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Why it's a big deal that India beat Russia in the new race to the moon

The success of the Indian Space Research Organisation mission to the moon places India as a capable up-and-comer in the space industry, and may inspire other nations with relatively new space agencies to follow suit

By Leah Crane

8 September 2023

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3D image of the Chandrayaan-3 Vikram lander on the moon

ISRO/LEOS/SAC

The following is an extract from our monthly Launchpad newsletter, in which resident space expert Leah Crane journeys through the solar system and beyond. You can sign up for Launchpad for free here.

Over the past several weeks, the destination on everybody’s mind has been the moon. Russia’s Luna 25 lander launched on 11 August and then crash-landed on 19 August. India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission, which launched back in July and has been orbiting the moon for…

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