Indeed, Chandrayaan-3 is an important lunar exploration mission undertaken by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). It follows the Chandrayaan-2 mission, which had a partial success in September 2019 when the Vikram lander, carrying the Pragyan rover, experienced a hard landing on the lunar surface.
Chandrayaan-3 aims to achieve several key objectives:
1) Safe and Soft Landing: The mission intends to land a lander safely and softly on the lunar surface. Learning from the challenges faced during Chandrayaan-2, ISRO is focusing on ensuring a successful landing this time.
2) Rover Capabilities: Chandrayaan-3 will also demonstrate the capabilities of the Pragyan rover on the moon. This rover will explore the lunar surface and provide valuable data and insights.
3) Scientific Observations: The mission will conduct scientific experiments to observe and analyze the chemical and natural elements, soil, water, and other aspects of the lunar surface. These observations will enhance our understanding of the moon’s composition and aid future lunar exploration missions.
The launch of Chandrayaan-3 took place on July 14, 2023, at 2:35 pm. The injection into a 100 km circular polar orbit was completed successfully as part of the first phase. The plan is to land the lander and rover near the lunar south pole region on August 23, 2023.
ISRO’s former chairman, K Sivan, estimated the cost of Chandrayaan-3 to be around 615 crore rupees.
The successful completion of Chandrayaan-3 would indeed be a proud moment for India and all its citizens. It demonstrates the perseverance and dedication of Indian scientists and their commitment to exploring the frontiers of space.