India's Moon mission a model for aspiring space powers – PM Modibr br Prime Minister Narendra Modi says India's successful Moon mission will open new avenues for other countries seeking to unravel the mysteries of the Earth's only natural satellite. Chandrayaan-3, "Mooncraft" in Sanskrit, touched down on the lunar surface on on August 23, making India the first nation to land an unmanned craft near the largely unexplored lunar south pole.