Introduction:
Chandrayaan-3, India’s third lunar mission, is set to launch on July 14, 2023. The mission will be carried out by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) as a follow-up to the Chandrayaan-2 mission, which launched successfully in 2019.
The Chandrayaan-3 Mission:
The Chandrayaan-3 mission will consist of a lander, a rover, and an orbiter. The lander will be responsible for soft-landing on the moon, while the rover will be used to explore the lunar surface. The orbiter will provide support to the lander and rover, as well as conduct its own scientific observations of the moon.
The Lander:
The lander for Chandrayaan-3 is called Vikram, after Vikram Sarabhai, the father of Indian space science. The lander is about 3 meters tall and weighs about 1,400 kilograms. It is equipped with a variety of sensors and instruments, including a camera, a magnetometer, and a seismometer.
The Rover:
The rover for Chandrayaan-3 is called Pragyan, which means “wisdom” in Sanskrit. The rover is about 1.5 meters long and weighs about 27 kilograms. It is equipped with a variety of sensors and instruments, including a camera, a spectrometer, and a drill.
The Orbiter:
The orbiter for Chandrayaan-3 is called Chandrayaan-3 Orbiter. The orbiter is about 1.4 meters long and weighs about 2,375 kilograms. It is equipped with a variety of sensors and instruments, including a camera, a spectrometer, and a magnetometer.
The Scientific Objectives of Chandrayaan-3:
The scientific objectives of Chandrayaan-3 include:
- Studying the lunar surface
- Searching for water ice on the moon
- Studying the moon’s geology
- Studying the moon’s atmosphere
- Studying the moon’s environment
The Significance of Chandrayaan-3:
The Chandrayaan-3 mission is significant for a number of reasons. First, it will be India’s first soft landing on the moon since the Chandrayaan-2 mission in 2019. Second, it will be the first mission to carry a rover to the moon since the Soviet Union’s Lunokhod 2 mission in 1973. Third, it will be the first mission to study the moon’s south pole, which is thought to be a potential source of water ice.
Conclusion:
The Chandrayaan-3 mission is a significant milestone in India’s space program. The mission will help to advance our understanding of the moon and its potential for future exploration. ISRO is confident that the mission will be a success and that it will pave the way for future lunar missions.
Additional Information:
- The Chandrayaan-3 mission is being funded by the Indian government at a cost of ₹978 crore (US$130 million).
- The mission is being led by ISRO’s Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
- The launch of Chandrayaan-3 will be carried out from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
- The mission is expected to last for about one year.
