CHANDRAYAAN 3
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| Chandrayaan 3 |
BACKGROUND OF THE CHANDRAYAAN-3 MISSION
Before we head towards the mission “Chandrayaan 3”, we need to
understand the information about its previous mission i.e., “Chandrayaan 1” and
“Chandrayaan 2”. So here is some of the information that I have found and
gathered about the previous Chandrayaan Missions.
CHANDRAYAAN 1:
- It was the first lunar exploration mission conducted by INDIA which was launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
- It was launched on the 22nd of the October, 2008 from SDSC SHAR, Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
- The very main objection of the mission was to conduct a detailed study on the moon’s surface, its mineralogy and on the presence of the water molecules on moon.
- It contained 11 different scientific instruments, including a high-resolution optical camera, an X-ray detector\spectrometer and a Moon Impact Probe (MIC).
- It successfully entered the lunar orbit on 8th of November,2008 and was operated for more than 300 days.
- Chandrayaan 1 successfully discovered the traces of water on the moon’s surface, especially in the polar regions.
- It provided a ton of valuable data on the moon’s topology(surface), mineralogy and the presence of water on the surface of Moon.
CHANDRAYAAN 2:
- Chandrayaan 2 was the second lunar exploration mission conducted by INDIA which was launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
- It was launched on 22nd of July, 2019 from SDSC SHAR, Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
- It has an orbiter, a lander called "Vikram" and a rover named "Pragyan".
- The main objection of the mission was to successfully soft-land the ‘Pragyan’ rover on the surface of the Moon and conduct detailed tests and studies.
- But unfortunately, the lander lost its communication during the process of landing on the surface of the moon and was not able to land successfully on the surface.
- Fortunately, the orbiter of the Chandrayaan 2 continues to function and is providing crucial data about the surface and the atmosphere of the Moon.
ACHIEVEMENTS MADE BY CHANDRAYAAN 1 AND CHANDRAYAAN 2 :
Chandrayaan 1 and Chandrayaan 2 have significantly contributed towards our understanding of the Moon and have put India in the front of World’s face and has the demonstrated India’s space exploration power in front of them. Despite the partial success, Chandrayaan 2 demonstrates the capability of India to attempt complex missions like lunar landings. These missions have provided valuable data for the future missions and paved the path for the Chandrayaan 3.
MISSION OBJECTIVE
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| Lunar Module of Chandrayaan-3 |
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| Pitch and Isometric Views of Chandrayaan 3 |
The major objectives of the Chandrayaan 3 are as follows :
- To illustrate and demonstrate Safe and Soft Landing on the Moon’s Surface.
- Demonstration of Rover roving on the Moon’s Surface.
- To successfully demonstrate the in-situ scientific experiments.
SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS INSTALLED ON CHANDRAYAAN-3
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| Pragyan Rover |
Now, one might also wonder who might one achieve these huge order of
mission objectives:
- Altimeter: Laser and Radio Frequency Based Altimeter
- Accelerometer: Laser Doppler Accelerometer and Lander Horizontal Spe-ed Camera
- Inertia Measurement: Laser Gyroscope Based Inertial Reference and acceleration Package
- Drive System: 800N Dimmable 5 Motors and Fire Electric 444 Navigation, Guidance and Control (NGC) - Powered Descent Trajectory Design and Associated Software Elements
- Hazard Detection and Avoidance: Landing Hazard Detection and Evasion Cameras and Processing Algorithms
- Landing Leg Mechanism
And to
demonstrate the following instruments and prove that they will work in the
Lunar Atmosphere and Surface, the following tests were carried out and
Chandrayaan-3 proved himself successfully in the tests and worked perfectly :
- Integrated hot test
- Integrated cold test
- Lander Leg Mechanism performance test
CHALLENGES FACED BY CHANDRAYAAN-3
As the mission
was not an easy one, indeed the landing of the lander on the Lunar Surface was one of the most difficulty Jobs done by the Indian Space Research
Organization (ISRO). Here one of the major challenges that was faced by
Chandrayaan-3 on its way to the moon :
Soft Landing on the Lunar Surface:
As ISRO Chief before the mission said that the soft landing will
have a duration of 15 minutes which he referred as the “15 minutes of terror”.
The reason behind this statement was Lunar Dust. On the time of Soft Landing,
the lunar module was predicted to get at a freaking speed of 6000 km/hr which was predicted to eventually blast off the Lunar Dust beneath the Module. If the Lunar Dust
were to be blasted off with that speed it could obscure the camera lens which will
trigger faulty readings. And that’s is what hazardous for the mission. We can
see in all the Apollo Missions facing the problems of dust.
UDPATE
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the Chandrayaan-3 mission demonstrates India's continued efforts in space exploration and the country's growing space exploration capabilities. Building on the success of Chandrayaan-1 and Chandrayaan-2, which provide better insights into the Sun's brightness, mineralogy, and water availability, Chandrayaan-3 aims for a safe and soft landing. The lunar rover was demonstrated and scientific experiments were carried out. Scientific instruments installed on Chandrayaan-3, including altimeters, accelerometers, inertial sensors, and sensors, have undergone rigorous testing to ensure they work in sunlight and in space. This tool plays an important role in collecting data and performing tests during the task.
However, this business was not free from difficulties. One of the biggest problems it faced was the landing stage, which requires precise control and orientation due to moon dust. The "15-minute scare" of the landing phase demonstrated the importance of the phase because moon dust could had obscure the camera and affect the mission's success. Despite these challenges, Chandrayaan-3 represented India's determination and ambition to push the boundaries of space exploration and successfully landed on the lunar surface. The mission, supported by the Indian Space Research Authority (ISRO), is to expand our understanding of the moon and pave the way for future research. As we embark on the Chandrayaan-3 mission, we look forward to results and discoveries that will further strengthen our understanding of the solar system and its mysteries.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE REFER MY REFERENCE GIVEN BELOW.