In recognition of India’s significant achievements in space exploration, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has been bestowed with the esteemed Leif Erikson Lunar Prize by the Husavik Museum.

The Indian Embassy in Iceland shared this news through a post on X (previously Twitter): “Husavik Museum awards the Leif Erikson Lunar Prize to ISRO for their unwavering commitment to advancing lunar exploration and contributing to the understanding of celestial mysteries through Chandrayaan3.”

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar expressed his admiration for ISRO’s accomplishment on social media. “Congratulations ISRO for the 2023 Leif Erikson Lunar Prize. Chandrayaan adds more laurels to the nation,” wrote Jaishankar on X.

Indian Ambassador Balasubramanian Shyam accepted the prestigious prize on behalf of ISRO, with ISRO Chairman Mr. S. Somanath expressing gratitude through Ambassador Shyam.

The triumph of Chandrayaan-3 on August 23 marked a historic milestone as the lander module successfully touched down on the moon’s South Pole. This achievement positioned India as the fourth nation, following the United States, China, and Russia, to achieve a successful lunar landing. The mission not only showcased ISRO’s technological prowess but also demonstrated the space agency’s resilience after the Chandrayaan-2’s crash landing four years earlier.

Following the successful landing, the Vikram lander and the Pragyan rover carried out various tasks on the lunar surface, including detecting elemental presence like sulphur, recording temperature differentials, and monitoring lunar activities.

The success of Chandrayaan-3 further solidified India’s standing in lunar exploration.

Building on this success, India swiftly advanced its inaugural solar mission, Aditya-L1, launched on September 2. The spacecraft underwent successful maneuvers, including four earth-bound maneuvers and a crucial Trans-Lagrangean Point 1 Insertion (TL1I) maneuver, enabling it to move beyond Earth’s sphere of influence.

This prize celebrates ISRO’s unwavering commitment and persistent efforts in advancing lunar exploration, notably exemplified by the successful Chandrayaan-3 mission, contributing significantly to unraveling celestial mysteries.

Source: Times of India