Today in history, August 23: What happened on this day

Have you ever wondered about the historical significance of today? August 23 has seen pivotal moments that shaped the world as we know it.

Chandrayaan-3 Landing: A Landmark Achievement for India
On 23 August 2023, India’s Chandrayaan-3 became the first mission to land on the moon’s southern polar region. The Vikram Lander touched down smoothly, and the Pragyan Rover soon began exploring the lunar surface. The landing site was named Shiv Shakti Point, reflecting India’s growing strength in space exploration. This success placed India among the leading spacefaring nations.

1990: Armenia Declares Independence from the Soviet Union
On August 23, 1990, Armenia announced its independence from the Soviet Union. The nation, which had been part of the USSR since 1922, transitioned from being part of the Transcaucasian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic to the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic in 1936. Armenia’s full independence was achieved a year later, on September 21, 1991.

1966: First Photograph of Earth from Moon’s Orbit
NASA’s Lunar Orbiter 1 captured the first image of Earth from the Moon’s orbit. Although the spacecraft’s primary mission was to identify potential lunar landing sites, this iconic photograph provided a new perspective of our planet.