Chandrayaan-3

Amaravati, July 14: India is once again setting its sights on the moon as it prepares to launch Chandrayaan-3 today. The ambitious mission, scheduled to lift off from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh at 2.35 pm, carries with it the hopes and aspirations of an entire nation. If successful, India will become the fourth country to achieve a soft landing on the lunar surface. Here are 10 key points about this landmark mission:

  1. The Chandrayaan-3 mission will see the moon lander, Vikram, atop a GSLV Mark 3 heavy-lift launch vehicle, affectionately known as the Bahubali rocket. Standing at an impressive height of 43.5 meters, half the height of Delhi’s iconic Qutb Minar, this launch vehicle is a testament to India’s technological advancements in space exploration.
  2. The journey to the moon is estimated to take over 40 days, with the spacecraft projected to touch down on the lunar surface on August 23. This timeline allows for meticulous planning and execution of the mission, ensuring the highest chances of success.
  3. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is eagerly awaiting this mission’s outcome, given the setbacks experienced during the last moon mission in July 2019. Lessons learned from the Chandrayaan-2 mission have been crucial in refining and improving the Chandrayaan-3 project.
  4. The chief of ISRO, S Somnath, highlighted the key improvements in Chandrayaan-3, addressing the shortcomings of its predecessor. Efforts have been made to ensure that the spacecraft can handle off-nominal conditions and execute a safe landing.
  5. A significant development in this mission is the planned landing site in the South Pole of the moon. This region has been of particular interest due to the presence of water molecules, which were discovered during India’s first moon mission, Chandrayaan-1, in 2008. This discovery caused a stir in the scientific community and propelled India’s space program to the forefront of lunar exploration.
  6. Vikram, the moon lander, is designed to execute a safe and gentle landing on the lunar surface. Once successfully landed, it will release the rover Pragyan, which will traverse the moon’s surface for a duration equivalent to 14 Earth days, conducting various scientific experiments and collecting valuable data.
  7. The primary objectives of the mission include analyzing lunar soil samples, exploring the moon’s surface, and monitoring moonquakes. By studying the lunar environment, scientists hope to gain a deeper understanding of Earth’s natural satellite and its potential for future human exploration.
  8. Taking lessons from the previous mission, ISRO has made several improvements to the lander. The number of engines has been reduced from five to four, and the software has been updated. Extensive testing has been conducted to ensure the robustness and reliability of the spacecraft.
  9. To mitigate potential risks, the mission has been designed to handle failures in critical components. Multiple scenarios, such as sensor failure, engine failure, algorithm failure, and calculation failure, have been carefully evaluated, and measures have been implemented to counteract them.
  10. Chandrayaan-1, India’s inaugural lunar mission, was launched in October 2008 and operated successfully until August 2009. Although the lander of Chandrayaan-2 faced challenges during its landing in 2019, the orbiter continues to orbit the moon, transmitting valuable data back to Earth.
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As India embarks on this crucial mission, the nation eagerly awaits the successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the lunar surface. The endeavor represents India’s determination to push the boundaries of space exploration and contribute to our understanding of the moon and beyond.