Chandrayaan Missions of India – Part 4

(இதன் தமிழ் வடிவத்திற்கு இங்கே கொடுக்கவும்)

Chandrayaan 3

• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has made significant progress in its ambitious Chandrayaan-3 mission.
• It aims to demonstrate the capability of a soft landing on the Moon.
• It was following the setback of the Chandrayaan-2 mission.
• Chandrayaan-3 is India's third lunar mission.
• It is second attempt at achieving a soft landing on the moon's surface.
• The mission took off from the Satish Dhawan Space Center (SDSC) in Sriharikota on July 14, 2023, at 2:35 pm.
• India now joins the United States, Russia, and China as one of the few countries to successfully land on the Moon.
• It will demonstrate India’s end-to-end capability in safe landing and roving on the lunar surface.

Objectives

• It has indigenous lander module, propulsion module and a rover.

Safe and Soft Landing

• The primary objective of Chandrayaan-3 is to achieve a safe and soft landing of the lander on the surface of the Moon.
• This mission aims to successfully land the lander module on the lunar surface without any issues.

Demonstration of Rover’s Capabilities

• Chandrayaan-3 aims to demonstrate the capabilities of the rover.
• It is showcasing roaming and exploration abilities on the lunar surface.
• The rover will be deployed after the successful landing of the Lander.

Moon’s In-Site Scientific Observations

• The mission seeks to conduct in-site scientific observations and experiments.
• It is help to get better understand the composition of the Moon.
• This includes analyzing the chemical and natural elements, soil, water, and other resources available on the lunar surface.
• These observations will contribute to expanding our knowledge of the Moon’s composition.
• It provides insights into the Moon’s history and evolution.

Demonstrating Soft Landing and Scientific Exploration

• By accomplishing this feat, India aims to join the exclusive group of nations that have successfully landed on the Moon.
• The mission also intends to conduct chemical analyses, gather valuable scientific data, and contribute to advancements in lunar research.

Aims

• To conduct in-situ (on-site) scientific experiments.
• To measure the plasma density fluctuations near the lunar surface.
• To carry out the thermal traits of the moon's frigid polar zones.
• To measure seismic activity, unveiling lunar crust-mantle configuration
• To understand the dynamics of the Moon system
• It also aims to develop and demonstrate new technologies required for interplanetary missions.
• The success of the mission will make Chandrayaan-3, the world’s first mission to soft-land near the lunar South Pole.
• India is the fourth country to soft-land on the moon.

Background

• Chandrayaan-2 is resulting in a setback for ISRO.
• However, the organization used this setback as an opportunity for learning and improvement.
• It aims to address the shortcomings of its predecessor and accomplish.
• It is a successful soft landing on the lunar surface.
• Chandrayaan-3 is a continuation of Chandrayaan-2
• Chandrayaan-2 was launched in July 2019.
• It has as its goal to place a rover on the lunar South Pole.
• The Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota has launched the mission on July 14, 2023, using a Launch Vehicle Mark 3 (LVM3).
• India was ready to launch Chandrayaan 3 in 2022, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic there was delay in its production.
• The orbiter, rover, and lander were all included in the design of the Chandrayaan 2 spacecraft by ISRO.

Chandrayaan-3 Spacecraft

Three essential components of Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft

• The Lander module, the propulsion module, and a rover are this three.
• The Lander module is designed to achieve a soft landing on the Moon.
• It deploys the rover for scientific exploration.
• The rover will conduct chemical analyses.
• It is to carry scientific payloads to enhance our understanding of the lunar surface.
• Additionally, the propulsion module plays a crucial role in transporting the lander and rover to the lunar orbit.

Launch Vehicle Mark-III (LVM-3)

• It is India’s most powerful rocket developed by ISRO.
• It serves as the launch vehicle for the Chandrayaan-3 mission.
• Earlier known as ‘GSLV Mk-III’, it is the most powerful rocket in the ISRO’s stable.
• Launch Vehicle Mark-III (LVM3) is a three-stage medium-lift launch vehicle developed by ISRO.
• The 3-stages include two solid boosters (S200), the core liquid fuel-based stage (L110), and the cryogenic upper stage (C25).
• C25 uses cryogenic engine (CE20).
• It can carry a payload of up to 8,000 kilograms to a low-Earth orbit (LEO).
• It can carry 4,000 kilograms of payload to a geostationary transfer orbit (GTO).
• LVM-3 was used also in launching Chandrayaan-2.
• Standing tall at 43.5 meters with a diameter of 4 meters, it possesses a lift-off mass of 640 tonnes.

Mission Components

• The 3,900-kilogram Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft consists of three major modules: the Propulsion module, Lander module, and Rover.
• The lander, named Vikram, and the rover, named Pragyaan, are similar to their counterparts in Chandrayaan-2.
• But they have undergone upgrades for improved reliability.
• The mission’s budget is Rs. 615 crore.

Mission Modules, Design and Approach

• Chandrayaan-3 consists of three main components

Propulsion Module

• The propulsion module is responsible for carrying the lander and rover configuration to the lunar orbit of 100 kilometers.
• It is a box-like structure with a large solar panel and an intermodular adapter cone.
• It acts as a mounting structure for the lander.
• Additionally, it carries the SHAPE payload.
• It studies spectral and polarimetric measurements of Earth from the lunar orbit.

Lander

• The lander module is designed for a soft landing on the lunar surface.
• It has a box-shaped structure with four landing legs and four landing thrusters.
• The lander carries the rover and various scientific instruments for in-site analysis.
• It has undergone improvements in terms of structural rigidity, impact legs strength, and instrumentation redundancy compared to its predecessor.

Three payloads

Chandra’s Surface Thermophysical Experiment (ChaSTE)

• It measures thermal conductivity and temperature of the lunar surface.

Instrument for Lunar Seismic Activity (ILSA)

• It measures seismic activity around the landing site.

Langmuir Probe (LP)

• It estimates plasma density and its variations.

Rover

• The Chandrayaan-3 rover is a six-wheeled vehicle weighing 26 kilograms.
• It is equipped with scientific instruments, including cameras, spectrometers, and a drill.
• The rover has a range of 500 meters.
• It is designed to communicate with the lander and the ground control team in India.
• Its expected lifespan is one lunar day, equivalent to 14 Earth days.
• The rover aims to make significant scientific discoveries.
• It includes studying the lunar surface composition, detecting the presence of water ice in the lunar soil, investigating lunar impacts’ history, and studying the Moon’s atmosphere evolution.

Modifications and Precautions

• Chandrayaan-3 has undergone modifications by ISRO to enhance reliability compared to its predecessor, Chandrayaan2.
• The lander Vikram has been upgraded and carries additional fuel.
• It helps to ensure a successful landing and stay on the intended path to the lunar surface.
• The craft has undergone rigorous testing.
• It is incorporates numerous safety measures to increase the mission’s chances of success.

Lunar Orbit 

• The module enters lunar orbit and the reverse will happen.
• Loop-by-loop the spacecraft will get closer to the moon.
• It will reaches until a circular path 100 km above the moon's surface before the lander separates.
• On the Moon - the lander will soft land at a specified lunar site (lunar South Pole) and deploy the rover.
• The rover will explore the lunar terrain for 14 Earth days (1 lunar day).
• It will carry out in-situ chemical analysis of the lunar surface.

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