Sriharikota: India is currently getting ready for its next moon mission, Chandrayaan 3. The robotic lunar lander and rover are being put together on the Launch Vehicle Mark 3 rocket at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has shared pictures and a video of the stacking process on Twitter showing that progress is being made towards the missions planned launch on July 14. Chandrayaan 3 is Indias’ third mission in the Chandrayaan program following the successful Chandrayaan 1 – which revealed water ice on the lunar surface – and Chandrayaan 2 which experienced a partial landing failure.
In the first mission, a notable achievement was accomplished as an orbiter and an impactor probe were successfully deployed. However in the subsequent mission, namely Chandrayaan 2 a more remarkable endeavor took place as an orbiter, lander and rover were all included in the expedition. Unfortunately, the lander and rover of Chandrayaan 2 encountered a mishap during their landing attempt. In Chandrayaan 3, the focus shifts to achieving a successful moon landing, as the mission solely includes a lander and rover, omitting an orbiter. The lander and rover carry six scientific instruments that will gather valuable data during their approximately 14-day lunar operation.
In addition to lunar exploration, the mission’s propulsion module is equipped with an instrument designed to study Earth from a distance. This feature aims to contribute to future searches for exoplanets that may harbor conditions suitable for life. Chandrayaan 3’s primary objective, as stated by ISRO officials, is to demonstrate India’s capability in safe lunar landing and roving. Achieving this milestone would mark a significant achievement for India, as only the governments of the Soviet Union, the United States, and China have accomplished soft landings on the moon thus far.
The Chandrayaan 3 mission represents another opportunity for India to advance its lunar exploration endeavors and contribute to scientific knowledge about the moon’s surface and potential resources. With the launch approaching, anticipation is growing for India’s next venture into the realm of lunar exploration.