India has witnessed another historic moment in its space exploration journey as Chandrayaan-3, the much-anticipated lunar mission, took flight. Building upon the lessons learned from its predecessor, Chandrayaan-2, this mission aims to showcase India’s prowess in safe landing and roving on the lunar surface.
This mission entails a lander and rover configuration, scheduled to be launched by Indian Space Research Organization, as ISRO, as it is called LVM3 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, at Sriharikota. The propulsion module will transport the configuration of the lander and rover to a lunar orbit of 100 km.
Additionally, the propulsion module carries Spectro-polarimetry of Habitable Planet Earth payload, which is responsible for conducting polarimetric and spectral Earth measurements from the lunar orbit.
The Launch
Following the previous Chandrayaan-2 mission, where an unforeseen glitch in the soft-landing guidance software resulted in the failure of the lander’s soft-landing attempt after completing a successful orbital insertion, a new lunar mission was planned.
The long-awaited launch of Chandrayaan-3 took place on July 14, 2023, at 2:35 pm IST, and the injection into a 100 km circular polar orbit was completed as part of phase one. The lander and rover are expected to touch down near the lunar south pole region on August 23, 2023.
The Payloads
Both the lander and the rover carry a suite of scientific instruments to conduct various experiments on the lunar surface. The lander is equipped with Chandra’s Surface Thermophysical Experiment to measure temperature and thermal conductivity, the Langmuir Probe to evaluate the density of plasma, and the Instrument for Lunar Seismic Activity to inspect seismicity. In addition, a passive Laser Retroreflector Array from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) will aid in the studies of lunar laser ranging.
The rover, on the other hand, carries the Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscope and the Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer. These instruments will help derive the elemental composition in the vicinity of the landing site, providing valuable data about the Moon’s surface.
Technological Advancements
Chandrayaan-3 incorporates several advanced technologies to ensure a successful mission. Laser and RF-based altimeters, Laser Doppler Velocimeter, laser gyro based inertial measurement systems, and a robust propulsion system are among the key components of the lander.
Navigation, guidance, and control systems have been fine-tuned to facilitate a precise landing. Moreover, hazard detection and avoidance mechanisms have been implemented to enhance the safety of the mission.
The Mission Objectives of Chandrayaan-3
Chandrayaan-3 embarks on its mission with three primary objectives. Firstly, it aims to accomplish a safe and soft landing of the lander on the Moon’s surface, a feat that eluded Chandrayaan-2 because of an unfortunate software glitch. The mission’s success hinges on overcoming this challenge and demonstrating India’s capability to touch down gently on the lunar terrain.
Secondly, the rover deployed by the lander will showcase its loitering capabilities on the Moon. It will traverse the lunar surface, providing valuable insights into the lunar terrain and expanding our knowledge of Earth’s celestial neighbor.
Lastly, Chandrayaan-3 will conduct in-situ scientific observations and experiments, focusing on analyzing the chemical and natural elements, soil composition, and the presence of water on the Moon. These experiments will contribute to a better understanding of the Moon’s composition and provide crucial insights for future interplanetary missions.
The launch of Chandrayaan-3 represents a significant milestone in the space exploration journey of India. As the nation eagerly awaits the successful landing of the lander and the rover’s exploration, the mission serves as a testament to India’s scientific capabilities and its unwavering pursuit of knowledge beyond our planet’s boundaries.