The name Chandrayaan-3, originating from Sanskrit, translates to "Moon-craft," offering a meaning reflection of the mission's primary objective and destination
Pragyan, the six-wheeled rover, derived its name from Sanskrit, symbolising "wisdom" as it analysed the lunar soil and broadened our understanding of the moon's composition
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The lander, Vikram, embodies the spirit of "valor" in Sanskrit and pays tribute to Vikram Sarabhai, the visionary founder of the Indian space program. Sarabhai's pioneering leadership laid the foundation for India's achievements in space exploration
The Physics Research Laboratory (PRL), established by Vikram Sarabhai in Ahmedabad, India, played a pivotal role in developing crucial materials for the Chandrayaan-3 mission. These contributions include a spectrometer on the Pragyan rover and a thermal probe on the lander
The liquid-fuelled rocket engine, Vikas, is also named after Vikram Sarabhai and signifies "progress" in Sanskrit. It is also considered a blend of Sarabhai's full name, symbolising his enduring legacy in Indian space endeavours
India's tradition of Sanskrit naming extends to previous missions, such as the successful Mars orbiter mission, Mangalyaan, which translates to “Mars’ vehicle”. This mission played a pivotal role in studying the Martian surface and atmosphere from orbit, showcasing India's prowess in planetary exploration
India's current Aditya-L1 mission, translating to “Sun" in Sanskrit, was launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre on Saturday. This mission marks a significant stride in India's quest to study the sun and unravel its mysteries
India's ambitious human spaceflight program, Gaganyaan, which translates to "celestial vehicle" in Sanskrit, aims to launch astronauts into low-Earth orbit. This endeavour includes initial uncrewed test flights featuring the humanoid robot Vyommitra, equipped with robotic arms and humanlike features, designed to conduct diverse experiments during these missions
As India continues to establish itself in the realm of space exploration, Sanskrit, a language that had declined in use over the centuries, is experiencing a revival on the global stage, underscoring its enduring cultural and scientific significanc