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CHANDRAYAAN-3

Chandrayaan-3: Know how India make impossible to possible!!

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INTRODUCTION

Chandrayaan-3 is the third mission in the Chandrayaan programme, which is a series of lunar exploration missions created by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). This mission includes a Vikram lunar lander and a Pragyan lunar rover similar to those launched on Chandrayaan-2 in 2019, as well as a propulsion module that transports the spacecraft from Earth to lunar orbit. Chandrayaan-3 was launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre on July 14, 2023. The spacecraft entered lunar orbit on August 5 and became the first lander to touch down near the lunar south pole on August 23 at 18:03 IST (12:33 UTC), which making India the fourth nation to successfully land on the Moon and, at 69°S, the southernmost lunar landing until IM-1 landed further south in Malapert A crater on February 22, 2024.

MISSION GOALS

Chandrayaan-3 is ISRO’s third lunar exploration mission. It was designed and launched with the goal of success and learning from Chandrayaan-1 and Chandrayaan-2.

  • Safe Landing: The primary goal of launching Chandrayaan-3 is to ensure a safe landing on the lunar surface, particularly in the south-pole of the moon. No country has successfully landed on the Moon’s southern region. This mission demonstrates India’s ability to carry out a controlled landing in the south part of the moon. After reaching a milestone in lunar exploration, India became the first country to land on the south lunar surface.
  • Rover: The Chandrayaan-3 mission demonstrates how the solar-powered rover ‘Pragyan’, which means “wisdom” in Sanskrit, operates. The rover is equipped with scientific instruments to investigate the chemical and elemental composition of the lunar surface in the south region.
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Image - Space Technology & Research
  • Scientific Research: The secondary goal of launching Chandrayaan-3 is to perform scientific study and experimentation on the lunar surface. As previously stated, Chandrayaan-3 is equipped with a set of scientific instruments to investigate the lunar environment, geology, and surface of the lunar surface. This experiment will provide crucial data for understanding the moon’s composition, structure, and evolutionary history. It could be worldwide scientific data that reveals the mysteries of the moon.
  • Advanced Space Technology: Chandrayaan-3 brings superior space technologies and capabilities to India. Through the successful landing and rover operation on the Moon. ISRO intends to expand the design, construction, and operation of complicated space missions. This mission provides an opportunity to test and certify new technology, which can aid with future lunar or space exploration.

COMPONENTS OF CHANDRAYAAN-3 SPACECRAFT

Image - Propulsion Module of Chandrayaan-3 Image Courtesy - Isro.gov.in

Chandrayaan-3 consists three main components: a propulsion module, lander module, and rover.

  • Propulsion Module: The propulsion module propelled the lander and rover configuration into a 100-kilometer (62-mile) lunar orbit. It was a box-shaped structure with a big solar panel installed on one side and a cylindrical lander mounting structure (the Intermodular Adapter Cone) on top. The primary duty of Propulsion Module is to transport the Lander Module from launch vehicle injection to the final lunar 100 km circular polar orbit and then detach the Lander Module from Propulsion Module. 
Image - Lander Module of Chandrayaan-3 Image Courtesy - Isro.gov.in

Aside from that, the Propulsion Module includes one scientific payload that will be operated following the separation of the Lander Module. The launcher for Chandrayaan-3 is LVM3 M4, which will place the integrated module in an Elliptic Parking Orbit (EPO) measuring approximately 170 x 36500 kilometres.

  • Lander Module: The Vikram lander was responsible for the Moon’s soft landing. It is also box-shaped, with four landing legs and four landing thrusters that can generate 800 newtons of thrust each. It carries the rover and a variety of scientific instruments for on-site study. One of the primary causes of Chandrayaan-2’s landing failure was increasing altitude during the camera coasting phase. As a result, the Chandrayaan-3 lander is equipped with a laser Doppler velocimeter (LDV) that can measure height in three directions. The impact legs were strengthened compared to Chandrayaan-2, and instrumentation redundancy was increased.

Image - Rover of Chandrayaan-3 Image Courtesy - Isro.gov.in
  • Rover: The Pragyan Rover is a six-wheeled vehicle that weighs 26 kilogrammes (57 pounds). It measures (917 mm × 750 mm × 397 mm) or (36.1 in × 29.5 in × 15.6 in) in size. The rover is expected to collect several measurements to aid research into the composition of the lunar surface, the occurrence of water ice in lunar soil, the history of lunar impacts, and the evolution of the Moon’s atmosphere.

LAUNCH VEHICLE OF CHANDRAYAAN-3

GSLV Mk III
Launch Vehicle - LVM3-M4 Vehicle Image Courtesy - Isro.gov.in

ISRO’s operational heavy lift launch vehicle, LVM3, has completed six straight successful missions. The fourth operational flight of LVM3 intends to launch the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft to Geo Transfer Orbit (GTO). LVM3 has proven capable of handling complex tasks such as injecting many satellites. Mission planning involves re-orienting and adding velocity to satellites to maintain a safe distance between them. Conduct interplanetary missions in multiple orbits (LEO, MEO, and GEO). India’s largest and heaviest launch vehicle transports Indian and international customer satellites.

TIMELINE AND MISSION PHASES OF CHANDRAYAAN-3

Sl. No. Date Event Timeline
1.
July 6, 2023
The launch is slated for July 14, 2023, at 14;35 IST, from the second launch pad
2.
July 7, 2023
Vehicle electrical test completed
3.
July 11, 2023
The ‘Launch Rehearsal’, which replicated the complete launch preparation and process for 24 hrs. has concluded
4.
July 14, 2023
LVM3 M4 vehicle successfully launched the Chandrayaan-3 into orbit which has begun its journey to Moon
5.
July 15, 2023
The first orbit raising maneuver is successfully performed at ISTRAC/ISRO, Bengaluru
6.
July 17, 2023
The second orbit raising maneuver is completed. The spacecraft is now in a 41603 km X 226 km orbit
7.
July 22, 2023
The fourth orbit raising maneuver is completed. The spacecraft is now in a 71351 km X 233 km orbit
8.
July 25, 2023
The orbit raising maneuver was carried out on July 25, 2023, The next firing scheduled for August 1, 2023
9.
August 1, 2023
The spacecraft is into the translunar orbit. The orbit is 369328 km X 288 km
10.
August 5, 2023
Chandrayaan-3 successfully into lunar orbit. The orbit achieved 164 km X 18074 km
11.
August 6, 2023
LBM#2 was successfully completed. The spacecraft is in 4313 km X 170 km orbit around Moon
12.
August 9, 2023
The orbit of Chandrayaan-3 is reduced to 1437 km X 174 km to performed maneuver on August 9, 2023
13.
August 14, 2023
The mission is now in the orbit circulation phase. The spacecraft is in 151 km X 179 km orbit
14.
August 16, 2023
After the firing on August 8, 2023, the spacecraft in an orbit 153 km X 163 km
15.
August 17, 2023
From Propulsion Module, Lander Module is successfully separated
16.
August 19, 2023
Lander Module is in 113 km X 157 km orbit around the Moon
17.
August 20, 2023
Lander Module is in 25 km X 134 km orbit
18.
August 23, 2023
Chandrayaan-3 has successfully soft-landed on the Moon. ‘I reached my destination and you too!’ : Chandrayaan-3
19.
August 24, 2023
Chandrayaan-3 rover is made in India. Made for Moon! The Chandrayaan-3 rover descended from Lander, and India took a walk on the Moon!
20.
August 27, 2023
The initial observations from ChaSTE payload onboard the Vikram Lander
21.
August 28, 2023
LIBS confirms the presence of Sulphur(S) on Lunar Surface
22.
August 30, 2023
APXS on-board Ch-3 rover detects the presence of minor element
23.
August 31, 2023
ILSA listens to listens to movements around the landing site
24.
September 4, 2023
The lander and rover in sleep mode. Waiting their awakening on September 22, 2023
25.
September 22, 2023
Effort to establish communication with lander and rover are underway

LANDING SITE OF CHANDRAYAAN-3

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chandrayaan-3 landed on the Moon on August 23, 2023. LROC captured this oblique shot (42° slew angle) of the lander four days later. The dazzling halo around the vehicle was caused by the rocket plume reacting with the fine-grained soil. Visit the ISRO’s Chandrayaan-3 image collection.

MISSION CHALLENGES

  • Lunar Environment: The spacecraft may face difficulties due to the moon’s severe temperatures, lack of atmosphere, and persistent bombardment by micrometeoroids.
  • Thermal issues: The lander and rover are exposed to severe temperatures, ranging from 54°C during the day to -203°C at night.
  • Communication blackouts: The spacecraft may encounter communication blackouts. 
  • Soft landing: The lack of atmosphere makes it harder to slow down, and hot gases and dust from the engines might cause system failure.
  • Lunar dust: The engines produce hot gases and dust to flow in reverse, disrupting systems.
  • Visibility concerns: The rover’s movement is hampered by visibility challenges, stones, and craters on the lunar surface.
  • Power systems and temperature control: There could be problems with the spacecraft’s power systems or temperature control.

REACTION ON CHANDRAYAAN-3

Domestic Reaction:

  • Live stream of Chandrayaan 3’s soft landing on moon got more than 8 million viewers, which making it highest live viewership in history of YouTube.
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi appreciated the ISRO team and announced the name of the point “Shiv Shakti Point” where Chandrayaan is landed. He also declared this day as National Space Day of India.

International Reaction:

  • “Congratulations to ISRO on the successful Chandrayaan-3 lunar South Pole landing! And congratulations to India for becoming the fourth country to successfully soft-land a spacecraft on the Moon. We’re delighted to be your collaborator on this quest!” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson remarked in a post on X (previously Twitter).
  • The European Space Agency’s director general, Josef Aschbacher, described Chandrayaan-3’s smooth landing as “incredible.” The ESA director thanked Isro and the people of India, adding, “What a way to demonstrate new technologies AND achieve India’s first soft landing on another celestial body.” Well done; I am very impressed.”
  • The Russian President thanked India’s President Draupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the successful landing of Chandrayaan 3.
  • The UK Space Agency also thanked India, writing, “History made! Congratulations, @isro #Chandrayaan3.
  • The Prime Minister of Nepal also expressed his congratulations to India on this significant achievement. He wrote on Twitter: “I congratulate Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji and ISRO team of India on successful landing of Chandrayan-3 in the surface of the moon today and unleashing of a historic achievement in science and space technology.”
  • Cindy Pom, a former journalist, said on X, “Kinda crazy when you realise India’s budget for Chandrayaan-3 ($75M) is less than the film Interstellar ($165M)”. This message rapidly drew the attention of many, including SpaceX CEO Elon Musk. “Good for India!” he wrote, along with an emoji.

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