India, on the verge of embarking upon an exciting new lunar journey, finds itself standing at the precipice of exploration. The distinguished Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has unveiled its forthcoming enterprise – the highly anticipated mission named Chandrayaan-3.
As India embarks on its third lunar journey, this remarkable venture signifies the flawless progression from the triumphant Chandrayaan-2 mission.
Through this mission, ISRO is attempting a ‘soft landing’ on the moon. Until now, the exclusive accomplishment of achieving a gentle touchdown on the lunar surface has been limited to three nations: Russia, America, and China.
ISRO has also announced that the solar mission Aditya-L1 will be launched by the end of August this year. However, most of the discussion is about Chandrayaan-3.
What necessitates the launch of Chandrayaan-3? How does its budget align, and what profound aspirations underscore this mission?
When Is Chandrayaan-3 Being Launched?
In a momentous achievement, on the 14th of July, 2023, India attained a remarkable milestone. None could have pulled off the immaculate inauguration of the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft but the venerable Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), unveiling their unparalleled mastery in the realm of cosmic voyages.
Set to touch down on the lunar south pole next month, this remarkable mission will position India as the fourth nation to achieve a triumphant lunar landing. The significance of the south pole lies in its allure to researchers due to the potential presence of water ice, a vital resource for sustaining future human exploration endeavors on the moon.
Transcending its scientific connotations, the Chandrayaan-3 endeavor emerges as a distinct and awe-inspiring feat of technology by ISRO, showcasing an exquisite suite of avant-garde apparatus. Encompassed within are a spectrometer, a camera, and a radar altimeter, synergistically orchestrating a meticulous examination of the lunar terrain, furnishing vital lunar environment data.
Such an extraordinary achievement not only fortifies India’s eminence in the global space race but also kindles an empowering catalyst, igniting boundless inspiration among countless young Indians to ardently pursue careers in the realms of science and engineering.
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What Is Chandrayaan-3 Mission?
Chandrayaan-3 launch cost is around Rs 615 crore. ISRO has three objectives for its mission. Chandrayaan-3’s unique mission objectives are:
1. Perform a safe ‘soft landing’ on the lunar surface.
2. Launch a lunar rover (lunar vehicle) for exploration.
3. Conduct experiments on the lunar surface.
Much like its precursor, Chandrayaan-2, Chandrayaan-3 will encompass a lander designed for a gentle touchdown and a rover dedicated to investigating the lunar terrain.
So far, India’s space research agency ISRO has attempted a soft landing on the moon through Chandrayaan-2. But, the Vikram lander crash-landed on the lunar surface. Learning from this, ISRO has made changes in the design of Chandrayaan-3.
IANS has published a report that the current lander and rover may be given the same names as the previous lander Vikram and rover Pragyan. In this mission, we will test chemicals, soil, and water molecules on the moon, providing us an opportunity to gain more knowledge about it. To detect moon tremors, various instruments, including a seismometer, are being sent to the existing spacecraft. They will help us study the moon’s atmosphere and surface temperature.
The SHAP instrument, known as Spectropolarimetry of the Habitable Planet Earth, could potentially allow us to study Earth while orbiting the moon. Many other new things can be learned about Earth as a result of this mission.
Why Is The Chandrayaan-3 Mission Important?
Chandrayaan-3 moon mission holds profound importance, not just for India but also for the global scientific community. A new lander is being sent to areas where no one has reached the moon.
Through this, we will get a chance to know more details about the moon. This knowledge will benefit upcoming Moon and planetary missions.
What Notable Accomplishments Did ISRO Achieve In The Chandrayaan-1 And Chandrayaan-2 Missions?
Chandrayaan is India’s third launch under the ‘Indian Lunar Exploration Programme’ by ISRO. In 2008, India launched its first lunar mission named Chandrayaan One.
It placed a lunar impact probe into the moon’s orbit, but one of its spacecraft crash-landed at Jawahar Point on the Moon’s surface. This mission made India the fourth country to plant its flag on the moon. However, communication with Chandrayaan-1 was lost 312 days after its launch.
At the time, India’s space research agency ISRO announced that 95 percent of the mission’s set goals had been achieved. Experts labeled this achievement a significant milestone in the Chandrayaan launch.
While India’s second moon mission Chandrayaan-2 detected water molecules on the moon. On 22 July 2019, ten years after India’s first mission, ISRO launched the Vikram lander and the Pragyan rover through the Chandrayaan-2 mission.
Vikram lost contact with the lander during a lunar landing attempt on September 6, 2019. Later, NASA found the wreckage of the lander three months after the incident. Despite the failure of the Vikram lander, India’s spacecraft continues to orbit the moon and provide valuable information about its atmosphere. Now Chandrayaan-3 is ready to complete this mission.
What Are Artemis Accords?
As countries race to explore the moon, India joins others in preparing for their own unique missions. Prominent among these efforts is the Artemis program spearheaded by NASA, the American space agency. Artemis One, a pioneering spacecraft, has already completed a successful mission, traveling to the Moon and safely returning to Earth.
In addition to NASA’s lunar ambitions, a captivating array of nations such as Japan, South Korea, China, and Russia share an ardent curiosity for venturing into the enchanting realm of the moon. They are actively pursuing their lunar projects, and some even collaborate with the European Union.
To ensure smooth coordination of these missions and to promote peaceful exploration and use of resources on the moon, Mars, and other celestial bodies, NASA and the US State Department created the Artemis Accords.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently visited the US and officially signed the Artemis Accords with the United States. This shows that India is dedicated to global space exploration for peaceful reasons.
Why Do These Countries Care So Much About Moon Experiments?
Some experts view it as a space race, while others see it as a display of advanced technology to the world. India may be getting involved because it wants to compete with China. In an ambitious endeavor, China envisions an extraordinary series of lunar missions, featuring the remarkable Changi Six, Changi Seven, and Changi Eight.
Exciting missions will happen with Russia, symbolizing a new era of space exploration. China’s ambitious plans include creating a groundbreaking research station on the moon, showcasing its leadership in space exploration and resource usage.
But besides the competition, these moon missions are important for future voyages to other planets, such as Mars. Dr. Lucinda King from the University of Portsmouth explained that it requires less fuel to send spacecraft from the moon to far-off destinations compared to launching from Earth.
What Is India’s Solar Mission Aditya L One?
Chandrayaan-3 is not India’s only major space mission launched this year. India’s Space Research Organization (ISRO) will send a spacecraft called Aditya L-One to study the Sun.
India is set to embark on its inaugural solar mission, marking a significant milestone. Positioned at a remarkable distance of 1.5 million kilometers from Earth, the spacecraft will closely observe our radiant star, the Sun.
Known as the anchorage point or L-one, it represents the remarkable equilibrium achieved between the gravitational forces of the Sun and Earth. Aditya L-One’s core mission is centered on a comprehensive exploration of the Sun, delving into its outer surface, chromosphere, corona, gravitational field, and solar wind.
Until now, the exclusive authority over dispatching probe missions to the Sun rested solely with NASA, the German Aerospace Center, and the European Space Agency.