Getting close to the lunar south pole is important not just for bragging rights.

Source: https://time.com/6318208/chinese-scientist-questions-india-moon-landing-south-pole/

India achieved a significant milestone with the successful landing of on the south pole of the Moon on August 23, 2023.

Source: https://www.ibtimes.co.in/g20-chandrayaan-3-india-emerged-world-leader-indian-diaspora-wishes-pm-modi-73rd-birthday-862539

India and Russia are aiming to be the first to land at the moon's south pole.

Source: https://phys.org/news/2023-08-rocket-lunar-craft-blasts-russia.html

Last month, the ISRO successfully landed the Vikram lander near the south pole of the Moon.

Source: https://www.upi.com/Science_News/2023/09/02/india-launches-solar-first-observatory-vehicle/4481693662548/

Russia was racing to the Moon’s south pole against India, whose Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft is scheduled to land there in the coming days and send a rover to explore the rocks and craters, gathering data and images to send back to Earth.

Source: https://www.thestkittsnevisobserver.com/russian-spacecraft-luna-25-crashes-on-dark-side-of-the-moon-india-next-up-for-lunar-landing/

SLIM will be going to a spot near the lunar equator, instead of the south pole region, but it's going to try out a new pinpoint-landing system that promises at least 10 times better precision in landing and the ability to land on a sloped ground.

Source: https://www.bakersfield.com/entertainment/nick-strobel-dark-sky-festival-just-a-week-away/article_57c39dd0-46a9-11ee-9505-cfd85d303b84.html

The astronauts Nass sends to the moon by the end of 2025 will aim for the south pole where permanently shadowed craters are believed to be packed with frozen water.

Source: https://www.expressandstar.com/news/world-news/2023/05/29/china-plans-to-land-astronauts-on-moon-before-2030-as-new-space-race-accelerates/

The landing means India beat Russia, China and the US, who have all announced missions to the south pole.

Source: https://www.inewsguyana.com/india-makes-historic-first-moon-landing-on-the-south-pole/

The lunar south pole was chosen as the landing site.

Source: https://www.baltimoregaylife.com/india-launches-a-spacecraft-to-carry-out-a-unique-mission-to-the-south-pole-of-the-moon/

The Russian spacecraft is scheduled to land on the south pole of the moon on Monday, part of a big power race to explore a part of the moon which scientists think may hold frozen water and precious elements.

Source: https://www.marketscreener.com/news/latest/Russia-s-Luna-25-spacecraft-suffers-technical-glitch-space-agency-says--44656469/?utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=20230819

The spacecraft landed on the unexplored south pole of the moon on Wednesday (August 23), making India the first country to achieve this feat just days after Russia's Luna-25 failed in a similar mission.

Source: https://www.marketscreener.com/news/latest/India-s-Modi-names-moon-lander-touchdown-spot--44707270/?utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=20230826