On Friday, July 14th, 2023, India’s Chandrayaan-3 has been launched into space with the hopes of exploring the South Pole of the Moon. India has been working towards this launch for about 6 decades with 2 partially successful attempts but there is a strong belief among scientists that this one is going to be a complete success. In this article, we will discuss the key details of the Chandrayaan including the launch, objectives, and the rover.

The Chandrayaan-3 was launched at 2:35pm IST on Friday, July 14th, 2023 from Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota, Andra Pradesh, India. Scientists made sure that the rocket was placed with precise measurements to ensure that it follows the right trajectory towards the Moon. They studied the solar system and determined the distance between the Earth and the Moon to be around 384,400 kilometers. Scientists have accordingly programmed the rover to make a soft landing on the Moon’s surface.

The Chandrayaan-3 was initially funded with an estimated 90 million US dollars plus tax. The current Director of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Mr. S. Somanath is very happy and satisfied with the successful launch of Chandrayaan-3. He said that the launch was a major milestone for India’s space program.

The Chandrayaan-3’s three main objectives are to achieve a safe and gentle landing, demonstrate the rover’s ability to move around on the Moon’s surface, and conduct on-site scientific observations of the soil, water, and other natural elements present. These measurements will help scientists better comprehend the composition of the moon. ISRO representatives also say that they are trying to find future discoveries of smaller planets in reflected light that would allow us to probe into a variety of Exo-planets that would qualify for habitability (or for the presence of life).

After the Chandrayaan-3 reaches the moon, it will deploy its rover which is calculated to land right on the Moon. All of the other unnecessary parts of the spacecraft will fall into the ocean making no impact on any land. The rover has many features that can help scientists back in India learn more about the Moon. For example, it has a six-wheeled design with a weight of 26 kilograms. It has a range of 500 meters and an expected lifespan of 14 Earth days. It includes several scientific instruments such as cameras, spectrometers, and a drill for emergencies. The rover also has full-time communication with the lander and ground control team in India.

The Chandrayaan-3 has many other unique features that is helping it reach the Moon. Scientists estimate that it will take about 42–43 days for the rover to fully reach and land on the Moon. Scientists have carefully calculated the rocket’s speed and alignment with the Moon. The last 2 attempts didn’t yield the desired results because they couldn’t perfectly align with the Moon so the rover was deployed deep into space.

If this mission is successful, India will become the 4th country to successfully land its spacecraft on the surface of the Moon and demonstrate the country’s ability for a safe and soft landing on the lunar surface. As an Indian Citizen, I am proud of ISRO and all of the scientists that helped make this mission happen. India has pulled off this mission in a very short time with a surprisingly shorter amount of money than the film “Interstellar” needed. I look forward to seeing India achieve many more amazing milestones in the time to come.

REFERENCE

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chandrayaan-3

https://www.isro.gov.in/Chandrayaan3_Details.html

https://medium.com/@glimpseteen/indias-chandrayaan-3-launch-9e726c669ead