What was the global response to India's historic lunar landing?

India has achieved a significant milestone by successfully landing a spacecraft near the moon's south pole with the Indian Space Research Organisation's Chandrayaan-3. This accomplishment places India in the esteemed company of the United States, China, and Russia as the fourth nation to achieve a successful lunar landing. The Chandrayaan-3 mission holds great importance in advancing lunar exploration and bolstering India's position as a formidable space power.

“This moment is unforgettable. It is phenomenal. It is the call of a developed India. It is the victory call for a new India,” Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said after the successful landing. The achievement has also garnered praise from various quarters, with Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi commending it as a testament to the "tremendous ingenuity and hard work" exhibited by the country's scientific community. “Since 1962, India’s space program has continued to scale new heights and inspire generations of young dreamers,” he posted on social media platform X.

Notably, this success stands in stark contrast to recent setbacks faced by other space agencies, including Moscow's mission, which experienced a crash. Even President Vladimir Putin himself recognized the Indian moon landing as an "impressive" accomplishment, underscoring the global significance of India's achievement.