China's Moon Mission Plan Revealed Amidst Rivalry with India

A top Chinese scientist, Ouyang Ziyuan, claims that India's Chandrayaan-3 Vikram Lander did not land near the moon's south pole as claimed, stating that it was 619 kilometers (385 miles) away from the polar region. However, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) never claimed to have landed on the south pole, but rather closer to it than any other country. China's space program, according to Pang Zhihao, a Beijing-based senior space expert, is said to have better technology and more advanced engines. The landing was significant for scientists as they believe the unexplored region could contain frozen water and valuable resources for future missions.