Current Affairs

MISSION CHANDRAYAAN-3

by | Sep 6, 2023

Launch and Mission:

  • ISRO launched Chandrayaan-3 on July 14, 2023, marking India’s third lunar mission.
  • Successfully achieved a soft landing near the lunar South Pole on August 23, 2023.
  • Mission objectives were threefold: demonstrate safe lunar landing, rover mobility, and on-site experiments.

Achievements:

  • Chandrayaan-3 successfully executed a soft landing in the vicinity of the lunar South Pole.
  • India became the fourth country to successfully achieve a soft lunar landing.

Launch Details:

  • Chandrayaan-3 was launched by LVM3 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.

Module Composition:

  • The spacecraft consisted of three modules: Propulsion (PM), Lander (Vikram), and Rover (Pragyan).

Slingshot Maneuver:

  • Ingenious technique: spacecraft circled Earth multiple times, leveraging its gravity to gain speed.
  • This reduced the need for excessive fuel, optimising the mission’s efficiency.

Lunar Approach:

  • Entered lunar orbit and progressively neared the moon using a series of planned orbits.

Landing and Rover Deployment:

  • Lander successfully executed a soft landing near the lunar South Pole.
  • Rover named Pragyan was deployed to explore the moon’s surface for 14 Earth days.

Payloads:

  • Propulsion Module: Carried SHAPE payload for Earth measurements from lunar orbit.
  • Lander Module: Equipped with ChaSTE (thermal conductivity), ILSA (seismic activity), and LP (plasma density) payloads.
  • Rover: Held APXS (elemental composition) and LIBS (spectroscopy) payloads for surface analysis.

Significance and Future Impact:

  • Chandrayaan-3 showcases ISRO’s dedication to advancing lunar exploration.
  • The gathered data is expected to contribute to NASA’s Artemis program under the Artemis Accord as India is also signatory to Artemis Accord.

Written By Vishakha Khatri

My name is Vishakha Khatri. I am an engineering graduate and a civil service aspirant with a passion for spreading knowledge about Indian polity. I believe that understanding our political system is crucial for every citizen, and I am committed to making this information accessible to everyone in my own easy way. Through my experiences in civil service preparation and my unique perspective as an engineering graduate, I hope to inspire and educate others on the importance of Indian polity.

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