Chandrayaan-3: India’s Next Moon Mission
Attribution: Indian Space Research Organisation
India is ready to launch its third lunar mission, Chandrayaan-3, this month. The mission aims to achieve a soft landing on the moon, a feat that only three countries have accomplished so far. Chandrayaan-3 is a follow-up to Chandrayaan-2, which faced a major setback when the Vikram lander crashed during its descent to the moon in July 2019. However, India is determined to succeed in its lunar exploration efforts, and Chandrayaan-3 is a significant step toward that goal
What is Chandrayaan-3?
🛰️Chandrayaan-3 is a lunar mission that consists of a lander and a rover. The lander will carry the rover to the moon’s surface and provide power and communication. The rover will explore the lunar terrain and conduct scientific experiments. The mission will use the orbiter from Chandrayaan-2, which is still functioning in lunar orbit.
The main objective of Chandrayaan-3 is to demonstrate end-to-end capability in safe landing and roving on the lunar surface. The mission will also conduct spectral and polarimetric measurements of Earth from lunar orbit using a payload called Spectro-polarimetry of HAbitable Planet Earth (SHAPE). This payload was not present in the previous mission.
Photo - Chandrayaan-3 Integrated Module
Attribution: Indian Space Research Organisation
How is Chandrayaan-3 different from Chandrayaan-2?
🛰️Chandrayaan-3 differs from Chandrayaan-2 in a couple of significant ways. Firstly, Chandrayaan-3 will not include an orbiter like its predecessor. The focus of the new moon mission is primarily on landing and roving. Secondly, Chandrayaan-3 will carry a payload called SHAPE, which was not present in the previous mission. SHAPE will be responsible for conducting spectral and polarimetric measurements of Earth from lunar orbit.
🍂Additionally, Chandrayaan-3 will have some design improvements over Chandrayaan-2 to avoid repeating the same errors that caused the loss of contact during the previous mission. For instance, the lander for Chandrayaan-3 will have only four throttle-able engines, unlike Vikram on Chandrayaan-2 which had five engines with a fifth one being centrally mounted with a fixed thrust. Moreover, the Chandrayaan-3 lander will be equipped with a Laser Doppler Velocimeter (LDV), which will measure the velocity and distance of the lander from the lunar surface.
What are the challenges of landing on the moon?
🛬Landing on the moon is not an easy task. It requires precise navigation, speed control, and communication. The moon has no atmosphere, which means there is no air resistance or drag to slow down the spacecraft. The gravity of the moon is also much lower than that of Earth, which means the spacecraft needs less fuel to land but also has less margin for error.
🌒The moon also has an uneven terrain, which poses a risk of collision or tipping over for the lander and rover. The temperature of the moon varies drastically between day and night, which can affect the performance of the instruments and batteries. The moon also has regions of permanent shadow, which can interfere with communication and solar power generation.
❄️To overcome these challenges, ISRO has conducted rigorous tests and simulations to ensure that Chandrayaan-3 can land safely and smoothly on the moon. ISRO has also learned from the experiences of other countries and private companies that have attempted or succeeded in landing on the moon.
Photo-Chandrayaan-3 Integrated Module
Attribution: Indian Space Research Organisation
Why is Chandrayaan-3 important?
🛰️Chandrayaan-3 is important for several reasons. Firstly, it will showcase India’s technological prowess and scientific ambition in space exploration. India is one of the few countries that have launched multiple lunar missions, and achieving a soft landing on the moon will be a historic milestone for India.
🦜Secondly, it will contribute to our understanding of the moon and its environment. The rover will collect data on the lunar soil, rocks, minerals, and water ice. The SHAPE payload will study Earth’s atmosphere and climate from lunar orbit. These data will help us learn more about the origin and evolution of the moon and Earth.
🐦Thirdly, it will pave the way for future missions to the moon and beyond. Chandrayaan-3 will test and validate technologies that can be used for more complex missions in the future, such as sample return or human exploration. It will also inspire more interest and curiosity among students and researchers in space science and engineering.
The significance of a soft landing on the moon
🛬A soft landing on the moon is significant for several reasons. Firstly, it is a challenging and complex task that requires precise navigation, speed control, and communication. Only three countries have achieved a soft landing on the moon so far: the United States, Russia, and China. Secondly, it allows the spacecraft to deploy a rover or other instruments that can explore the lunar surface and conduct scientific experiments. This can enhance our knowledge of the moon’s origin, evolution, geology, resources, and environment. Thirdly, it can pave the way for future missions to the moon and beyond, such as sample return or human exploration. It can also test and validate technologies that can be used for more complex missions in the future.
How does ISRO plan to overcome the challenges of landing on the moon?
🌠ISRO plans to overcome the challenges of landing on the moon by implementing some design improvements and fail-safe measures in Chandrayaan-3. Some of these are:
- More fuel: Chandrayaan-3 will have more fuel than Chandrayaan-2, which will give it the ability to travel farther, handle dispersion, or move to an alternate landing site if necessary.
- Four engines: Chandrayaan-3 will have only four throttle-able engines, unlike Vikram on Chandrayaan-2 which had five engines with a fifth one being centrally mounted with a fixed thrust. This will reduce the chances of deviation or tilting during descent.
- Laser Doppler Velocimeter (LDV): Chandrayaan-3 will be equipped with an LDV, which will measure the velocity and distance of the lander from the lunar surface. This will help in controlling the speed and accuracy of the landing.
- Failure-based design: ISRO has analyzed the problems that occurred during the previous mission and made corrections. The lander has been programmed to handle different failure scenarios, such as sensor failure, engine failure, algorithm failure, or calculation failure.
Chandrayaan-3 launch date
✨The launch date of Chandrayaan-3 is July 14, 2023, at 2:35 pm IST. This is the date when the spacecraft will be launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, using a GSLV Mark 3 (LVM 3) heavy-lift launch vehicle.
How long will it take to reach the moon?
🌠According to ISRO, it will take Chandrayaan-3 approximately a month to reach the moon from the time of launch. The spacecraft will follow a similar trajectory to Chandrayaan-2, which involved a series of earth orbit-raising maneuvers and lunar orbit insertion maneuvers. The journey could take 45-48 days, and the spacecraft could reach the moon by August 23 or 24.
How long will the mission last on the moon?
🌠According to ISRO, the mission will last for one lunar day on the moon, which is approximately 14 Earth days. The lander and rover will collect science on the surface during this period, while the propulsion module will orbit the moon and study Earth.
Some scientific experiments that Chandrayaan-3 will conduct
📌Some of the scientific experiments that Chandrayaan-3 will conduct are:
- Spectro-polarimetry of HAbitable Planet Earth (SHAPE): This payload will be carried by the propulsion module and will study the spectral and polarimetric measurements of Earth from the lunar orbit. This will help in understanding the atmospheric and climatic conditions of Earth and other habitable planets.
- Radio Anatomy of Moon Bound Hypersensitive Ionosphere and Atmosphere (RAMBHA): This payload will be carried by the lander and will measure the density and temperature variations of the lunar ionosphere and exosphere. This will help in understanding the interaction of the solar wind with the lunar surface.
- Chandra’s Surface Thermo Physical Experiment (ChaSTE): This payload will be carried by the lander and will measure the thermal conductivity and heat flow of the lunar soil. This will help in understanding the thermal evolution and history of the moon.
- Instrument for Lunar Seismic Activity (ILSA): This payload will be carried by the lander and will detect and record seismic events on the moon. This will help in understanding the internal structure and dynamics of the moon.
- Laser Retroreflector Array (LRA): This payload will be carried by the lander and will reflect laser signals from orbiting spacecraft or Earth-based observatories. This will help in measuring the precise distance between Earth and the moon, as well as testing general relativity.
- Alpha Particle X-Ray Spectrometer (APXS): This payload will be carried by the rover and will analyze the elemental composition of the lunar rocks and soil. This will help in understanding the origin and evolution of the moon.
- Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscope (LIBS): This payload will be carried by the rover and will analyze the chemical composition of the lunar rocks and soil. This will help in identifying minerals and water ice on the moon.
India's space program compare to other countries
India’s space program is one of the most ambitious and successful in the world. It has achieved several milestones, such as launching the first satellite in 1975, sending an orbiter to Mars in 2014, and attempting a soft landing on the moon in 2019. India’s space program is also known for its low cost and indigenous development of technology. India has spent about 0.08% of its GDP on its space program, which is second only to the United States. India has also developed its own launch vehicles, satellites, and payloads, without relying on other countries.
India’s space program can be compared to other countries in terms of its objectives, capabilities, and achievements. India’s main objectives are to use space for national development, scientific discovery, and international cooperation. India has capabilities in various domains of space, such as telecommunications, remote sensing, navigation, launch services, and exploration. India has achieved several feats, such as launching more than 100 satellites in a single mission, sending probes to the moon and Mars, and developing a reusable launch vehicle.
India’s space program differs from other countries in some aspects. For instance, India has not yet sent humans to space, unlike Russia, China, and the United States. India plans to launch its first human spaceflight mission, Gaganyaan, by 2022 with the help of Russia. India has also not yet established a permanent presence in low Earth orbit or on the moon, unlike China and the United States. India is working on building its own space station and lunar base in the future.
Conclusion
🛰️Chandrayaan-3 is an exciting mission that will demonstrate India’s capability to land and explore the moon. The mission will also conduct scientific experiments that will enhance our knowledge of the moon and Earth. Chandrayaan-3 is a result of India’s perseverance and innovation in space exploration, and it will open new possibilities for future missions.
What do you think about Chandrayaan-3? Do you have any questions or comments about the mission? Let us know in the comments section below. 🚀
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