India’s Chandrayaan-3 Makes Historic Moon Landing, Advances Lunar Exploration
ISRO’s Lunar Mission Overcomes Challenges, Opens New Avenues for Research and Exploration
Varun Mourya
Hyderabad,August 23,2023
India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission has achieved a remarkable feat by successfully landing near the Moon’s South Pole, marking a significant milestone for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The spacecraft embarked on its journey from Sriharikota on July 14 and completed a 40-day voyage, culminating in a safe landing at 70 degrees latitude on the Moon at 6:40 PM.
Learning from Setbacks
Chandrayaan-3 reflects ISRO’s commitment to learning from past technical setbacks, particularly those encountered during Chandrayaan-2. This mission was meticulously designed with a robust approach, incorporating lessons from failure-based analyses to address potential disruptions.
Precision Landing
The lander module of Chandrayaan-3 demonstrated precision by pre-identifying a suitable landing area measuring 4 km long and 2.4 km wide near the lunar South Pole, ensuring a safe and level landing surface. It was equipped with seven advanced instruments, making Chandrayaan-3 the first human-made probe to successfully land on the Moon’s South Pole.
Three Ambitious Objectives
ISRO outlined three primary objectives for Chandrayaan-3: achieving a soft landing on the Moon’s South Pole, deploying and navigating the rover on the lunar regolith (the Moon’s surface), and conducting crucial research on the Moon’s surface using both the lander and rover.
Addressing Past Challenges
To ensure a successful soft landing, Chandrayaan-3’s lander was equipped with state-of-the-art technologies that addressed technical issues faced during Chandrayaan-2. The mission involved three key components: the propulsion module, the lander, and the rover. Importantly, Chandrayaan-3 excluded an orbiter, which continues to orbit the Moon from Chandrayaan-2. Instead, it featured a propulsion module equipped with SHAPE (Spectro Polarometry of Habitable Planetary Earth), an instrument designed to detect spectropolarimetric signatures from potentially Earth-like planets.
Crucial Role of the Propulsion Module
The propulsion module played a pivotal role in carrying the lander and rovers to an altitude of 100 kilometers above the lunar surface. Fuel from the time Chandrayaan-3 entered Earth’s orbit on July 14 was utilized until the lander module reached its designated altitude on the Moon. The propulsion module, weighing 2145 kg, contained 1696 kg of fuel alone.
Searching for Earth-Like Planets
In a remarkable dual role, the propulsion module was enhanced with SHAPE, allowing it to orbit the Moon and search for Earth-like planets in distant parts of the universe. SHAPE studied near-infrared wavelengths in the 1 to 1.7 micrometer range to identify potential candidates. ISRO expects this instrument to continue orbiting the Moon for three to six months, transmitting collected information to the Indian Deep Space Network.
The Crucial Chandrayaan Lander Module
The Chandrayaan Lander Module, comprising both the lander and rovers, is central to the mission’s success. Upon touchdown near the Moon’s South Pole, their operational lifespan matched one lunar day, approximately 14 Earth days, covering the duration from sunrise to sunset on the Moon.
Lander Module Features
The Chandrayaan-3 lander measured two meters in length, two meters in width, stood at a height of one meter and 116 centimeters, and weighed 1749 kg. Its primary role lay in communication, serving as the vital link between the emerging rover and the orbiter launched during Chandrayaan-2. It communicated directly with the Indian Deep Space Network near Bangalore, a network utilized by previous space probes such as Chandrayaan One and Mangalyaan.
Advanced Scientific Payloads
The lander module was equipped with critical payloads, including the Radio Anatomy of Moon Bound Hypersensitive Ionosphere and Atmosphere (Rambha), instrumental in studying lunar plasma density and monitoring variations in ions and electrons over time. The Chandra’s Surface Thermophysical Experiment investigated the thermal properties of the lunar surface at the South Pole, while the Instrument for Lunar Seismic Activity (ILSA) studied seismic activity at the landing site, crucial for understanding the lunar crust and mantle.
Reliable Power Supply
To ensure uninterrupted power supply, the lander was equipped with both batteries and solar panels installed on three sides, with a ramp positioned on the fourth side to enable the rover’s safe exit.
Multifaceted Mission Objectives
Chandrayaan-3’s mission objectives encompassed scientific research, communication, and laying the groundwork for future lunar exploration, marking a pivotal step in India’s space endeavors.
The Role of the Pragyan Rover
The rover module, known as Pragyan, played a central role in both Chandrayaan-2 and Chandrayaan-3 missions. After the successful soft landing of the lander on lunar terrain, the rover emerged to explore and conduct experiments. If successful, Pragyan would earn India the distinction of being the first nation to achieve this feat at the Moon’s South Pole.
Rover Specifications
Weighing a mere 26 kg, the Chandrayaan-3 rover featured six wheels, a battery, and a solar panel for power generation. Measuring 91.7 cm in length, 75 cm in width, and 39.7 cm in height, the rover’s communication capabilities were limited to the lander, which then relayed data to the Indian Deep Space Network on Earth.
Cutting-Edge Instruments
The rover was equipped with two crucial instruments: the Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscope (LIBS), used to identify elements and analyze their properties on the lunar surface, and the Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS), designed to detect abundant chemical compounds in lunar soil and rocks.
Operational Constraints
The rover’s operational lifespan was limited to 14 days due to its reliance on electricity generated through solar panels. ISRO planned to time the lander module’s descent to coincide with lunar sunrise at the South Pole, optimizing power generation.
A Commitment to Lunar Exploration
Chandrayaan-3’s experiments and data hold significant importance, particularly for future manned space missions to the Moon, underscoring India’s unwavering commitment to space exploration.
