Chandrayaan-3: India's Moon Mission Set to Launch Today
Chandrayaan-3: India's Moon Mission Set to Launch Today
Introduction:
India's Chandrayaan-3, the third edition of its moon mission, is ready to embark on a historic journey. Scheduled for launch on July 14 at 2:35 pm from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, this mission holds great significance for the scientific community and Indians worldwide. With improvements from its predecessor, Chandrayaan-2, this mission aims to achieve a successful landing on the lunar surface. In this article, we delve into the details of the Chandrayaan-3 mission and its significance.
Key Details of Chandrayaan-3:
1. Follow-up Mission: Chandrayaan-3 is a follow-up mission after the crash-landing of Chandrayaan-2 in 2019. ISRO has incorporated several improvements to ensure a successful outcome this time. The mission is expected to reach the Moon on August 23, with the landing being a critical phase.
2. Objective and Components: Chandrayaan-3 comprises an indigenous propulsion module, lander module, and rover. Its primary objective is to develop and demonstrate new technologies required for inter-planetary missions. The propulsion module will carry the lander and rover from the injection orbit to a lunar orbit of 100 km. Additionally, it carries the Spectro-polarimetry of Habitable Planetary Earth (SHAPE) payload to study earth from the lunar orbit.
3. Elite Club of Nations: A successful mission will position India among an elite group of nations that have achieved a lunar landing. The United States, China, and the former Soviet Union are the other countries that have accomplished this remarkable feat.
4. Potential for Space Science Development: Former ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan stated that a successful landing by Chandrayaan-3 would make India the fourth nation to achieve this milestone. He emphasized that it would enhance India's potential in the global space business, where its current share stands at a modest 2% of the $600 billion industry.
5. Failure-based Design: In contrast to Chandrayaan-2, which followed a success-based design, Chandrayaan-3 focuses on a failure-based design approach. ISRO's emphasis lies on identifying potential failure points and implementing measures to protect them, ensuring a successful landing.
6. Lander and Rover Configuration: Unlike Chandrayaan-2, which consisted of a lander, rover, and an orbiter, Chandrayaan-3 will launch with only a lander and a rover. The mission will utilize the existing orbiter from Chandrayaan-2 for communications and terrain mapping purposes.
7. Enhanced Landing Capabilities: The Chandrayaan-3 lander is equipped with "lander hazard detection and avoidance cameras" to facilitate coordination with the orbiter and mission control during the landing process. The landing area has also been expanded to four km by 2.5 km, offering more flexibility in choosing the landing site based on performance and conditions.
Conclusion:
As the launch of Chandrayaan-3 draws near, India eagerly awaits another momentous milestone in its space exploration journey. The mission's success will not only propel India into an elite club of lunar landing achievers but also open doors for further advancements in space science. With improved design and technologies, Chandrayaan-3 is poised to inspire and captivate the nation as it explores the mysteries of the Moon.
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