India has become the first country to have a space mission land near the south pole of the Moon.

Vikram, the lander of the Indian space agency’s spacecraft Chandrayaan-3, touched down on the lunar surface, carrying in its belly the six-wheeled Pragyaan rover.

The rover is designed to roam the Moon to gather images and data.

Scientists believe craters that are permanently in shadow on the dark side of the Moon may hold frozen water.

India’s successful landing comes days after Russia’s unmanned Luna-25 spacecraft span out of control and crashed into the Moon.

All previous missions to the Moon have touched down near the equator, making India’s feat a historic accomplishment.

The control room of the Indian Space Research Organisation was overcome with joy when the spacecraft successfully landed.

(Photo credit: ISRO – Indian Space Research Organisation)