On July 14, 2023, India achieved a successful launch of Chandrayaan-3, its third lunar mission. The event took place at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, with the spacecraft being launched aboard the LVM3 M4, also known as the Launch Vehicle Mark-3. This launch vehicle, developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), was formerly recognised as the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III or GSLV Mk III
Featuring a three-stage configuration, the LVM3 is a medium-lift launch vehicle primarily designed for deploying communication satellites into geostationary orbit. Additionally, it is poised to play a role in launching crewed missions as part of the Indian Human Spaceflight Programme. Notably, the LVM3 surpasses its predecessor, GSLV, in terms of payload capacity
The propulsion module of Chandrayaan-3 is tasked with transporting the lander and rover configuration to a lunar orbit of 100 km. This module is characterised by its box-like design, featuring a single large solar panel affixed to one side, and atop it rests a sizeable cylinder known as the Inter-Modular Adapter Cone. This cone serves as a foundational element for mounting the lander
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At the time of its launch on July 14, the propulsion module was loaded with 1,696.4 kg of fuel. It played a critical role in executing essential functions, which encompassed five manoeuvres while Chandrayaan-3 was in Earth’s orbit, followed by an additional five manoeuvres around the Moon after trans-lunar injection (TLI). These operational activities unfolded from July 15 to August 17
The primary role of the Vikram lander entails accomplishing a gentle touchdown on the lunar surface. Its design mimics a box shape and is equipped with four landing legs as well as four landing thrusters, each generating a force of 800 newtons
Vikram lander will transport the rover alongside an array of scientific instruments, enabling on-site analyses to take place. Notably, the Chandrayaan-3 lander stands out with its employment of four adjustable engines, featuring thrust valve slew rate alteration capabilities. This is different from the Chandrayaan-2's Vikram lander, which incorporated five 800 Newton engines, including a central one with fixed thrust
Named "Pragyan," a term signifying "wisdom" in Sanskrit, this robotic vehicle is designed with a specific focus on gathering essential lunar data. The rover can operate for the duration of a single lunar day, which is approximately 14 days on Earth. Its expertise lies in the detailed examination of the Moon's surface and carries two significant payloads
Equipped with six wheels, the rover possesses the capability to travel 500 meters across the lunar terrain, moving at a pace of 1 cm per second. During its exploration, it will conduct direct analyses and will transmit gathered data to the Vikram lander, which will subsequently relay the information to the Earth station
These individual components of Chandrayaan-3 mission also has several payloads on them. A payload refers to the specialised scientific or technological instruments carried on board a satellite to fulfil designated objectives. These payloads exhibit diversity in terms of their intended function, dimensions, composition, and capabilities
The Spectro-polarimetry of Habitable Planet Earth (SHAPE) installed on the propulsion module aims to investigate Earth's spectral and polarimetric attributes from lunar orbit within the near-infrared (NIR) wavelength span of 1 to 1.7 μm
The Vikram lander has a payload known as Chandra's Surface Thermophysical Experiment (ChaSTE). It is dedicated to gauging the thermal conductivity and temperature of the lunar surface. Additionally, the Instrument for Lunar Seismic Activity (ILSA) is geared towards assessing seismic events in the vicinity of the landing location. Moreover, the Langmuir Probe (LP) is tasked with determining plasma density and its fluctuations
The Alpha Particle X-Ray Spectrometer (APXS) on the Pragyan Rover is designed to extract the chemical composition and deduce the mineralogical makeup of the lunar surface. Concurrently, the Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscope (LIBS) is tasked with ascertaining the elemental composition (including Mg, Al, Si, K, Ca, Ti, Fe) of lunar soil and rocks present in the vicinity of the lunar landing site
The Chandrayaan-3 is scheduled for August 23, to make a soft landing on Moon’s South Pole. The landing will be around 6:04 PM and the event will be live streamed on ISRO’s website and social media handles