Chandrayaan-3 Latest Updates: ISRO’s Lunar Mission Nears Completion
ISRO’s Chandrayaan-3 mission is on the verge of concluding its journey, spanning over a month, from Earth. Launched on July 14, the spacecraft is steadily approaching the final phase.
Recently, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) reported that successful two-way communication has been established between the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter and the lander module of Chandrayaan-3.
Chandrayaan-3 took off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota on July 14, marking an important step in India’s space exploration endeavors. The spacecraft’s progress has been eagerly monitored by space enthusiasts worldwide.
The official ISRO communication mentioned, “The Chandrayaan-2 orbiter extends a warm welcome to its counterpart, the Chandrayaan-3 lander module. The achievement of two-way communication signifies expanded pathways for data exchange. The Modular Opto-electronic X-band (MOX) has gained additional channels to communicate with the lander module.”
Notably, ISRO disclosed that the lander module of Chandrayaan-3 is anticipated to softly touch down on the lunar surface around 6.04 pm on August 23, adding another significant milestone to India’s lunar exploration missions.
For those interested, the live broadcast of the landing event will be accessible starting from 5.20 pm on Wednesday, August 23.
Highlighting the importance of this achievement, ISRO shared, “The impending soft landing of Chandrayaan-3 stands as a historic achievement, igniting both curiosity and a fervor for exploration among the younger generation.”
Stay tuned for further developments in India’s space exploration journey.
Information about Chandrayaan-3
Chandrayaan-3: India’s Lunar Exploration Mission
Chandrayaan-3 is the third lunar exploration mission by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). It follows the Chandrayaan-1 and Chandrayaan-2 missions. Chandrayaan is a Sanskrit word that translates to “Moon Craft” in English.
Background:
Chandrayaan-1, launched in 2008, was India’s first lunar probe. It made significant contributions to lunar science by confirming the presence of water molecules on the lunar surface. Chandrayaan-2, launched in 2019, was more ambitious, consisting of an orbiter, a lander named Vikram, and a rover named Pragyan. While the orbiter continues to study the Moon from orbit, the Vikram lander’s attempted soft landing did not succeed as planned.
Chandrayaan-3 Objectives:
Chandrayaan-3 aims to focus specifically on a successful soft landing on the lunar surface. After the partial success of Chandrayaan-2, with the orbiter continuing to function well, ISRO decided to launch Chandrayaan-3 to achieve the remaining objective of placing a lander on the Moon.
Key Components and Features:
- Lander and Rover:
Chandrayaan-3 is expected to consist of a lander and possibly a rover. The lander is designed to make a controlled descent to the lunar surface and deploy the rover if included. - Payloads:
The lander and rover would likely carry scientific instruments to study the lunar surface, including soil composition, mineralogy, and the presence of water molecules. These instruments would contribute to our understanding of the Moon’s geological history. - Communication:
Chandrayaan-3 is expected to establish communication with Earth through ISRO’s ground stations. This communication link is crucial for transmitting scientific data and images back to Earth.
Launch and Progress:
As of my last update, Chandrayaan-3 was in its planning and development stages. ISRO had not announced a specific launch date for the mission. The organization was likely using the lessons learned from Chandrayaan-2 to enhance the design, systems, and strategies for Chandrayaan-3’s landing.
Future Prospects:
Chandrayaan-3, if successful, could mark a significant achievement for ISRO and India’s space program. It would contribute to the broader scientific understanding of the Moon and potentially pave the way for future lunar exploration missions, including crewed missions.
Please note that developments beyond September 2021 are not covered in this overview. To get the most recent and accurate information about Chandrayaan-3, I recommend checking ISRO’s official website or reputable news sources.
Chandrayaan-3: Advancing Lunar Exploration Technology
Chandrayaan-3 represents a continuation of the Chandrayaan-2 mission, aimed at showcasing comprehensive capabilities in the secure landing and movement on the lunar surface. This mission incorporates a Lander and Rover configuration and will be launched using the LVM3 vehicle from SDSC SHAR, Sriharikota.
The propulsion module will facilitate the transportation of the Lander and Rover setup to a lunar orbit of 100 km. Notably, the propulsion module features the Spectro-polarimetry of Habitable Planet Earth (SHAPE) payload, tasked with studying Earth’s spectral and polarimetric attributes from lunar orbit.
The Lander payloads encompass several instruments designed for diverse scientific investigations:
- Chandra’s Surface Thermophysical Experiment (ChaSTE): To gauge thermal conductivity and temperature variations.
- Instrument for Lunar Seismic Activity (ILSA): To measure seismic activity in the vicinity of the landing site.
- Langmuir Probe (LP): To estimate plasma density and its fluctuations.
- Passive Laser Retroreflector Array: Provided by NASA for lunar laser ranging studies.
For the Rover, the payloads entail:
- Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS): For analyzing elemental composition near the landing site.
- Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscope (LIBS): To conduct in-situ chemical analysis of the lunar surface.
Chandrayaan-3 is characterized by an indigenous Lander module (LM), Propulsion module (PM), and a Rover. The primary goals include pioneering technologies essential for interplanetary missions. The LM is capable of a controlled landing on a predetermined lunar area, deploying the Rover to conduct chemical analyses while in motion. Both the Lander and Rover carry scientific payloads for on-site experiments.
The PM is entrusted with transporting the LM from launch vehicle injection to the lunar 100 km circular polar orbit before separating from the LM. An additional scientific payload, operational post-separation, enhances the PM’s capabilities. LVM3 M4 has been designated as the launch vehicle for Chandrayaan-3, intended to position the integrated module within an Elliptic Parking Orbit (EPO) of approximately 170 x 36500 km.
Key mission objectives encompass:
- Demonstrating a Safe and Soft Landing on the Lunar Surface.
- Showcasing Rover Mobility on the Moon.
- Conducting In-Situ Scientific Experiments.
Chandrayaan-3 integrates advanced technologies within its Lander:
- Altimeters: Utilizing Laser & RF-based Altimeters.
- Velocimeters: Incorporating Laser Doppler Velocimeter & Lander Horizontal Velocity Camera.
- Inertial Measurement: Leveraging Laser Gyro-based Inertial referencing and Accelerometer package.
- Propulsion System: Encompassing 800N Throttleable Liquid Engines, 58N attitude thrusters & Throttleable Engine Control Electronics.
- Navigation, Guidance & Control (NGC): Including Powered Descent Trajectory design and associated software elements.
- Hazard Detection and Avoidance: Introducing Lander Hazard Detection & Avoidance Camera and Processing Algorithm.
- Landing Leg Mechanism: Ensuring stable touchdown conditions.
A series of Lander special tests have been devised to assess the functionality of these advanced technologies, encompassing Integrated Cold Tests, Integrated Hot Tests, and Lander Leg Mechanism performance tests on a simulated lunar surface.
For more details on Chandrayaan-3, including its launch and progress, refer to the provided resources such as the official brochure and videos.
