Chandrayaan-3's Historic Landing on moon redefines India's Space Prowess
The Chandrayaan-3 mission's successful lunar landing reaffirms ISRO's prowess in space exploration and opens new horizons for scientific discovery. Image Credit: ISRO.
Aug 23, 2023 - Chandrayaan-3 Makes Historic Lunar Landing: ISRO Achieves Unprecedented Success
In a historic leap for India's space program, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has accomplished an extraordinary feat with the successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the lunar surface. This momentous achievement marks a significant milestone in ISRO's relentless pursuit of knowledge and space exploration. The Chandrayaan-3 mission, named after "Chandra" (Moon) and "Yaan" (craft), stands as the third and most recent lunar exploration endeavor under ISRO's renowned Chandrayaan program.
A Glance at the Chandrayaan-3 Mission:
Chandrayaan-3 exemplifies a mission of paramount importance, comprising a lander christened Vikram and a rover known as Pragyan. These components, reminiscent of the Chandrayaan-2 mission, embody ISRO's dedication to continuous advancement in space exploration. The propulsion module, serving as an orbiter, ensures the safe journey of the lander and rover to a lunar orbit positioned 100 kilometers (62 miles) above the Moon's surface.
Following a minor setback during the Chandrayaan-2 mission due to a software glitch, ISRO remained steadfast in its commitment to advancing lunar exploration. With Chandrayaan-3, ISRO aimed to demonstrate its adeptness in executing a soft landing on the Moon—a task of great complexity that demands precision and finesse.
Historic Lunar Landing:
The eagerly anticipated launch of Chandrayaan-3 unfolded on the 14th of July, 2023, at 2:35 pm IST. The much-awaited touchdown of the lander and rover near the lunar south pole region was achieved on the 23rd of August, 2023, marking an epochal event in human space exploration. The meticulously planned and flawlessly executed timeline of events underscores ISRO's ingenuity, determination, and technological prowess.
Pioneering Objectives of Chandrayaan-3:
ISRO meticulously outlined the mission objectives for Chandrayaan-3, encompassing the following key goals:
Achieving a Soft Landing: The primary focus is on achieving a secure and gentle landing on the lunar surface, a critical accomplishment that paves the way for future lunar missions.
Rover's Capabilities: Chandrayaan-3 aspires to demonstrate the capabilities of the Pragyan rover, showcasing its mobility and functionality on the challenging lunar terrain.
In-situ Analysis: The mission seeks to conduct on-site observations and experiments to enhance our comprehension of lunar surface materials, thereby deepening our knowledge of the Moon's composition and geological features.
Innovative Spacecraft Design:
Chandrayaan-3 boasts a sophisticated design, characterized by three fundamental components:
Propulsion Module: The module functions as a carrier for the lander and rover, ensuring their secure transit to the lunar orbit. It features a box-like structure with a solar panel and a mounting structure for the lander.
Lander: The lander, responsible for the soft landing, is box-shaped with landing legs and thrusters. It carries the rover and a range of scientific instruments for on-site analysis. Incorporating advanced technologies, it addresses the challenges faced during the Chandrayaan-2 mission.
Rover: The six-wheeled rover, weighing 26 kilograms (57 pounds) and measuring 917 millimeters (3.009 ft) x 750 millimeters (2.46 ft) x 397 millimeters (1.302 ft), promises to unveil crucial scientific revelations concerning lunar surface composition, the presence of water ice, historical impact events, and the evolution of the lunar atmosphere.
Payloads for Scientific Exploration:
Both the lander and rover host an array of advanced instruments designed to facilitate comprehensive scientific exploration:
Lander Payloads:
Chandra's Surface Thermophysical Experiment (ChaSTE): Measures lunar surface temperature and thermal conductivity.
Instrument for Lunar Seismic Activity (ILSA): Observes seismic activity around the landing site.
Langmuir Probe (LP): Estimates plasma density and variations.
Rover Payloads:
Alpha Particle X-Ray Spectrometer (APXS): Derives chemical and mineralogical composition of lunar surface.
Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscope (LIBS): Determines elemental composition of lunar soil and rocks.
Alpha Particle X-Ray Spectrometer (APSX): Payload onboard the rover to analyze surface materials.
Propulsion Module Payloads:
Spectro-polarimetry of Habitable Planet Earth (SHAPE): Studies Earth from lunar orbit in the near-infrared wavelength range (1-1.7 μm).
Mission Profile and Achievements:
Chandrayaan-3 embarked on its extraordinary journey on July 14, 2023, lifting off from the Second Launch Pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. On August 5, 2023, the spacecraft achieved a pivotal milestone by entering lunar orbit. The subsequent stages of orbit raising, station keeping, and lunar-bound maneuvers propelled the mission towards its ultimate goal.
The strategic decision to launch in July was influenced by ISRO's calculation of the optimal alignment of Earth and Moon, a calculated move that maximized the chances of mission success. The precise execution of Lunar-Orbit Insertion (LOI) operations on August 5 was masterfully orchestrated through the ISRO Telemetry, Tracking, and Command Network (ISTRAC) in Bengaluru.
After a sequence of meticulous maneuvers, the Vikram lander initiated its autonomous journey towards the lunar surface on August 17. These milestones underscore ISRO's engineering excellence and unswerving commitment to pushing the boundaries of space exploration.
A Pioneering Leap for India:
The triumphant landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the Moon stands as an unparalleled achievement for ISRO and India as a whole. This monumental milestone not only reaffirms India's status as a space-faring nation but also paves the way for more ambitious lunar and interplanetary missions. As we await the invaluable scientific insights that Chandrayaan-3 will yield, the mission symbolizes the unrelenting pursuit of knowledge, human ingenuity, and the exploration of the cosmos.