India becomes first nation to land spacecraft on Moon’s south pole

This handout screen grab shows the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft seconds before its successful lunar landing on the south pole of the Moon on August 23, 2023. © Indian Space Research Organisation via AFP

India on Wednesday made history when its Chandrayaan-3 lander successfully touched down on the Moon's south pole, thought to be a potential source for water and oxygen, days after Russia's mission failed.

The Indian space agency launched the rocket on July 14, blasting off from the country's main spaceport in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh.