India has successfully launched its third lunar exploration mission, Chandrayaan-3, on July 14, 2023. The mission aims to land a spacecraft near the south pole of the Moon, a region that has not been explored by any other country before. If successful, India will join the elite club of nations that have achieved a soft landing on the lunar surface, after the US, the former Soviet Union and China.
## What is Chandrayaan-3?
Chandrayaan-3 is the third in India's series of lunar missions, following Chandrayaan-1 in 2008 and Chandrayaan-2 in 2019. The word Chandrayaan means "moon vehicle" in Sanskrit. The mission consists of two components: a lander and a rover. The lander is named Vikram, after the founder of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), and the rover is named Pragyaan, which means "wisdom" in Sanskrit.
The lander and the rover are similar to those of Chandrayaan-2, but without an orbiter. Instead, the propulsion module of Chandrayaan-3 will act as a communication relay satellite between the lander-rover and the Earth. The lander weighs about 1,500 kg and carries within its belly the 26 kg rover. The rover has six wheels and can travel up to 500 meters on the lunar surface. It is equipped with cameras, sensors and instruments to study the lunar soil, rocks and environment.
## Why is it important?
Chandrayaan-3 is important for several reasons. First, it is a demonstration of India's technological prowess and scientific ambition in space exploration. India is one of the few countries in the world that have developed indigenous capabilities to launch satellites and spacecraft to various orbits and destinations. Chandrayaan-3 is also a testament to India's resilience and determination to overcome challenges and failures. The mission comes after the unsuccessful landing attempt of Chandrayaan-2 in 2019, which crashed due to a glitch in the braking system. ISRO has learned from that experience and improved the design and performance of Chandrayaan-3.
Second, Chandrayaan-3 is important for advancing our knowledge and understanding of the Moon. The mission's focus on the south pole region of the Moon is significant because it is a largely unexplored area that holds great scientific potential. The south pole is believed to have more craters than other parts of the Moon, which could preserve ancient material from the early history of the solar system. The south pole also has permanently shadowed regions that could contain water ice and other resources that could be useful for future human exploration and settlement.
Third, Chandrayaan-3 is important for enhancing India's international cooperation and reputation in space. The mission has received support and assistance from various countries and agencies, such as France, Japan, NASA and ESA. The mission also showcases India's willingness to share its space assets and data with other countries for peaceful purposes. For example, Chandrayaan-3 will carry a laser retroreflector array provided by NASA, which will help measure the precise distance between the Earth and the Moon.
## What are the challenges?
Chandrayaan-3 faces several challenges in its journey to the Moon. The first challenge is to launch successfully from Earth and enter a precise orbit around the Moon. The launch vehicle for Chandrayaan-3 is the GSLV Mk III, India's most powerful rocket, which can carry up to 4 tonnes of payload to geostationary orbit or 10 tonnes to low Earth orbit. The rocket has performed four successful flights so far, but it still needs to prove its reliability and consistency.
The second challenge is to perform a soft landing on the lunar surface. This is one of the most difficult and complex maneuvers in space exploration, as it requires precise navigation, guidance and control systems to slow down the spacecraft from orbital speed to zero speed within minutes, while avoiding obstacles and hazards on the ground. Only three countries have achieved this feat so far: the US (with Apollo and Surveyor missions), the former Soviet Union (with Luna missions) and China (with Chang'e missions).
The third challenge is to operate and communicate with the lander-rover on the Moon for at least 14 Earth days (one lunar day). This requires adequate power supply, thermal control, data transmission and fault tolerance systems to ensure that the spacecraft can survive and function in the harsh lunar environment. The temperature on the Moon can vary from -173°C to 127°C depending on day or night cycles. The radiation levels are also higher than on Earth due to lack of atmosphere.
## What are the expectations?
Chandrayaan-3 is expected to achieve several scientific and technological objectives. The main objective is to demonstrate a soft landing and roving capability on the Moon, which will pave the way for future missions to explore and exploit the lunar resources. The secondary objective is to conduct scientific experiments and observations on the lunar surface, especially in the south pole region. The lander-rover will collect and analyze samples of lunar soil and rocks, measure the temperature and seismic activity, detect the presence and distribution of water and minerals, and study the plasma environment and solar wind interactions.
Chandrayaan-3 is also expected to inspire and educate the next generation of scientists, engineers and explorers in India and around the world. The mission will generate public interest and awareness about the importance and benefits of space exploration. It will also foster a culture of innovation and curiosity among the youth, who will be motivated to pursue careers and opportunities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields.
Chandrayaan-3 is a historic and ambitious mission that reflects India's vision and aspiration to become a leading space-faring nation. It is a mission that will not only advance our knowledge of the Moon, but also our understanding of ourselves and our place in the universe.
References:
[1] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-66185565
[2] https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/13/india/chandrayaan-3-moon-mission-launch-intl-hnk-scn/index.html
[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chandrayaan-3
[4] https://www.msn.com/en-in/video/other/know-live-location-of-chandrayaan-3/ar-AA1dYuED
[5] https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/science/chandrayaan-3-to-explore-possibility-of-human-settlement-on-moon-science-minister-jitendra-singh/articleshow/101830034.cms
[6] https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/science/chandrayaan-3-mission-successfully-completes-second-orbiting-raising-maneuver/story