The Indian Space Research Organization has released images of the lunar surface after its spacecraft became the first to land on the unexplored south pole of the Moon on Wednesday.
The images from the Chandrayaan-3, whose arrival also made India the fourth country to successfully land a spacecraft on the Moon after the United States, the Soviet Union and China, showed Wednesday a pockmarked surface along with a landing leg and a shadow.
The ISRO also released images taken during the spacecraft's descent to the lunar surface.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi watched the landing from South Africa where he was attending a summit of the BRICS grouping that includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
"India is now on the Moon. This is a moment to cherish forever...We are witness to the new flight of new India," he said.
A few hours after the landing, a rover came out of the lander to run a series of experiments over the next 14 days, including an analysis of the mineral composition of the lunar surface, ISRO Chairman S. Somanath said, according to a Press Trust of India report.
The Chandrayaan-3, India's third lunar exploration mission, was launched on July 14.
The successful landing on the Moon's south pole came days after a similar mission attempted by Russia's Luna-25 spacecraft failed.
Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Modi on India's success Wednesday.
"This is a big step forward in space exploration and, of course, a testament to India's impressive progress in science and technology," Putin said in a statement.
Shirika la Utafiti wa Anga la India (ISRO) limetoa picha za uso wa mwezi baada ya chombo chake cha angani kuwa cha kwanza kutua kwenye ncha ya kusini ya mwezi ambayo haijachunguzwa. Picha za Chandrayaan-3 ambazo zilifanya India kuwa nchi ya nne kutua kwa mafanikio kwenye mwezi baada ya Marekani, Urusi na China, zilionyesha eneo la mwezi lenye madoa pamoja na mguu wa kutua na kivuli. ISRO pia ilitoa picha zilizochukuliwa wakati wa kutua kwa chombo cha angani kwenye uso wa mwezi. Waziri Mkuu Narendra Modi amekuwa akisubiri kwa hamu mkutano wa kilele wa BRICS, ambao unajumuisha Brazil, Urusi, India, China na Afrika Kusini. "Hindia sasa iko kwenye Mwezi. Hii ni wakati wa kuhifadhiwa milele... Sisi ni mashahidi wa ndege mpya ya India mpya, "alisema. "Siku chache baada ya kutua, rover ilitoka kwenye lander ili kufanya mfululizo wa majaribio katika siku 14 zinazofuata, ikiwa ni pamoja na uchambuzi wa muundo wa madini ya uso wa mwezi, ""Msimamizi wa ISRO S. Somnath alisema." Chandrayaan-3 ni safari ya tatu ya India ya kuchunguza mwezi, ambayo ilizinduliwa Julai 14. Uwanja wa kwanza wa Urusi wa kutua kwenye Ncha ya Kusini ya Mwezi ulifanyika siku chache baada ya mradi wa kutua kwenye Ncha ya Kusini ya Mwezi uliofanywa na chombo cha anga cha Urusi cha Luna 25 kushindwa. Rais wa Urusi Vladimir Putin amemshukuru Modi kwa mafanikio ya India Jumatano. "Hii ni hatua kubwa mbele katika uchunguzi wa anga na, bila shaka, ni ushahidi wa maendeleo ya kuvutia ya India katika sayansi na teknolojia, ""Putin alisema katika taarifa."