Chandrayan 3
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Chandrayaan-3 was successfully launched at 2:35 P.M. from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. It embarked on its journey aboard ISRO's formidable Launch Vehicle Mark III, the organization's largest and most powerful rocket.
India's objective with Chandrayaan-3 is to achieve a soft landing on the Moon's South Pole. A successful endeavor would elevate India as the fourth nation to attain this feat and the pioneer in landing a spacecraft on the Moon's South Pole.
Scheduled for around 6:04 p.m. on August 23, Chandrayaan-3 is primed for a gentle and prosperous landing on the lunar south polar region.
Here are 10 Fascinating Facts about Chandrayaan-3:
1. Following Chandrayaan-2, Chandrayaan-3 is a subsequent mission designed for a soft landing on the Moon's south pole. It encompasses a lander and a rover propelled into space by the LVM3 rocket from SDSC SHAR, Sriharikota.
2. In contrast to Chandrayaan-2's orbiter, lander, and rover setup, Chandrayaan-3 focuses solely on a lander and a rover due to a software glitch that led to the loss of communication during Chandrayaan-2's landing attempt in 2019.
3. The launcher that supports the moon lander Vikram is the GSLV (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle), also recognized as Launch Vehicle Mark III, standing at a height of approximately 5 meters.
4. Anticipated to touch down on the moon on August 23 after a 40-day voyage, Chandrayaan-3 is aiming for the Moon's South Pole. This is the same region where Chandrayaan-1 uncovered water molecules, achieving a remarkable scientific milestone.
5. ISRO has fortified Chandrayaan-3 with modifications for enhanced reliability. The lander Vikram, named after Vikram Sarabhai, has gained 280 kg in weight and carries additional fuel to ensure its intended path to the Moon's surface.
6. The combined weight of the craft is 3,900 kg, with the propulsion module weighing 2,148 kg, and the lander and rover together weighing 1,752 kg. This nearly reaches the GSLV MK III's maximum capacity, which stands as India's most potent rocket.
7. Chandrayaan-3's mission phases encompass the Earth-Centric Phase, lunar-transfer phase, and Moon-Centric Phase. These stages involve pre-launch preparations, trajectory adjustments, and lunar orbit insertion to landing.
8. Upon a successful lunar landing, the Pragyan Rover will be deployed for exploration. Solar-powered and equipped with two spectrometers, this six-wheeled rover will traverse the landing site for approximately 14 Earth Days, equivalent to one lunar day.
9. The Vikram Lander houses four scientific instruments: a seismometer to detect moonquakes, a heat flow study instrument, a plasma environment analysis tool, and a retro-reflector aiding in gravitational interaction understanding.
10. The lander is projected to touch down on the moon with a horizontal velocity below 5 meters per second, vertical velocity below two meters per second, and a slope angle under 120 degrees.
Presently, lunar landings have been successfully accomplished by only three nations: the United States, the former Soviet Union, and China. India aspires to be the fourth nation to achieve a safe lunar landing, aiming for the Moon's South Pole, thus solidifying its place in lunar exploration history.
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