Chandrayaan-3 lunar mission | ISRO’s next leap to the Moon

Catch India’s highly anticipated lunar mission Chandrayaan-3 with The Hindu’s coverage of the latest news, developments, behind-the-scenes, insights and related stories into this remarkable feat of Indian space science
July 14, 2023 02:41 pm | Updated 09:00 pm IST


India’s space agency, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), began the launch of the Chandrayaan-3 lunar mission to explore the Moon on July 14, 2023, by making a soft landing on the natural satellite of Earth. Building upon the success of its predecessors, Chandrayaan-1 and Chandrayaan-2, the third lunar mission is set to push the boundaries of space discovery and innovation.


Just under four years after the launch of Chandrayaan-2, Chandrayaan-3 takes off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Andhra Pradesh perched on the back of a Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III (GSLV-MK III) heavy-lift rocket, on July 14, 2023. The mission is a prime example of India’s growing commitment towards advancing its presence in the global space community.



According to ISRO, the Chandrayaan-3 mission has three major objectives:

Demonstrate safe and soft landing on the surface of the Moon,
Conduct rover operations on the Moon, and
Conduct on-site experiments on the Lunar surface.
In 2019, Chandrayaan-2, captured the world’s attention when it successfully placed the Vikram lander and Pragyan rover near the Moon’s South Pole. But the mission experienced partial setbacks. The Vikram lander on Chandrayaan-2 had crashed on the lunar surface while attempting to land. Despite the mishap, it still marked a significant achievement in India’s space history.


The Vikram lander of the mission is planned to soft-land on the surface of the South Pole region of the Moon on August 23 at 5.47 p.m., according to S. Somanath, Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Mr. Somanath also said that the space agency has incorporated major improvements in the lander for the upcoming mission. This includes stronger ‘legs’ for the lander, the ability to withstand a higher descending velocity and a reduction in the number of engines from five to four. ‘‘We have also increased the quantity of the propellant, and solar panels cover a larger area. New sensors also have been added,’‘ he said.

Here is comprehensive coverage of the historic mission of the latest updates, exclusive interviews with ISRO scientists, and in-depth analyses of the mission.

Uses of Chandrayan 3 :

Chandrayaan-3 is the third lunar exploration mission planned by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). While the mission was initially scheduled for a 2021 launch, the exact launch date has not been confirmed as of my knowledge cutoff in September 2021. However, I can provide information about the expected components and technologies that Chandrayaan-3 might utilize based on the available information.

Lunar Lander:
Chandrayaan-3 is expected to include a lunar lander component similar to its predecessor, Chandrayaan-2. The lander is designed to deliver the mission's instruments and rovers to the lunar surface.

Rover:
Chandrayaan-3 is likely to carry a rover to explore the lunar surface. The rover is equipped with scientific instruments to collect data and perform experiments.

Orbiter:
Like Chandrayaan-2, Chandrayaan-3 may also include an orbiter component. The orbiter will remain in lunar orbit and provide communication support for the lander and rover on the surface. It will also carry scientific instruments to study the moon from orbit.

Scientific Instruments:
Chandrayaan-3 is expected to carry a suite of scientific instruments to study various aspects of the moon, such as its geology, mineralogy, and the presence of water ice.

It's important to note that the specific details and technologies used in Chandrayaan-3 may evolve and change as the mission progresses. Therefore, it's advisable to refer to the latest information provided by ISRO or official sources for the most accurate and up-to-date information on Chandrayaan-3.


According to ISRO, the Chandrayaan-3 mission has three major objectives:

Demonstrate safe and soft landing on the surface of the Moon,
Conduct rover operations on the Moon, and
Conduct on-site experiments on the Lunar surface.
In 2019, Chandrayaan-2, captured the world’s attention when it successfully placed the Vikram lander and Pragyan rover near the Moon’s South Pole. But the mission experienced partial setbacks. The Vikram lander on Chandrayaan-2 had crashed on the lunar surface while attempting to land. Despite the mishap, it still marked a significant achievement in India’s space history.