the first space-based Indian observatory to study the Sun.

Russian president Putin congratulated India's President Draupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the successful landing of the Indian space probe Chandrayaan-3 on the Moon near its South Pole.

"Please accept my heartfelt congratulations on the successful landing of India’s Chandrayaan-3 space probe on the Moon near the South Pole. This is a long stride in the exploration of outer space and, of course, evidence of the impressive progress made by India in science and engineering,” Putin said in his message.

Chandrayaan 3's Vikram lander has shared the first image after landing on the moon's south pole.

 NASA chief said, “Congratulations@isro on your successful Chandrayaan-3 lunar South Pole landing! And congratulations to #India on being the 4th country to successfully soft-land a spacecraft on the Moon. We’re glad to be your partner on this mission!”

Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel hailed ISRO scientists and the people of the country for the successful Moon landing of Chandrayaan-3. "Our scientists have created history by making this difficult mission successful," he said in a statement.

"India has become the first country in the world to land a spacecraft near the south pole of the Moon and the fourth to reach the Moon," he added. 

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan is also celebrating India's historic moment but with a filmy touch. He capped India's successful moon landing with an iconic song 'Chaand Taare todh laaon' from his film ' Yes Boss', hailing the efforts of scientists and engineers that helped India achieve this iconic feat.

"Chaand Taare todh laoon….Saari Duniya par main chhaoon. Aaj india aur #ISRO chhaa gaya. Congratulations to all the scientists and engineers…the whole team which has made India so proud. Chandrayaan-3 has successfully soft-landed on the moon. #Chandrayaan3," SRK wrote on Instagram.

Soon after the successful Chandrayaan-3 mission, ISRO said communication link was established between the Lander and the space agency's Mission Operations Complex (MOX). The MOX is located at the ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC).

Union home minister Amit Shah said, "I extend my heartiest congratulations to the 140 crore people on this big achievement in the space sector in this Amrit Kaal. I also congratulate Team Chandrayaan as their hard work has made India proud...PM Modi brought in a new space policy, under which 55 spacecraft missions were launched in the last decade."

Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said, “We all are proud. The country is filled with happiness and joy. A new India has emerged under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Chandrayaan has now landed on the moon. We all are happy.”

Josef Aschbacher, director general of European Space Agency said, "Incredible! Congratulations to ISRO, Chandrayaan-3, and to all the people of India!! What a way to demonstrate new technologies AND achieve India’s first soft landing on another celestial body. Well done, I am thoroughly impressed."

CJI D.Y. Chandrachud said, "This will herald new avenues in scientific research and discovery. This represents a milestone in the march of the nation."

Rahul Gandhi said, "Chandrayaan-3's soft landing on the uncharted lunar South Pole is the result of decades of tremendous ingenuity and hard work by our scientific community. Since 1962, India's space programme has continued to scale new heights and inspire generations of young dreamers."