India's ambitious Moon mission Chandrayaan-3 all set for launch on July 13

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) took a significant step forward on Wednesday (June 5) as it joined the encapsulated assembly of the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft with its powerful new launch vehicle, LVM3, at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.

According to ISRO officials, the Chandrayaan-3 mission is scheduled to launch between July 13 and July 19, with July 13 being the target date.

Assembly of Chandrayaan-3

The spacecraft, weighing 3,900 kilograms, underwent initial encapsulation within the rocket's payload fairing at the UR Rao Satellite Centre.

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— ISRO (@isro) July 5, 2023

Subsequently, it was carefully integrated onto the rocket, which will propel it beyond Earth's orbit, embarking on a trajectory towards the Moon located approximately 3,84,000 kilometers away from our planet.

This crucial step brings India closer to the launch of the mission.

What is Chandrayaan-3?

Chandrayaan-3 is a continuation of the Chandrayaan-2 mission and aims to showcase India's ability to safely land and explore the lunar surface.

This ambitious mission will demonstrate various capabilities and gather valuable data about the Moon. Chandrayaan-3 carries a set of scientific instruments designed to study different aspects of the lunar environment.

These instruments will investigate the thermophysical properties of the lunar regolith (the Moon's surface layer), lunar seismicity (earthquakes on the Moon), the lunar surface plasma environment, and the elemental composition near the landing site.

Science of the Moon and science from the Moon

The lander and rover of the Chandrayaan-3 mission will carry scientific instruments aligned with two main themes. The instruments on the lander and rover will focus on the "Science of the Moon," while an experimental instrument on the mission will study the "Science from the Moon."

This particular instrument will analyze the spectro-polarimetric signatures of the Earth from the lunar orbit.

Successful tests

In March this year, the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft underwent a series of tests to ensure its resilience against the intense vibration and acoustic conditions during launch.

These tests were especially challenging due to the spacecraft's composite structure, consisting of three modules: propulsion, lander, and rover.

Modules and payloads

The propulsion module, equipped with the Spectro-polarimetry of Habitable Planet Earth (SHAPE) payload, will transport the lander and rover configuration to an orbit 100 km above the lunar surface.

The lander payloads include the "Chandra's Surface Thermophysical Experiment" to measure temperature and thermal conductivity, the "Instrument for Lunar Seismic Activity" to monitor seismic events near the landing site, and the "Langmuir Probe" to estimate plasma density and variations, reported PTI.

The rover payloads consist of the "Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer" and "Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy" instruments, which will analyse the elemental composition near the landing site during the rover's mobility.

Goals of the mission

The lander module of Chandrayaan-3 will execute a soft landing on a predetermined lunar site and deploy the rover. The rover will then conduct in-situ chemical analysis of the lunar surface while on the move.

Propulsion module's role

The propulsion module's primary function is to transport the lander module from the launch vehicle injection to a circular polar orbit around 100 km above the lunar surface. Once in position, the propulsion module will separate from the lander module.

Additionally, the propulsion module carries a scientific payload that will be operated after the separation of the lander module.

Chandrayaan missions so far

The Chandrayaan mission aims to explore the Moon and conduct scientific investigations to enhance our understanding of Earth's satellite. The mission consists of a series of lunar exploration projects.

Chandrayaan-1, launched in 2008, successfully orbited the Moon and conducted various experiments, including mapping its surface and detecting the presence of water molecules. It played a crucial role in discovering evidence of water ice in the permanently shadowed regions of the lunar poles.

Chandrayaan-2, launched in 2019, was a more ambitious mission that involved an orbiter, a lander called Vikram, and a rover named Pragyan. The primary objective was to achieve a soft landing near the lunar south pole and deploy the rover to conduct in-situ experiments. Although the lander experienced a communication failure just moments before landing, the orbiter continues to function and provides valuable data about the Moon's surface and environment.

The Chandrayaan-3 mission marks a significant step forward for India's space exploration efforts. With its advanced scientific instruments and ambitious objectives, it holds the promise of expanding our understanding of the Moon and its environment.