What does Namakkal district in Tamil Nadu have in common with the moon? It is the soil.
On August 23, 2023, India made history by becoming the first country in the world to touch down on the South pole region of the moon. This feat was achieved by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) through its lunar mission Chandrayaan-3, after a futile attempt in 2019.
The soil samples at Siddampoondi village in Namakkal district are said to be very similar to the soil in the lunar surface, especially in the South Pole. This district had sent soil samples to the ISRO in conducting the tests for both Chandrayaan-2 and Chandrayaan-3 missions.
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Interviews, photos and videos: E. Lakshmi Narayanan
Script: Lalitha Ranjani
Production and voiceover: Kanishkaa Balachandran
