India successfully launches Chandrayaan-3 on its second attempt to soft land on the Moon
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the Chandrayaan-3 mission on Friday, July 14, 2023, at 2:35 pm IST from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. The spacecraft was launched by the Launch Vehicle Mark-III (LVM3) and is expected to soft land on the Moon on August 23 or 24.
Chandrayaan-3 is a follow-on mission to Chandrayaan-2, which was India's first attempt to soft land on the Moon. The Chandrayaan-2 mission was successful in reaching the Moon, but the lander Vikram lost contact with the ground station during the final descent.
The Chandrayaan-3 mission is carrying a lander and rover, which will be used to study the lunar surface. The lander, called Vikram, is equipped with four scientific payloads to study the lunar surface and atmosphere. The rover, called Pragyan, is equipped with two scientific payloads to study the lunar surface composition and mineralogy.
The successful launch of Chandrayaan-3 is a major milestone for India's space program. If the mission is successful, India will become the fourth country to soft land on the Moon, after the United States, the Soviet Union, and China.
The launch of Chandrayaan-3 was watched live by millions of people across India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted his congratulations to the ISRO team, saying that the launch was "a proud moment for India."
The success of Chandrayaan-3 is a major boost for India's space program and will help to position India as a leading player in the global space race. The mission is also expected to generate significant scientific knowledge about the Moon, which will help to advance our understanding of the Earth's nearest neighbor.
About Chandrayaan-3
Chandrayaan-3 is a lunar exploration mission by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The mission consists of a lander, a rover, and a propulsion module. The lander, called Vikram, will soft-land on the Moon's surface. The rover, called Pragyan, will explore the lunar surface from the lander. The propulsion module will carry the lander and rover to the Moon.
The main objectives of Chandrayaan-3 are to:
- Demonstrate safe and soft landing on the lunar surface.
- Demonstrate rover roving on the moon.
- Conduct in-situ scientific experiments.
The Chandrayaan-3 mission is scheduled to launch on July 14, 2023, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, India. The lander is expected to soft-land on the Moon on August 23 or 24, 2023.
Scientific payloads
The Chandrayaan-3 mission is carrying a number of scientific payloads, including:
- Vikram lander: The Vikram lander is carrying four scientific payloads:
- Moon Impact Probe (MIP): The MIP will measure the physical properties of the lunar surface before the lander touches down.
- Terrain Mapping Camera (TMC): The TMC will create a high-resolution map of the lunar surface around the landing site.
- Laser Retroreflector Array (LRRR): The LRRR will be used to measure the distance between the Moon and Earth.
- Surface Electric Sounder (SES): The SES will study the electrical properties of the lunar surface.
- Pragyan rover: The Pragyan rover is carrying two scientific payloads:
- Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS): The APXS will identify the chemical composition of the lunar surface.
- Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS): The LIBS will identify the mineral composition of the lunar surface.
Significance of the mission
The Chandrayaan-3 mission is significant for a number of reasons. First, it will demonstrate India's capability to soft-land on the Moon. Second, it will allow India to conduct in-situ scientific experiments on the lunar surface. Third, the mission will help to advance our understanding of the Moon.
The success of the Chandrayaan-3 mission will be a major boost for India's space program. It will also help to position India as a leading player in the global space race.