India Shoots For The Moon With Chandrayaan-3
July 14, 2023 | India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission, aimed at executing a controlled landing on the moon, has successfully lifted off at 2.35 pm from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is determined to learn from the challenges faced during the previous moon mission in July 2019. As a result, the lander on Chandrayaan-3 has undergone improvements, including a reduction in the number of engines from five to four and software updates. The successful completion of this mission will make India the fourth nation to land on the moon.
The moon lander, Vikram, was placed on the GSLV Mark 3 heavy lift launch vehicle, also known as the Bahubali rocket. Standing at a height of 43.5 meters, half the size of Delhi’s Qutb Minar, the rocket will embark on a journey of over 40 days, with the spacecraft expected to touch down on the moon in August. Chandrayaan-3’s unique objective is to land in the moon’s South Pole, where water molecules were discovered during India’s first moon mission in 2008.
Vikram is designed to achieve a safe and soft landing. Upon landing, it will release the rover Pragyan, which will explore the moon’s surface for a lunar day, equivalent to 14 earth days, and conduct scientific experiments. The mission aims to analyze the lunar soil, traverse the moon’s surface, and record moon quakes. ISRO has thoroughly tested the mission’s components and made necessary modifications to ensure success. The new mission has been designed to handle various failure scenarios, including sensor, engine, algorithm, and calculation failures.
Chandrayaan-1, India’s inaugural mission to the Moon, was launched in October 2008 and remained operational until August 2009. However, the lander of Chandrayaan-2 deviated from its planned trajectory in 2019 and experienced a hard landing. Despite this setback, the orbiter continues to orbit the moon and transmit valuable data.
India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission aims to become the fourth country after United States, Russia and China to achieve a controlled landing on the moon. The launch of Chandrayaan-3 has attracted significant attention, with crowds gathering at the Sriharikota space center and more than a million viewers tuning in via YouTube to witness this historic event.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his pride and admiration for the scientists involved in the mission. He hailed Chandrayaan-3 as a testament to India’s space program and the determination to explore the unknown. The craft is expected to land on the moon on August 23, marking a major milestone in India’s space journey.
India’s space program has evolved over the past six decades, demonstrating its rising prominence on the global stage. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, India has achieved remarkable milestones in space exploration. In 2014, India became the first Asian nation to reach Mars with the Mangalyaan probe. In 2019, India launched a record-breaking 104 satellites in a single mission. India’s space ambitions extend beyond the moon and Mars, with plans for an independent space station and proposals to send an orbiter to Venus.
The success of Chandrayaan-3 would not only bring glory to India but also propel the nation’s space program to new heights. India’s space sector continues to thrive, attracting investors and gaining international recognition. The recent meeting between Prime Minister Modi and US President Joe Biden highlighted the desire for increased collaboration in the space economy.
India’s aspirations in space are not limited to the moon and Mars. ISRO has also proposed sending an orbiter to Venus, showcasing the nation’s determination to explore the vastness of the universe.
As India shoots for the moon once again, the world eagerly awaits the outcome of this remarkable mission.
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