Chandrayaan-3: India’s Next Leap in Lunar Exploration by ISRO

 

Introduction

India’s space agency, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), is set to embark on a new chapter in its lunar exploration program with the upcoming Chandrayaan-3 mission. Building upon the successes and lessons learned from Chandrayaan-2, this ambitious endeavor aims to achieve a soft landing on the Moon’s surface and conduct extensive scientific investigations. With Chandrayaan-3, India seeks to further expand its presence in the realm of space exploration and contribute to humanity’s understanding of Earth’s celestial neighbour.

Chandrayaan-3 is India’s third moon mission is aimed to land a rover on the lunar South Pole. The Mission will have three major modules-

Ø  The Propulsion module (It will carry the lander and rover configuration till 100 km lunar orbit)

Ø  Lander module (capability to soft land and deploy Rover)

Ø  Rover (will carry out in-situ chemical analysis of the lunar surface)

 

 

Mission Objectives and Scientific Endeavours

Chandrayaan-3’s primary objective is to successfully land a rover on the lunar surface, paving the way for in-depth exploration and scientific experiments. By analyzing the Moon’s composition, searching for water ice, and studying its geology, the mission aims to uncover valuable insights into the Moon’s origin, evolution, and potential resources. These findings can have significant implications for future space missions and our understanding of the solar system.

 

Continuation of Chandrayaan-2’s Legacy

Chandrayaan-3 serves as a successor to the Chandrayaan-2 mission, which achieved a major milestone with its orbiter, but faced challenges during the landing phase. Building on the technical advancements and knowledge gained from Chandrayaan-2, ISRO has undertaken rigorous improvements and modifications to increase the chances of a successful landing. This mission showcases India’s commitment to learning from setbacks and pushing the boundaries of space exploration.

 

Collaborative Endeavours

ISRO has expressed its willingness to collaborate with other countries and international space agencies for Chandrayaan-3. Collaborative efforts may include sharing scientific payloads, technological expertise, and resources. Such cooperation fosters global partnerships and promotes the exchange of knowledge and experiences, thereby accelerating scientific progress and strengthening international relations in space exploration.

 

Technological Enhancements

To ensure a successful landing, Chandrayaan-3 incorporates several technical upgrades. These improvements include enhancements to the lander’s design, modifications in the configuration of the rover, and refining the overall mission architecture. Through meticulous testing and integration processes, ISRO aims to minimize potential risks and maximize the mission’s chances of achieving its goals.

 

Launch and Timeline

While an exact launch date has not been announced, Chandrayaan-3 is expected to be launched in the near future. The timeline depends on various factors, including the development, testing, and integration of mission components. ISRO’s meticulous approach to mission planning ensures that all aspects are thoroughly evaluated before embarking on the challenging journey to the Moon.

 

Public Outreach and Inspiration

As with previous Indian space missions, Chandrayaan-3 seeks to captivate and inspire the public, especially the youth. ISRO’s initiatives aim to create awareness and excitement about space exploration, instill scientific curiosity, and nurture the next generation of scientists and engineers. By showcasing India’s technological prowess and accomplishments, the mission encourages the nation’s scientific growth and positions it as a significant player in the global space community.

 

Conclusion

Chandrayaan-3 represents India’s continued dedication to space exploration and the pursuit of scientific knowledge. With its ambitious objectives, technical advancements, and collaborative endeavors, the mission holds the potential to unveil new discoveries and propel our understanding of the Moon to greater heights. As India’s lunar exploration program enters its next phase, Chandrayaan-3 promises to be a significant milestone in the country’s space endeavors and a testament to its commitment to scientific excellence.

All Chandryaan Mission of India: 

Chandrayaan-1	Chandrayaan-2	Chandrayaan-3
Successful	Failed	Successful
Chandrayaan-1 was India's first lunar probe launched on October 22, 2008. It was notable for discovering water molecules on the Moon's surface and providing valuable data about the Moon's composition. Chandrayaan-1 also carried instruments from other countries, including the Moon Impact Probe (MIP) developed by India. MIP was released and impacted the lunar surface, providing information about the Moon's exosphere.	Chandrayaan-2 was launched on July 22, 2019, with the primary goal of further exploration of the Moon, particularly its south pole region. It consisted of three components: the orbiter, the lander named Vikram, and the rover named Pragyan. The orbiter successfully entered lunar orbit and continues to study the Moon's surface. However, the lander lost communication during its descent, and the rover could not be deployed.	Chandrayaan-3 is India’s third moon mission was successfully landed a rover on the lunar South Pole and explored it.

In Short Facts on Chandrayaan 3   Objective: It is to land a rover on the lunar surface, explore it, and conduct scientific experiments.   Successor to Chandrayaan-2: Chandrayaan-3 is the successor to the Chandrayaan-2 mission, which included an orbiter, a lander called Vikram, and a rover called Pragyan. However, the Vikram lander failed to make a soft landing on the lunar surface.   Configuration: Chandrayaan-3 will consist of an orbiter, a lander, and a rover, similar to Chandrayaan-2. The orbiter will orbit the Moon, while the lander will make a soft landing and deploy the rover to explore the lunar surface.   Collaboration: ISRO has indicated the possibility of collaboration with other countries and international space agencies for the Chandrayaan-3 mission. This could include sharing scientific payloads, technological expertise, or other resources.   Technical improvements: Following the lessons learned from the Chandrayaan-2 mission, ISRO has made several technical improvements to Chandrayaan-3 to enhance the chances of a successful landing. These improvements include changes in the design and configuration of the lander and the rover.   Launch and timeline: The exact launch date of Chandrayaan-3 has not been announced yet. However, ISRO has stated that the mission is being planned for a launch in the near future. The timeline will depend on various factors, including the development, testing, and integration of the mission components.   Scientific objectives: Chandrayaan-3 aims to continue the scientific investigations initiated by its predecessor, Chandrayaan-2. It will study the lunar surface, analyze the composition of the Moon, search for water ice in the polar regions, and carry out experiments to understand the Moon's geology and its evolution.   Cost: The estimated cost of the Chandrayaan-3 mission is around 615 crore Indian rupees (approximately 82 million US dollars). This budget includes the development, launch, and operations of the mission.   Public outreach: Similar to previous Indian space missions, Chandrayaan-3 is expected to generate significant public interest and engagement. ISRO aims to inspire and educate the general public, especially the youth, about space exploration and scientific achievements.   It's important to note that the information provided here is based on the knowledge available up until September 2021. As developments may have occurred since then, it's advisable to refer to official sources or recent news for the most up-to-date information on the Chandrayaan-3 mission.

 

Three Mission of Chandrayaan:

 

Mission	Chandrayaan 1	Chandrayaan 2	Chandrayaan 3
Launched in (Year)	2008	2019	14th July, 2023
Objectives	Study Lunar Surface	Study the lunar surface and land rover on the lunar South Pole	Demonstrate landing capabilities for Lunar Polar Exploration Mission
Launch Vehicles	PSLV	GSLV-Mk 3	LVM3
Components	Orbiter, Moon Impact Probe	Orbiter, Lander (Vikram), Rover (Pragyan)	Propulsion module, Lander, Rover
Landing Site	---	Lunar South Pole	Lunar South Pole

 

 

UPSC Previous Year Prelims Question on ISRO Mission:

Q. Consider the following statements: (UPSC 2016)

The Mangalyaan launched by ISRO

1. is also called the Mars Orbiter Mission

2. made India the second country to have a spacecraft orbit the Mars after USA

3. made India the only country to be successful in making its spacecraft orbit Mars in its very first attempt

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a) 1 Only

b) 2 and 3 Only

c) 1 and 3 Only

d) 1, 2 and 3

 

Answer (c)

 

Practice few Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs) about Chandrayaan-3:

 

Q 1. What is the primary objective of Chandrayaan-3?

a) Study the atmosphere of the Moon

b) Establish a permanent human settlement on the Moon

c) Achieve a soft landing on the lunar surface and conduct scientific investigations

d) Retrieve samples from the lunar surface and bring them back to Earth

Answer (c)

 

Q 2. Chandrayaan-3 is the successor to which previous Indian lunar mission?

a) Chandrayaan-1

b) Chandrayaan-2

c) Mangalyaan

d) Aditya-L1

Answer (b)

 

Q 3. What components are included in Chandrayaan-3?

a) Orbiter only

b) Lander and rover only

c) Orbiter, lander, and rover

d) Lander and orbiter only

Answer (c)

 

Q 4. Which space agency is responsible for the Chandrayaan-3 mission?

a) NASA

b) ISRO

c) ESA

d) Roscosmos

Answer (b)

 

Q 5. What improvements have been made to Chandrayaan-3 compared to its predecessor?

a) Enhanced solar panel efficiency

b) Upgraded communication system

c) Changes in lander and rover design

d) All of the above

Answer (d)

 

Q 6. Chandrayaan-3’s scientific objectives include:

a) Analyzing the Moon’s composition

b) Searching for water ice on the lunar surface

c) Studying the Moon’s geology

d) All of the above

Answer (d)

 

Q 7. What is the estimated cost of the Chandrayaan-3 mission?

a) 100 crore Indian rupees

b) 300 crore Indian rupees

c) 615 crore Indian rupees

d) 1 billion US dollars

Answer (c)

 

Q 8. What role does public outreach play in the Chandrayaan-3 mission?

a) Inspiring and educating the public about space exploration

b) Encouraging youth to pursue scientific careers

c) Increasing awareness of India’s space achievements

d) All of the above

Answer (d)

Solve More: MCQ on Chandrayan3 Mission