The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) embarked on the Chandrayaan-3 mission, aiming to achieve a soft landing on the Moon. The launch took place on Thursday, July 14, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota at 2.35 PM IST. If successful, India will join an exclusive group of countries that have accomplished this feat, including the United States, the Soviet Union, and China. The Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft has now entered orbit around the Earth, beginning its journey towards the Moon. Here are the live updates on the mission’s progress.
Launch Details and Objectives: The Chandrayaan-3 mission utilizes the Launch Vehicle Mark-III (LVM-3), ISRO’s most powerful rocket. It follows the Chandrayaan-2 mission, which encountered a landing failure in 2019. The primary objective of Chandrayaan-3 is to achieve a soft landing on the lunar surface, demonstrating India’s capability in lunar exploration. The mission aims to gather scientific data and conduct experiments to advance our understanding of the Moon and its resources.
Critical Events and Challenges: The Chandrayaan-3 mission involves several crucial events, including earth-bound maneuvers, insertion into the lunar orbit, separation of the lander, deboost maneuvers, and the power descent phase for a soft landing. These stages require precise calculations, quick maneuvers, and autonomous corrections to ensure a successful lunar landing. One of the challenges is the absence of GPS on the Moon, making it more challenging to land precisely at the predetermined safe landing area.
Live Updates:
- The Chandrayaan-3 mission successfully launched from Sriharikota at 2.35 PM IST, as scheduled.
- The LVM-3 rocket injected the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft into the intended orbit around the Earth.
- The S200 solid boosters, payload fairing, and core stage separated from the rocket as planned.
- The liquid stages, including L110 core stage and CE25 cryogenic stage, ignited as part of the launch sequence.
- Propellant loading for the liquid L110 stage has been completed, and loading for the cryogenic C25 stage is ongoing.
- The spacecraft will undergo a series of maneuvers over the next 42 days to prepare for its descent onto the lunar surface.
- The Chandrayaan-3 mission will land near the Moon’s south pole, which poses unique challenges due to extreme cold temperatures and the presence of craters.
- The lander, rover, and propulsion module carry scientific payloads to collect important data and measurements during the mission.
Importance of Lunar Exploration: Lunar missions play a vital role in advancing scientific knowledge and exploring the Moon’s potential resources. The Chandrayaan-3 mission aligns with global efforts to return to the Moon, with NASA’s Artemis program aiming to send humans back by 2024. The Moon’s south pole, the targeted landing site for Chandrayaan-3, holds valuable scientific information and resources that could aid future missions to Mars and beyond.
The launch of the Chandrayaan-3 mission signifies India’s continued pursuit of lunar exploration and its aspiration to achieve a soft landing on the Moon. The mission faces challenges in navigating the critical stages of descent and landing. Successful execution would establish India as a significant player in space exploration and further our understanding of the Moon’s composition and resources. The scientific data gathered by Chandrayaan-3 will contribute to ongoing research and pave the way for future space missions.