Chandrayaan-3 is scheduled for launch from Sriharikota this week, marking India’s journey to become the fourth country to achieve a soft landing on the moon’s surface.
Once Chandrayaan-3 successfully lands on the moon, the six-wheeled rover will be deployed and is expected to operate for 14 days, capturing images with its multiple cameras. The primary objectives of the mission are to demonstrate safe and soft landing, rover exploration, and conduct in-situ scientific experiments. The spacecraft will utilize the Launch Vehicle Mark-3 developed by ISRO.
According to Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Jitendra Singh, the upcoming launchfrom Sriharikota this week will make India the fourth country to successfully land its spacecraft on the moon’s surface.
MISSION OBJECTIVES
- To demonstrate Safe and Soft Landing on Lunar Surface
- Demonstrate Rover roving on the moon and
- To conduct in-situ scientific experiments.
ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES IN LANDER
- Altimeters: Laser & RF based Altimeters
- Velocimeters: Laser Doppler Velocimeter& Lander Horizontal Velocity Camera
- Inertial Measurement: Laser Gyro based Inertial referencing and Accelerometer package
- Propulsion System: 800N Throttleable Liquid Engines, 58N attitude thrusters &Throttleable Engine Control Electronics
- Navigation, Guidance & Control (NGC): Powered Descent Trajectory design and associate software elements
- Hazard Detection and Avoidance: Lander Hazard Detection & Avoidance Camera and Processing Algorithm
- Landing Leg Mechanism.
Chandrayaan-3, a follow-on mission to Chandrayaan-2, aims to showcase India’s capability in soft landing and rover exploration on the lunar surface. The intricate mission profile required for the spacecraft to enter the moon’s orbit has been meticulously executed.
Singh highlighted that the first mission in the Chandrayaan series, Chandrayaan-1, made a ground-breaking discovery of water on the moon’s surface, which fascinated premier space agencies like NASA. Chandrayaan-3 will operate at a higher level and will utilize the Launch Vehicle Mark-3 developed by ISRO for its launch.
There is significant anticipation across the country for the launch of Chandrayaan-3, especially considering the challenges faced during the Chandrayaan-2 mission. The mission represents India’s continued commitment to advancing its space exploration capabilities and contributing to scientific knowledge.