Chandrayaan-3 : Launch News
ISRO launched India’s third lunar mission Chandrayaan-3 perched on GSLV Mark 3 heavy-lift launch vehicle, named ‘Bahubali’ rocket, at 2.35 p.m. from Sri Harikota
- This is India’s second attempt at soft-landing robotic instruments on the lunar surface after the previous attempt, Chandrayaan-2, failed in 2019.
- Thus far, only three countries, the U.S., Russia and China, have successfully soft-landed on the moon.
- Chandrayaan-3 is the third lunar exploration mission by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
- It consists of a lander and the Pragyan rover similar to Chandrayaan-2, but does not have an orbiter.
- Its propulsion module behaves like a communication relay satellite.
- The propulsion module carries the lander and rover configuration until the spacecraft is in a 100 km lunar orbit.
- ISRO has set three main objectives for the Chandrayaan-3 mission, which include:
- Getting a lander safe and soft and perfect landing on the surface of the Moon.
- Observing and demonstrating the rover’s loitering capabilities on the Moon
- In-site scientific observation making scientific experiments on the chemical and natural elements, soil, water, etc. available on the surface of the Moon to better understand and practice the composition of the Moon.
- Interplanetary refers to the development and demonstration of new technologies required for missions between two planets.
- Chandrayaan-3 comprises three main components:
- Propulsion Module: The propulsion module will carry the lander and rover configuration till 100 km lunar orbit.
- It is a box-like structure with one large solar panel mounted on one side and a large cylinder on top (the Intermodular Adapter Cone) that acts as a mounting structure for the lander.
- Lander: The lander is responsible for the soft landing on the Moon. It is also box-shaped, with four landing legs and four landing thrusters of 800 newtons each. It will carry the rover and various scientific instruments to perform in-site analysis.
- The lander for Chandrayaan-3 will have only four throttle-able engines,unlike Vikram on Chandrayaan-2 which had five 800 Newtons engines with a fifth one being centrally mounted with a fixed thrust.
- Additionally, the Chandrayaan-3 lander will be equipped with a Laser Doppler Velocimeter (LDV).
- Rover:
- Six-wheeled design
- Weight of 26 kilograms (57 pounds)
- Range of 500 metres (1,640 feet)
- Scientific instruments including cameras, spectrometers, and a drill
- Expected lifespan of one lunar day (14 Earth days)
- Communication with the lander and ground control team in India
- Propulsion Module: The propulsion module will carry the lander and rover configuration till 100 km lunar orbit.
