Chandrayaan-3: India's Daring Leap into Lunar Frontiers

In a daring leap into the cosmos, India’s space agency Indian Space Research Organisation(ISRO) boldly initiated its highly ambitious third lunar mission, Chandrayaan-3. With this monumental undertaking, India sets its sights on a celestial conquest achieved thus far only by the illustrious nations of the United States, China, and Russia. This momentous event propels India into the realm of moon exploration, unlocking a captivating chapter of scientific achievement and placing it firmly among the vanguard of spacefaring nations. With anticipation building and the allure of unprecedented discoveries on the horizon, the launch of Chandrayaan-3 promises an enthralling journey that will captivate the imagination of the world.

As the 25-and-a-half-hour countdown reached its culmination, the LVM3-M4 rocket, affectionately known as "Fat Boy" for its formidable heavy lift capability, gracefully ascended into the sky from India's esteemed spaceport, Satish Dhawan Space Centre. Nestled in the scenic locale of Sriharikota, situated in the Tirupati district of Andhra Pradesh, the rocket embarked on its historic journey punctually at 2:35 PM (IST) on Friday the 14th July, leaving behind a magnificent plume of vibrant orange smoke. Thousands of spectators who had assembled to watch the launch since morning broke into loud cheers and applauded as the launch vehicle soared into clear skies. About 16 minutes after the lift-off, Chandrayaan-3 got separated from the rocket. It would orbit the earth for about 5-6 times in an elliptical cycle with 170 km closest and 36,500 km farthest from earth moving towards the lunar orbit. A jubilant ISRO Chairman S Somanath confirmed from the Mission Control Centre(MCC) the rocket had injected Chandrayaan-3 into a precise orbit.

let's take a moment to recap india’s previous remarkable moon missions. India's maiden lunar voyage began with Chandrayaan-1, which soared into space in October 2008. This pioneering mission made history as India's first lunar probe, successfully orbiting the moon and capturing breathtaking images of its surface.

Chandrayaan-1's exceptional accomplishments included the discovery of water molecules on the moon's surface, a groundbreaking revelation that expanded our understanding of Earth's celestial neighbor. Building on the success of Chandrayaan-1, India embarked on Chandrayaan-2, a daring mission that aimed to land a rover on the moon's unexplored south pole. Launched in July 2019, the mission showcased India's technological prowess and determination. While its lander, Vikram unfortunately experienced a last-minute anomaly during the descent, the orbiter component continues to orbit the moon, collecting valuable scientific data and high-resolution images.

Why Chandrayaan-3?

According to ISRO, the three main objectives of the roughly $77 million USD mission are to perform a safe soft-landing near the Lunar south pole, (which Chandrayaan-2 failed to accomplish) to deploy a rover and demonstrate its operation and to perform in-situ scientific experiments.

Ok, what are these experiments?

No.1 To assess the potential for the presence of life on planets beyond our solar system.

No.2 To determine the compositon of mineral samples of the moon.

No.3 To analyse the seismic, thermal and ionic characteristics on and under the surface of the moon.

What are the Components Of Chandrayaan-3?

Chandrayaan-3 comprises three main components:

Propulsion Module:

The Propulsion Module of Chandrayaan-3 serves as the transport for the lander and rover configuration, carrying them up to a lunar orbit of 100 km. This module is designed as a box-shaped structure, featuring a single large solar panel affixed to one side. On top, there is a prominent cylinder known as the Intermodular Adapter Cone, which serves as a sturdy mounting structure for the lander. Along with the lander, the module also accommodates a payload called SHAPE (Spectro-polarimetry of Habitable Planet Earth). SHAPE's primary objective is to conduct spectral and polarimetric measurements of Earth from the lunar orbit, focusing on the near-infrared (NIR) wavelength range of 1-1.7 μm.

Lander:

The Chandrayaan-3 lander plays a critical role in achieving a gentle touchdown on the lunar surface. It features a box-shaped structure with four landing legs and four landing thrusters, each generating 800 newtons of force. The lander serves as a carrier for the rover and hosts a range of scientific instruments to conduct on-site analyses.

Unlike its predecessor, Vikram on Chandrayaan-2, the Chandrayaan-3 lander is equipped with four throttle-able engines. In contrast, Vikram had five engines, with the fifth one centrally mounted and providing a fixed thrust of 800 Newtons. Furthermore, the Chandrayaan-3 lander incorporates an essential Laser Doppler Velocimeter (LDV) for precise velocity measurements. Notably, the impact legs of the lander have been significantly reinforced compared to those of Chandrayaan-2, ensuring enhanced strength and stability. Additionally, the instrumentation redundancy has been augmented, further bolstering the lander's capability to gather critical data and operate effectively during its lunar mission.

Rover:

The Chandrayaan-3 rover, designed with six wheels, boasts a weight of 26 kilograms (57 pounds). It showcases a remarkable range, capable of covering 500 meters (1,600 ft) on the lunar terrain. Equipped with a suite of scientific instruments including cameras, spectrometers, and a drill, the rover is poised to conduct comprehensive analyses and investigations. Its operational lifespan is expected to span a single lunar day, equivalent to 14 Earth days. Seamless communication between the rover, the lander, and the ground control team in India ensures efficient data exchange and mission coordination.

The Chandrayaan-3 Rover is expected to make a number of important scientific discoveries, including:

• The composition of the lunar surface

• The presence of water ice in the lunar soil

• The history of lunar impacts

• The evolution of the Moon’s atmosphere.

When and at which location is Chandrayaan-3 expected to soft-land on Moon?

It is expected to land on 23rd August 2024 at 17:47 (IST) between Manzinus C and Simpelius N craters in the Moon’s South pole region.

Oh by the way, I almost forgot to mention that the literal meaning of "Chandrayaan" is "Moon Vehicle" or "Moon Craft" in Hindi. "Chandra" translates to "Moon," and "Yaan" refers to "Vehicle" or "Craft." Thus, Chandrayaan signifies a mission or spacecraft intended for lunar exploration. Make sense now?

As Chandrayaan-3 embarks on its celestial journey, we wish it the best of luck for a successful soft landing on the lunar surface. May it unveil new discoveries and unlock the mysteries of our moon. Our heartfelt tribute goes to the brilliant scientists and engineers who made this daring mission possible. This milestone will inspire generations to dream, explore, and reach for the stars. Jai Hind!