India’s Chandrayaan-3: Another Giant Leap for Moon Exploration

Chandrayaan-3: India‘s Historic Moon Mission Lifts Off Successfully

Achieving a Soft Landing on the Moon

India‘s space agency, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), has successfully launched its third Moon mission, Chandrayaan-3. The mission aims to achieve a soft landing near the Moon‘s south pole, an area that remains largely unexplored. If successful, India will become the fourth country to achieve a soft landing on the Moon, after the US, the former Soviet Union, and China. The Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft, consisting of an orbiter, lander, and rover, lifted off from Sriharikota space center at 14:35 on Friday. The lander is expected to reach the Moon on 23-24 August.

A Momentous Achievement for India

The launch of Chandrayaan-3 was witnessed by thousands of people at the viewer’s gallery, with commentators describing the sight of the rocket “soaring in the sky” as “majestic.” The successful lift-off was greeted with cheers and loud applause from the crowd and the scientists. Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the mission, stating that it “scripted a new chapter in India‘s space odyssey” and elevated the dreams and ambitions of every Indian. The launch marks a significant achievement for India‘s space program, demonstrating the relentless dedication of its scientists.

Building on Previous Successes

Chandrayaan-3 is the third mission in India‘s lunar exploration program. It follows the success of the country’s first Moon mission, Chandrayaan-1, launched in 2008. Chandrayaan-1 carried out the first and most detailed search for water on the lunar surface, establishing the presence of an atmosphere during daytime. Chandrayaan-2, launched in July 2019, also aimed to achieve a soft landing but was only partially successful. While the orbiter continues to orbit and study the Moon, the lander-rover failed to make a soft landing and crashed during touchdown due to a last-minute glitch in the braking system. The data from the Chandrayaan-2 crash has been carefully analyzed, and measures have been taken to fix the glitches in Chandrayaan-3.

The Goals of Chandrayaan-3

Chandrayaan-3, weighing 3,900kg and costing 6.1 billion rupees ($75 million), has the same goals as its predecessor. The mission aims to ensure a soft landing on the Moon‘s surface. The lander, named Vikram, weighs about 1,500kg and carries the 26kg rover, named Pragyaan, which means wisdom in Sanskrit. After entering the Moon‘s orbit in approximately 15 to 20 days, scientists will gradually reduce the rocket’s speed to enable a soft landing for Vikram. If successful, the rover will explore the Moon‘s surface, gathering crucial data and images to be sent back to Earth for analysis.

Exploring the Moon‘s South Pole

The south pole of the Moon is of particular scientific interest as it remains largely unexplored and has a larger surface area in shadow compared to the Moon‘s north pole. This raises the possibility of water in permanently shadowed areas. Chandrayaan-1 was the first to discover water on the Moon near the south pole in 2008. Chandrayaan-3 aims to make significant scientific discoveries by exploring this area. ISRO scientists have studied high-resolution images of the spot where they intend to land, obtained from the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter. This data has helped widen the domain of landing for a better possibility of success.

India‘s Vision for the Future of Space Exploration

India‘s Moon missions are part of a larger vision for the country’s space program. The ultimate goal is to develop the Moon as an outpost and a gateway to deep space. This would involve carrying out more explorations to understand how to build habitats using locally-available materials and how to ensure the supply of resources to sustain human presence on the Moon. By actively participating in the development of the Moon as an extended continent of Earth, India aims to have an active and protected life on the Moon in the future. A successful Chandrayaan-3 mission will be a significant step towards realizing this vision.

Conclusion: A Milestone for India‘s Space Program

The successful launch of Chandrayaan-3 marks another impressive achievement for India‘s space program. With its ambitious lunar missions, India is establishing itself as a significant player in space exploration. The exploration of the Moon‘s south pole and the possibility of discovering water and other scientific insights hold great promise for India and the global scientific community. As India continues to make strides in space technology, it can inspire and motivate the next generation of scientists and engineers. The success of Chandrayaan-3 will not only be a testament to the dedication and ingenuity of India‘s scientists but also a step towards realizing humanity’s future in space.