What is Chandrayaan-3?

Chandrayaan-3 marks India's third mission to the moon, launched on July 14, 2023, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre located in Sriharikota. This spacecraft comprises three essential components: an orbiter, a lander, and a rover.

Orbiter: The orbiter, the largest segment of the spacecraft, was tasked with mapping the lunar surface and executing scientific experiments. It successfully entered lunar orbit on August 5, 2023.

Lander: Named Vikram, the lander was responsible for achieving a soft landing on the lunar surface. Equipped with various sensors and instruments, it adeptly navigated the Moon’s terrain, successfully landing on the lunar south pole on August 23, 2023.

Rover: Known as Pragyan, the rover was designed to conduct experiments on the Moon's surface, utilizing a range of instruments to examine its geology, mineralogy, and atmosphere. Pragyan was deployed from the Vikram lander on August 24, 2023.

Chandrayaan-3 stands as a successful mission, making India the fourth nation to achieve a lunar landing and the first to reach the Moon’s south pole region. It gathered extensive data about the Moon, enhancing our understanding of this celestial body.

Chandrayaan-3 represents a significant milestone in India's space endeavors, showcasing the nation's growing capabilities in space exploration and its dedication to scientific inquiry.

Who is ISRO?

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) serves as India’s national space agency, headquartered in Bengaluru, Karnataka. Established on August 15, 1969, by the Government of India, ISRO aims to develop and utilize space technology for national advancement, while also exploring planetary science and space research.

ISRO has marked several crucial milestones in space exploration, including:

• Launching India's inaugural satellite, Aryabhata, into orbit in 1975.
• Initiating the first Indian lunar mission, Chandrayaan-1, in 2008.
• Successfully landing a spacecraft on the Moon in 2019.
• Conducting India's first interplanetary mission, Mangalyaan, to Mars in 2013.
• Planning the launch of the first Indian crewed spacecraft, Gaganyaan, in 2023.

In addition to these achievements, ISRO engages in various space-related activities, such as:

• Developing satellite-based communication, navigation, and remote sensing systems.
• Providing satellite services for weather forecasting, disaster management, and agriculture.
• Encouraging space science research and education.

ISRO is pivotal to India's technological and economic growth, solidifying the country's status as a leading spacefaring nation.

Key Objectives of ISRO:

• To develop and launch satellites for various applications including communication, navigation, and remote sensing.
• To create launch vehicles for satellite deployment.
• To conduct scientific research in space.
• To promote educational initiatives in space science.
• To offer space-based services to benefit the nation.

ISRO's global reputation as a distinguished space agency stems from its significant contributions to space exploration, reinforcing India's prominence in the field.

Timeline of Chandrayaan-3:

The following timeline outlines key events in the Chandrayaan-3 mission:

• July 6: ISRO announces the launch of Mission Chandrayaan-3 from Sriharikota on July 14.
• July 7: Successful tests of the vehicle's electrical systems.
• July 11: Completion of a comprehensive 24-hour launch rehearsal simulating the entire launch process.
• July 14: Chandrayaan-3 is launched into orbit by the LVM3 M4 rocket.
• July 15: The first orbit-raising maneuver, Earthbound Firing-1, is successfully executed at ISTRAC/ISRO in Bengaluru, achieving an orbit of 41,762 km x 173 km.
• July 17: The spacecraft's second orbit-raising maneuver is completed, placing it in an orbit of 41,603 km x 226 km.
• July 22: After the fourth orbit-raising maneuver, the spacecraft reaches an orbit of 71,351 km x 233 km.
• July 25: A further successful orbit-raising maneuver leads to an orbit of 127,603 km x 236 km.
• August 1: Chandrayaan-3 enters a translunar orbit of 288 km x 369,328 km.
• August 5: The spacecraft successfully achieves lunar orbit with dimensions of 164 km x 18,074 km.
• August 6: The orbit is adjusted to 170 km x 4,313 km.
• August 9: The orbit is refined to 174 km x 1,437 km.
• August 14: The orbit is further optimized to 150 km x 177 km.
• August 16: Following a maneuver, the spacecraft's orbit is established at 153 km x 163 km.
• August 17: The Lander Module separates successfully from the Propulsion Module, with a de-boosting scheduled for August 18, 2023.
• August 19: The Lander Module is placed in a 113 km x 157 km orbit around the Moon, with a second de-boosting planned for August 20, 2023.
• August 20: The Lander Module reaches a 25 km x 134 km orbit, with powered descent set for August 23, 2023, around 17:45 IST.
• August 23, 2023: "I have reached my destination, and so have you!"—Chandrayaan-3 successfully soft-lands on the Moon. Congratulations, India!

(Source of timeline: ISRO Website)