The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has announced the launch of the Chandrayaan-3 mission, scheduled to take place on July 14th at 2.35 pm. This mission aims to demonstrate the capability of safely landing and roving on the lunar surface, following the success of the previous Chandrayaan-2 mission. The spacecraft, composed of three modules – propulsion, lander, and rover – will be launched using the LVM3 (Launch Vehicle Mark-III), also known as GSLV Mk III. The lander is expected to softly land on the Moon’s surface on either August 23rd or 24th.
The Mission Details
ISRO Secretary and Chairman Somanath S stated that the space agency plans to attempt a soft landing of the lander between August 23rd and 24th. The lander’s mission life will last for one lunar day, equivalent to 14 Earth days. The chosen landing date is determined based on the availability of sunlight on the Moon. To ensure a successful landing, sunlight must be present, as there is sunlight on the Moon for approximately 14-15 days, followed by an equal duration of darkness.
Scientific Objectives
The Chandrayaan-3 mission carries various scientific instruments designed to study different aspects of the Moon. These instruments will analyze the thermo-physical properties of the lunar regolith, lunar seismicity, lunar surface plasma environment, and elemental composition near the landing site. Additionally, an experimental instrument will study the spectro-polarimetric signatures of the Earth from the lunar orbit, providing valuable insights into Earth’s characteristics.
Instrument Payloads
The spacecraft’s propulsion module, equipped with the Spectro-polarimetry of Habitable Planet Earth (SHAPE) payload, will carry the lander and rover configuration until they reach a distance of 100 km from the lunar orbit. The lander is equipped with three payloads: the Chandra’s Surface Thermophysical Experiment, which measures thermal conductivity and temperature, the Instrument for Lunar Seismic Activity, which measures seismicity around the landing site, and the Langmuir Probe, which estimates plasma density and its variations. The lander also carries a passive Laser Retroreflector Array provided by NASA for lunar laser ranging studies. The rover payloads include the Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer and Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy, used for deriving the elemental composition near the landing site.
The lander module has the capability to softly land at a predetermined lunar site and deploy the rover, which will conduct in-situ chemical analysis of the lunar surface while moving. The propulsion module’s main function is to transport the lander module from the launch vehicle injection until it reaches the final lunar 100 km circular polar orbit. Once the lander and rover are deployed, the propulsion module will operate a scientific payload separately.
In March of this year, the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft successfully completed essential tests to validate its ability to withstand the harsh vibration and acoustic environment during launch. These tests have paved the way for the upcoming mission, bringing India one step closer to achieving its lunar exploration goals.
The Chandrayaan-3 mission represents a significant milestone for India’s space exploration endeavors. With its focus on safe landing and roving capabilities on the lunar surface, as well as its scientific objectives, the mission is poised to contribute valuable insights into the Moon’s composition and characteristics. The launch of Chandrayaan-3 marks another leap forward for India’s space program and its ambitions to explore the mysteries of our celestial neighbor.
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