In a momentous event, Chandrayaan-3, India’s lunar mission, has successfully lifted off from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh, carrying the aspirations of the entire nation. If all goes according to plan, this mission will make India the fourth country to achieve a controlled landing on the moon, following in the footsteps of Russia, the United States, and China.
The moon lander, named Vikram, is mounted on the Mark 3 heavy-lift launch vehicle, affectionately known as the Bahubali rocket. The spacecraft is estimated to take approximately a month to reach the moon, with the expected landing date set for August 23. Once on the lunar surface, the lander will operate for one lunar day, equivalent to approximately 14 Earth days.
Chandrayaan-3 consists of three major components: a lander, a rover, and a propulsion module. The mission will utilize the Orbiter from the previous Chandrayaan-2 mission, which still remains in the lunar atmosphere.
An Exciting First: Landing in the Moon’s South Pole
Notably, India’s mooncraft, Vikram, is set to achieve a historic landing in the South Pole of the moon, an area where water molecules have been discovered. This groundbreaking finding, made during India’s first moon mission in 2008, captivated the world.
The primary objective for Vikram is a safe and gentle landing. Following the landing, the rover named Pragyan will be released, embarking on a lunar exploration journey for a duration of one lunar day, during which it will conduct a series of scientific experiments.
Learning from Past Challenges
Chandrayaan-3 comes four years after the previous attempt, which unfortunately lost contact with the ground crew moments before landing. To address past challenges and ensure a successful mission, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has implemented a series of changes.
“The main issue with the previous Chandrayaan-2 mission was the occurrence of off-nominal conditions in the system. Not everything went according to plan, and the craft was unable to handle these off-nominal conditions for a safe landing,” stated ISRO Chief S Somnath in an exclusive interview.The organization has taken steps to rectify those issues and improve the chances of a successful outcome.
As India’s Chandrayaan-3 embarks on this extraordinary journey, the nation eagerly anticipates the potential scientific discoveries and achievements that await.
