Chandrayaan-3 Launch: India’s Historic Moon Mission Takes Off!

India’s third lunar mission, Chandrayaan-3, has successfully taken off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, on July 14 at 2:35 pm IST. The mission aims to land a rover on the south pole of the moon and explore its surface and sub-surface features.

Chandrayaan-3 is a follow-up mission of Chandrayaan-2, which crash-landed on the moon in September 2019 due to a software glitch. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has made several improvements and modifications in Chandrayaan-3 to ensure a smooth and safe landing this time.

In this blog post, I will tell you everything you need to know about Chandrayaan-3, its objectives, features, challenges, and opportunities.

What are the objectives of Chandrayaan-3?

Chandrayaan-3 is a scientific and technological mission that aims to achieve the following objectives:

• To demonstrate the capability of soft landing on the lunar surface and operating a rover on the moon.
• To conduct in-situ analysis of the lunar soil and rocks using the rover’s instruments.
• To study the spectral and polarimetric characteristics of the earth from the lunar orbit using a payload called SHAPE (Spectro-polarimetry of Habitable Planetary Earth).
• To enhance the understanding of the lunar geology, mineralogy, topography, and environment.
• To contribute to the global efforts of lunar exploration and research.

What are the features of Chandrayaan-3?

Chandrayaan-3 consists of three modules: a propulsion module, a lander module, and a rover module. The propulsion module carries the lander and rover from the injection orbit to the 100 km lunar orbit. The lander module carries the rover and performs the soft landing on the moon. The rover module carries scientific instruments and moves on the lunar surface.

Some of the features of Chandrayaan-3 are:

• It is an indigenous mission with most of its components designed and developed by ISRO and its partner industries.
• It uses a Launch Vehicle Mark 3 (LVM3), which is India’s most powerful rocket capable of launching heavy payloads into space.
• It has a mass of about 3.8 tonnes and a mission life of about one year.
• It has a landing site near the south pole of the moon, which is a region of scientific interest and potential resources.
• It has a six-wheeled rover named Pragyan 2, which can travel up to 500 meters on the moon and communicate with the lander and the earth station.
• It has four scientific payloads on board: two on the lander and two on the rover. The payloads are:
  • Lander Hazard Detection and Avoidance Camera (LHDAC): It helps in identifying safe landing sites and avoiding obstacles during descent.
  • Lander Position Detection Camera (LPDC): It helps in determining the position and orientation of the lander during descent.
  • Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscope (LIBS): It analyses the elemental composition of the lunar soil and rocks using laser pulses.
  • Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS): It analyses the chemical composition of the lunar soil and rocks using alpha particles and X-rays.

What are the challenges and opportunities for Chandrayaan-3?

Chandrayaan-3 faces several challenges and opportunities in its mission. Some of them are:

• The landing on the moon is one of the most complex and critical phases of the mission, as it involves precise navigation, guidance, control, and propulsion systems. Any error or deviation can result in failure or damage to the lander and rover.
• The south pole region of the moon is largely unexplored and has extreme environmental conditions such as low temperatures, high radiation, varying illumination, and rugged terrain. These factors pose technical and operational challenges for the lander and rover.
• The communication between the lander, rover, orbiter, and earth station is also challenging due to long distances, time delays, interference, and shadow zones. The communication link has to be maintained throughout the mission for data transmission and command reception.
• The mission also offers immense opportunities for scientific discovery and innovation. The south pole region of the moon has potential deposits of water ice, minerals, and volatiles that can be useful for future exploration and utilization. The mission can also provide valuable insights into the origin and evolution of the moon and its relationship with the earth.
• The mission also enhances India’s prestige and leadership in space science and technology. It showcases India’s capabilities in designing, developing, launching, and operating complex interplanetary missions. It also contributes to international cooperation and collaboration in lunar exploration and research.

How can you support Chandrayaan-3?

If you are excited and inspired by Chandrayaan-3, you can also support the mission in various ways. Some of them are:

• You can follow the updates and news of the mission on ISRO’s official website, social media platforms, and mobile app.
• You can watch the live telecast and webcast of the launch, landing, and rover operations on ISRO’s channels and other media outlets.
• You can spread awareness and appreciation of the mission among your friends, family, and community and encourage them to learn more about it.
• You can participate in various online and offline events and activities organized by ISRO and its partners to celebrate and promote the mission.
• You can also send your messages and wishes to the mission team and the rover using ISRO’s online portal.

I hope this blog post has helped you understand Chandrayaan-3, India’s historic moon mission. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment below. Thank you for reading and happy blogging!