Introduction
The Indian Chandrayaan-3 mission is an ambitious endeavor by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) to land a spacecraft on the moon. Building upon the successes of the previous Chandrayaan missions, Chandrayaan-1 and Chandrayaan-2, this mission aims to further explore the lunar surface and gather valuable scientific data.
Objectives of the Indian Chandrayaan-3 Mission
The Indian Chandrayaan-3 mission has several key objectives that drive its exploration efforts on the moon. These objectives include:
- Understanding Lunar Geology: The mission aims to study the lunar surface, its composition, and the geological processes that have shaped it over time. By analyzing the rocks and regolith samples, scientists hope to gain insights into the moon’s origin and evolution.
- Mapping Lunar Resources: Chandrayaan-3 will focus on mapping the distribution and abundance of various resources on the moon, such as water ice, minerals, and helium-3. This data can be crucial for future lunar missions and potential utilization of these resources.
- Technological Advancements: The mission serves as a platform to test and demonstrate new technologies and instruments developed by ISRO. These advancements pave the way for future space exploration missions and contribute to India’s technological prowess.
Chandrayaan-3: Building on Past Successes
The Indian Chandrayaan-3 mission builds upon the achievements of its predecessors, Chandrayaan-1 and Chandrayaan-2. Let’s take a closer look at these previous missions and their contributions to lunar exploration.
Chandrayaan-1: India’s First Lunar Mission
Chandrayaan-1, launched in 2008, marked India’s entry into lunar exploration. The mission successfully placed an impact probe on the lunar surface, providing valuable data on the presence of water molecules in the moon’s exosphere. It also conducted high-resolution mapping of the moon’s surface, detecting various mineral resources.
Chandrayaan-2: A Leap Towards Lunar Landing
Chandrayaan-2, launched in 2019, was a significant milestone for ISRO. The mission aimed to achieve a soft landing on the lunar surface with the Vikram lander and deploy the Pragyan rover. Although the lander faced challenges during the descent phase and communication was lost, the orbiter continues to orbit the moon and collect valuable data.
Chandrayaan-3 scripts new chapter in India’s space odyssey: PM Modi https://t.co/rT7sPagLUn
— The Times Of India (@timesofindia) July 14, 2023
Finally, India Launch its Chandrayaan Mission
India aims to become the fourth country to make a controlled landing on the moon with the successful launch of its Chandrayaan-3 mission on Friday.
Chandrayaan, which means “moon car” in Sanskrit, lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota, in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh, just after 2:30 p.m. local time (5 p.m. ET).
Crowds gathered at the space station to witness the historic event and more than a million people tuned in to watch it on YouTube.
The Indian Space Exploration Association confirmed on Twitter late on Friday that Chandrayaan-3 is in a “wonderful orbit” and has “began its journey to the Moon”.
He added that the life of the ship was “normal”.
In response, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted: “Chandrayaan-3 writes a new chapter in India’s space journey. It rises and fulfills the dreams and aspirations of every Indian. The great success shows the tireless efforts of our scientists.” Praise your passion and creativity!
The spacecraft will reach the moon on August 23.
This is India’s second soft-landing attempt after a failed Chandrayaan-2 attempt in 2019. The first lunar probe, Chandrayaan-1, orbited the moon and then deliberately landed on the lunar surface.
Chandrayaan-3 was developed by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and consists of a lander, a propulsion module and a rover. The objective is to land securely on the moon, gather lunar information and lead a progression of science trials to look further into the lunar climate.
Just three different nations have figured out how to land a shuttle on the lunar surface: the US, Russia and China appropriately.
India is bidding to become only the fourth country to execute a controlled landing on the moon with the successful launch of its Chandrayaan-3 mission https://t.co/RsjGyMMS5f pic.twitter.com/Bi3hp3K2Tz
— CNN (@CNN) July 14, 2023
Indian engineers have been working on this launch for a really long time. They plan to land Chandrayaan-3 near the sensitive center of this moon, which has yet to be determined.
India’s first lunar mission, Chandrayaan-1, has detected water molecules on the Moon’s surface. After eleven years, Chandrayaan-2 effectively entered lunar circle, however its wanderer collided with the lunar surface. The moon was also supposed to explore its south pole.
The then Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, paid tribute to the engineers behind the mission and pledged to continue working on India’s space program and goals, despite the failure.
Ahead of Friday’s launch, Modi said that “the day will always be written in gold when it comes to Indian aviation.”
“This amazing work will convey the deepest desires of our country,” he said on his Twitter account.
Since then, India has spent about $75 million on the Chandrayaan-3 mission.
Modi said the rocket will travel more than 300,000 kilometers (186,411 miles) and reach the moon in “the next few weeks.”
