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August 24, 2023

India Lands Spacecraft Near Moon's South Pole in First for Humanity
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India has become the fourth nation to achieve a moon landing. On
Wednesday, India's robotic Chandrayaan-3 lander touched down near the
moon's south pole, an unexplored terrain that's believed to hold vast
amounts of water ice, which could one day be separated into fuel and air
by lunar astronauts. India's United Nations Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj
said the landing was a milestone for scientists in the Global South.

Ruchira Kamboj: "This achievement not only marks India's presence on the
moon, but also symbolizes the aspirations of 1.4 billion Indians. Beyond
that, it's a historic moment for humanity as we venture into uncharted
territory near the moon's south pole."

India's successful landing came just days after Russia's Luna-25
spacecraft crashed while attempting to land at another site near the
moon's south pole.


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