Statio Shiv Shakti

{{Infobox historic site

| name = Statio Shiva Shakti

| type = Extraterrestrial landing site

| image = Chandrayaan3-landed.jpg

| caption = Chandrayaan-3 lander on Shiva Shakti Point; photographed by Pragyan rover

| location = Area between Manzinus C and Simpelius N craters, Moon{{Cite web |date=14 July 2023 |title=India launches Chandrayaan-3 mission to the lunar surface |url=https://physicsworld.com/a/india-launches-chandrayaan-3-mission-to-the-lunar-surface/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230717125057/https://physicsworld.com/a/india-launches-chandrayaan-3-mission-to-the-lunar-surface/ |archive-date=17 July 2023 |access-date=15 July 2023 |publisher=Physicsworld}}

| beginning_label = Founded

| beginning_date =

Announced: August 26, 2023
IAU Approved: March 19, 2024

| image_map = Image of Chandrayaan-3 Lander captured by OHRC camera aboard Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter.webp

| image_map_caption = Image of Chandrayaan-3 lander captured by OHRC camera aboard Chandrayaan-2 orbiter

| coordinates = {{coord|69.373|S|32.319|E|globe:moon}}

| founder = {{flagicon|India}} Chandrayaan-3

}}

Shiv Shakti Point is the landing site of Chandrayaan-3, the third lunar mission of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The mission's lander Vikram and rover Pragyan landed 600 km from the south pole of the Moon on 23 August 2023.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/explained-why-did-chandrayaan-3-land-on-the-near-side-of-the-moon/article67235632.ece|title=Explained | Why did Chandrayaan-3 land on the near side of the moon?|first=Jacob|last=Koshy|newspaper=The Hindu |date=August 25, 2023|via=www.thehindu.com}}{{Cite web |last=Kumar |first=Sanjay |date=23 August 2023 |title=India makes history by landing spacecraft near Moon's south pole |url=https://www.science.org/content/article/india-makes-history-landing-spacecraft-near-moon-s-south-pole |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230824120354/https://www.science.org/content/article/india-makes-history-landing-spacecraft-near-moon-s-south-pole |archive-date=24 August 2023 |access-date=24 August 2023 |website=Science.org}}{{Cite news |date=6 July 2023 |title=Chandrayaan-3 launch on 14 July, lunar landing on 23 or 24 August |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/chandrayaan-3-launch-scheduled-for-july-14-at-235-pm/article67049236.ece |url-status=live |access-date=14 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230711031538/https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/chandrayaan-3-launch-scheduled-for-july-14-at-235-pm/article67049236.ece |archive-date=11 July 2023 |issn=0971-751X}} The landing site was named on 26 August 2023 at the ISTRAC headquarters in Bengaluru,{{Cite web |date=2023-08-25 |title=Modi in Bengaluru Live Updates: Touchdown point of Vikram lander will be known as 'Shivshakti', says PM |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/bangalore/bengaluru-live-news-updates-traffic-weather-isro-chandrayaan-8908491/ |access-date=2023-08-26 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}} after India became the fourth nation to make a successful soft landing on the Moon and also becoming the first country that landed on the lunar south pole.{{efn|Often reported in media as "polar region", the landing site of Chandrayaan-3 is actually outside the Lunar Antarctic circle (80ºS). ISRO scientists involved in selecting and characterizing the landing site call it a “high-latitude location".{{Cite journal |last1=Karanam |first1=Durga Prasad |last2=Bhatt |first2=Megha |last3=A |first3=Amitabh |last4=G |first4=Ambily |last5=Sathyan |first5=Sachana |last6=Misra |first6=Dibyendu |last7=Srivastava |first7=Neeraj |last8=Bhardwaj |first8=Anil |date=2023-08-03 |title=Contextual Characterisation Study of Chandrayaan-3 Primary Landing Site |journal=Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters |doi=10.1093/mnrasl/slad106 |doi-access=free |issn=1745-3925}} or "near polar region"{{Cite web |title=LVM3-M4/CHANDRAYAAN-3 MOON MISSION|url=https://www.isro.gov.in/media_isro/pdf/Missions/LVM3/LVM3M4_Chandrayaan3_brochure.pdf |website=isro.gov.in}} |group=note}} Statio Shiv Shakti is located at the coordinates {{coords|69.373|S|32.319|E|globe:moon|display=inline,title|format=dec}}{{Cite web |title=Mission homepage |url=https://www.isro.gov.in/Chandrayaan3_New.html/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230623133254/https://www.isro.gov.in/Chandrayaan3_New.html |archive-date=23 June 2023 |access-date=29 June 2023}}{{Citation |title=Chandrayaan 3 - After The Landing What Happens Next? | date=27 August 2023 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=howp3hl5Zag |access-date=2023-08-28 |language=en}} and lies between the lunar craters Manzinus C and Simpelius N.{{Cite web |date=14 July 2023 |title=India launches Chandrayaan-3 mission to the lunar surface |url=https://physicsworld.com/a/india-launches-chandrayaan-3-mission-to-the-lunar-surface/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230717125057/https://physicsworld.com/a/india-launches-chandrayaan-3-mission-to-the-lunar-surface/ |archive-date=17 July 2023 |access-date=15 July 2023 |publisher=Physicsworld}} It has been proposed that the upcoming sample-return mission Chandrayaan-4 also land near the point.{{Cite web |date=2024-05-13 |title=Chandrayaan-4's landing site on the Moon revealed |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/science/chandrayaan-4-mission/story/chandrayaan-4-to-land-close-to-shiva-shakti-point-on-the-moon-2538432-2024-05-13 |access-date=2024-05-14 |website=India Today |language=en}}

Name

The name Shiv Shakti is derived from the names of Hindu deities Shiva, who is also associated with the Moon, and Shakti, the divine feminine energy, who is often depicted as the consort of Shiva in the form of goddess Parvati.{{Cite web |date=26 August 2023 |title=PM addresses Team ISRO on success of Chandrayaan-3 |url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1952360}}

Geological history

Using high-resolution remote sensing datasets, Geologists have estimated that the site is over 3.7 billion years old. The geological map of the landing site reveals that debris from the nearby Schomberger crater covers the area. Further analysis revealed the landscape is scattered with boulders, some of which exceed 5 metres in size with most of them originating from a fresh, 540-metre crater located 14 km south of the point. To the west side are smaller, centimetre-sized rock fragments, which likely came from a nearby 10-metre-wide crater.{{Cite news |date=2025-02-10 |title=Chandrayaan-3 landing site is estimated to be 3.7 billion years old: Scientists |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/science/chandrayaan-3-landing-site-is-estimated-to-be-3-7-billion-years-old-scientists/articleshow/118098127.cms |access-date=2025-02-13 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}} Temperature reading obtained from the ChaSTE experiment indicated that from about (~8 AM - 4 PM Local time at the Moon) reported a peak surface temperature of about 355 K (± 0.5 K), with another independent sensor reporting it at ~332K (±1K), showcasing meter-sale variations for high latitude areas on the moon. This was an observational first for the Instrument and the probe.{{Cite web |title=India Bags the Credit for First-Ever In-Situ Measurement of the Topmost Fluffy Layer of the Moon’s Surface at Southern Higher Latitudes: New Insight about Harbouring Water-ice on the Moon |url=https://www.isro.gov.in/India_Bags_Credit_First-Ever_In-Situ_Measurement.html |access-date=2025-03-15 |website=www.isro.gov.in |language=en}}

Announcement

File:An Oleograph of Shiva, Parvati and Nandi by Raja Ravi Varma.jpg is named after the Hindu deities Shiva and Shakti]]

The name was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 26, 2023 while meeting ISRO scientists in Bangalore.{{Cite web |date=26 August 2023 |title=Chandrayaan-3's Touchdown Point To Be Called Shiv Shakti: PM Modi At ISRO |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/chandrayaan-3-landing-site-to-be-called-shiv-shakti-point-says-pm-modi-4330959 |access-date=28 August 2023 |work=NDTV}} Prime Minister Modi noted that the selection of "Shiva-Shakti" was based on concept of "Shiva" as humanity's determination and "Shakti" as the capability to actualize these humanitarian ambitions, while further noting that "Shakti" is also a tribute to the women scientists.{{Cite web |date=28 August 2023 |title=What is 'Shivshakti Point'? India's lunar landing site on moon's South Pole |url=https://www.livemint.com/science/news/what-is-shivshakti-point-indias-lunar-landing-site-on-moons-south-pole-11693186215789.html |access-date=28 August 2023 |work=Live Mint}}{{Cite web |author1=Sharmila Kuthunur |date=2023-08-29 |title=India to name Chandrayaan-3's moon landing site 'Shiv Shakti Point' |url=https://www.space.com/india-chandrayaan-3-moon-landing-site-name |access-date=2023-09-15 |website=Space.com |language=en}}

On 19 March 2024, the International Astronomical Union Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature approved the name Statio Shiv Shakti for the landing site of Chandrayaan-3’s Vikram lander.{{Cite news |last=Kumar |first=Chethan |date=2024-03-24 |title=It's official: Chandrayaan-3 landing site name 'Shiva Shakti' gets IAU nod |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/its-official-chandrayaan-3-landing-site-name-shiva-shakti-get-iau-nod/articleshow/108747045.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240325082511/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/its-official-chandrayaan-3-landing-site-name-shiva-shakti-get-iau-nod/articleshow/108747045.cms |archive-date=25 March 2024 |access-date=2024-03-24 |work=The Times of India}}{{Cite news |date=2024-03-24 |title=Chandrayaan-3's landing site name 'Statio Shiv Shakti' approved by IAU |url=https://www.livemint.com/science/news/chandrayaan3s-landing-site-name-statio-shiv-shakti-approved-by-iau-11711280766041.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240325083029/https://www.livemint.com/science/news/chandrayaan3s-landing-site-name-statio-shiv-shakti-approved-by-iau-11711280766041.html |archive-date=25 March 2024 |access-date=2024-03-24 |work=Mint}}{{Cite news |date=2024-03-24 |title='Statio Shiv Shakti': IAU approves Chandrayaan-3 Vikram's landing site name |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/science/statio-shiv-shakti-iau-approves-chandrayaan-3-vikrams-landing-site-name/articleshow/108747652.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2024-03-24 |work=The Economic Times |issn=0013-0389}}

Reaction

The naming of the landing site as "Shiv Shakti" drew criticism from certain sections of opposition political parties, who said that the religious naming contradicted India's secular nature.{{Cite web |date=2023-08-26 |title=Chandrayaan 3's Landing Site Sparks Controversy, Opposition Questions Shiv Shakti Point {{!}} Top News |url=https://www.timesnownews.com/videos/times-now/india/chandrayaan-3s-landing-site-sparks-controversy-opposition-questions-shiv-shakti-point-top-news-video-103089129 |access-date=2023-09-05 |website=TimesNow |language=en}} However the government countered the criticisms by stating that the hard landing site of Chandrayaan-1 was named after India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru.{{Cite web |date=26 August 2023 |title=Shiv Shakti vs Jawahar point: Naming of Chandrayaan-3 touchdown site sparks row |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/amp/india/story/bjp-congress-pm-modi-names-chandrayaan-3-landing-point-shiv-shakti-point-jawahar-point-row-2427033-2023-08-26 |access-date=27 August 2023 |work=India Today}}

ISRO chairman S. Somanath said that there is no need for controversy over the naming as governments are allowed to name sites on lunar surface{{Cite web |date=2023-08-28 |title=Shiv Shakti, Jawahar Sthal: How are spots on the Moon named? |url=https://www.firstpost.com/explainers/shiv-shakti-jawahar-sthal-tiranga-spots-moon-names-pm-modi-13046012.html |access-date=2023-09-05 |website=Firstpost |language=en}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestatesman.com/india/no-controversy-it-was-pms-prerogative-isro-chief-on-row-over-shiv-shakti-point-1503216177.html|title=No controversy, it was PM's prerogative: ISRO chief on row over Shiv Shakti Point|first=Shashikant|last=Sharma|website=The Statesman |date=August 27, 2023}} and that there have been precedents of names being assigned to lunar features. "It's not the first time such name has been given. Indian names are already there. We have a Sarabhai Crater on the Moon. Each country can give their names. Naming is a tradition. There is no controversy over the matter," he said.{{Cite web |title=No controversy on naming Chandrayaan-3 landing point as 'Shiv Shakti': ISRO chairman |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2023/aug/27/no-controversy-on-naming-chandrayaan-3-landing-point-as-shiv-shakti-isro-chairman-2609217.html |access-date=27 August 2023 |website=The New Indian Express|date=27 August 2023 }} Former ISRO chairman G Madhavan Nair also echoed this and said that the whole controversy was completely based on 'misinterpretation'. He said 'shakti' refers to the 'force' that is behind the creation of this universe. "Our pandits and rishis named it Shiva. Our Puranas gave it a form as people could not understand the concept of the force, and that is how the human form and Kailasa all came. It is a different matter. This underlying principle is known as 'shakti' and we do not have to attribute religious motives to it" he concluded.{{Cite web |title="Even Einstein Referred...": G Madhavan Nair On Temple Visits By Scientists |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/even-einstein-referred-g-madhavan-nair-on-temple-visits-by-scientists-4337430 |access-date=2023-08-29 |website=NDTV.com}}