India is getting ready for its third lunar exploration, Chandrayaan 3. Indian Space Research Organisation (www.isro.gov.in) aims to get breakthrough with soft landing on the moon and to locate the rover to explore it’s surface.Chandrayaan-3 is a follow-up mission to Chandrayaan-2, which tried it’s best with similar feat in 2019 but failed due to a software glitch and propulsion system problem in the final phase. As a result it crashed on the moon surface.
Chandrayaan 3 Launch Date:- The Countdown has started.
Chandrayaan-3 is going to be launched on July 14, 2023, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, using the Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM 3) rocket at 2.35 pm on Friday. Chandrayaan-3 is version of Chandrayaan – 2 with some modifications and improvements. Unlike Chandrayaan-2, which had an orbiter, a lander and a rover, Chandrayaan-3 will have only a lander and a rover.
The orbiter of Chandrayaan-2 is still functioning and orbiting the Moon, providing valuable data and images. All the space scientists are giving their best efforts and hoping for the successful mission, that would see India to enter the club of moon achieving nations as fourth country.
The Technical Instruments Used In Satelite :-
The mission will consist of two indigenous modules: a propulsion module and a lander module developed for interplanetary missions.The propulsion module will carry the lander module to a hundred km lunar orbit and act as a communication relay satellite. The lander module will locate the Pragyan rover, which will have six wheels and carry two scientific instruments: an Alpha Particle X-Ray Spectrometer (APXS) and a Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscope (LIBS).
The APXS will measure the elementary discoveries and analysis of the lunar soil, while the LIBS will perform the chemical analysis of rocks and soil.The lander module will also carry four scientific payloads: a Radio Anatomy of Moon Bound Hypersensitive ionosphere and Atmosphere (RAMBHA), a Chandra’s Surface Thermo physical Experiment (ChaSTE), an Instrument for Lunar Seismic Activity (ILSA), and a Laser Retroreflector Array (LRA).
The RAMBHA will study the moon’s ionosphere, the ChaSTE will measure the thermal conductivity and temperature gradient of the lunar surface, the ILSA will find moonquakes and other seismic activities, and the LRA will reflect laser signals from orbiting spacecraft or Earth-based observatories.
Prediction for Third Moon Mission of India ( Chandrayaan 3) :-
ISRO Chairman S. Somnath last week announced that the Chandrayaan-3’s landing on the is scheduled for August 23-24. “If the launch takes place on that day then we will get ready for landing on the moon possibly by the last week of August. The approximate date (landing date) is decided when there is sunrise on the moon. When we are landing, sunlight must be there. So the landing will be on August 23 or 24,” Mr Somnath said.
Tirupati visited by Isro Board Officials :-
The official members of Isro visited Lord Venkateswaran temple in Tirumala, Andhra Pradesh, ahead of the launch on Thursday, July 13, 2023. Officials carried with a miniature model of the rocket and spacecraft and sought blessings. It is an old ISRO tradition or specially Indian culture to seek the blessings of the deity ahead of satellite launches in Sriharikota.
The Objectives of Chandrayaan 3. How Chandrayaan 3 will empower India to the forefront of Space Exploration?
The primary objective of Chandrayaan-3 is to showcase India’s potential to soft-land on the Moon and operate a rover on its surface. This is a challenging feat that only three countries have achieved so far: the Soviet Union, the United States, and China. The estimated budget spent on Chandrayaan 3 is somehow 615 crores which is less than the budget of ‘Adipurush’ movie ( 700 crores).
The secondary objective is to conduct scientific experiments and studies on the lunar terrain, mineralogy, elemental abundance, lunar exosphere, and signatures of hydroxyl and water ice.
Former Isro Scientist Nambi Narayan’s Opinion :-
According to former Isro scientist Nambi Narayan, who has been who has been remarkable in country’s space sector innovation, Chandrayaan 3 mission is going to be successful and a game changer event for India. He said that India will be a inspiration for the world on this mission.
He also praised the central government for allowing private companies to participate in the space sector which he said would enhance the scope for startups and more funding.
The Crucial Step towards the Moon :-
Chandrayaan 3 is a crucial step for India’s space ambitions, as it will pave the way for future lunar missions such as the Lunar Polar Exploration Mission (LPEM), which is planned in collaboration with Japan for 2025. LPEM will aim to land near the lunar south pole and conduct in-situ resource utilization experiments.
If successful, Chandrayaan-3 will make India proud and inspire many others to pursue their dreams of exploring space. It will also mark a new milestone in India’s space history and contribute to the global understanding of the Moon.
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