Chandrayaan-3 Landing: India is on the brink of making history with the Chandrayaan-3 mission, as it prepares to land on the moon in the next few hours. On the evening of August 23, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will attempt a soft landing of its lander module on the lunar surface, and if successful, a rover could unveil numerous lunar mysteries over the coming days, marking a significant achievement for India.
Before the landing, let's recap what has transpired in India's lunar mission so far.
It Started India's second lunar mission, Chandrayaan-2, faced an unsuccessful soft landing in 2019. Following this setback, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) embarked on preparations for a third mission.
It was announced that the next lunar mission could launch in 2023, with a budget of approximately 615 crore rupees.
On July 6, 2023, ISRO announced that Chandrayaan-3 would be launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, on July 14, 2023, at around 2:35 PM.
Until July 11, ISRO scientists meticulously prepared for the mission, culminating in a successful "launch rehearsal" on that day.
The entire nation and the world had their eyes fixed on the launch. On July 14, at precisely 2:35 PM, Chandrayaan-3 was launched from Sriharikota. As it roared into the sky, it headed towards the moon, leaving spectators in awe.
Entry into Lunar Orbit Following the launch, Chandrayaan-3 entered the moon's orbit on August 5. Before separating the propulsion module from the lander module, it was lowered into the lunar orbit on August 6, 9, 14, and 16.
This gradual approach allowed it to come closer to the moon's surface. On August 17, the lander module separated from the propulsion module.
Now, all eyes are on the critical soft landing attempt scheduled for August 23. The entire nation is hopeful and excited as India reaches closer to achieving yet another milestone in its space exploration endeavors.
Stay tuned for the latest updates on Chandrayaan-3's historic mission.
Before attempting to land the lander module on the moon, ISRO conducted a de-boosting procedure to reduce the lander module's speed. Now, on August 23, at approximately 6 PM, ISRO will make the critical attempt for a soft landing. This historic moment will be broadcast live.
Rover's Mission After Soft Landing Following a successful soft landing on the lunar surface, the lander module, named Vikram, will deploy the rover, known as Pragyan. The rover will traverse the lunar terrain, commencing its mission.
Once released from the lander module, the rover will begin its exploration on the lunar surface. It will spend one lunar day, which is equivalent to 14 Earth days, conducting various scientific experiments and examinations. The rover will carry out a wide range of scientific tests on behalf of ISRO, potentially uncovering deep lunar secrets.
Chandrayaan-3 is set to land on the lunar south pole, an area that remains relatively unexplored and about which there is limited information. This strategic choice is based on the potential for groundbreaking discoveries.
Successful landing and rover exploration in this region could yield valuable insights into lunar geology, mineralogy, and possibly even the presence of water ice, which has significant implications for future lunar missions and space exploration endeavors.
As India inches closer to this monumental achievement in space exploration, the excitement and anticipation are palpable. The entire nation is eagerly awaiting the live broadcast of this historic moment.
Chandrayaan-3's mission promises to not only enhance our understanding of the moon but also pave the way for future space exploration endeavors.