On 14th July, an ambitious spacecraft comprising an orbiter, lander, and rover gracefully lifted off, embarking on a momentous journey. Scheduled for a lunar surface touchdown on 23rd or 24th August, this mission seeks to achieve what no other country has done before: land near the Moon’s little-explored south pole. Should it succeed, India will join an exclusive club of only four nations, including the United States, the former Soviet Union, and China, that have achieved soft landings on the lunar surface.
This lunar odyssey, dubbed Chandrayaan-3, marks the third in India’s impressive series of lunar exploration initiatives. Building on the successes of its predecessors, this mission seeks to further unlock the Moon’s mysteries. The first Indian Moon mission in 2008 provided groundbreaking revelations, confirming the presence of water molecules on the lunar surface and the existence of an atmosphere during daylight hours.
In July 2019, Chandrayaan-2, consisting of an orbiter, lander, and rover, took to the skies, albeit with partial success. While its orbiter continues to diligently study the Moon to this day, the lander-rover unfortunately experienced a failed soft landing attempt and crashed during touchdown. Determined to learn from this experience, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has meticulously analyzed the data from the Chandrayaan-2 mishap and conducted extensive simulation exercises to rectify the issues for Chandrayaan-3.
Chandrayaan-3, with a weight of 3,900 kilograms and a cost of 6.1 billion rupees ($75 million; £58 million), aims to overcome the challenges faced previously. The lander, affectionately named Vikram after the founder of ISRO, weighs approximately 1,500 kilograms and houses the 26-kilogram rover named Pragyaan, a Sanskrit word signifying wisdom.
Following more than a week of Earth orbiting, the spacecraft underwent a slingshot maneuver on Tuesday, propelling it into a translunar orbit. Having successfully entered the Moon’s orbit, the ISRO team now faces the crucial task of gradually reducing the spacecraft’s velocity to ensure a gentle landing for Vikram.
Once Vikram achieves a soft touchdown, the six-wheeled rover, Pragyaan, will disembark and commence its exploration of the lunar terrain. Armed with five instruments, the rover’s mission is to gather essential data and images, transmitting them back to Earth for extensive analysis. The focus of these instruments includes examining the physical characteristics of the Moon’s surface, studying the atmosphere near the surface, and investigating tectonic activity beneath the surface. Hopes are high that this exploration will lead to groundbreaking discoveries, potentially unveiling hidden secrets of the Moon.
A significant aspect of this mission’s intrigue lies in its destination, the Moon’s south pole, which remains mostly uncharted territory. The surface area shrouded in perpetual shadow at the south pole surpasses that of the north pole. Scientists believe this region holds the potential for water deposits, making it a captivating prospect for further exploration.
India’s journey to the Moon is not a solitary endeavor, as global interest in lunar exploration is on the rise. The Moon’s enigmatic qualities continue to captivate scientists worldwide, and it is often regarded as a gateway to deep space, harboring numerous yet-to-be-unraveled mysteries.
With Chandrayaan-3 now gracefully orbiting the Moon, all eyes are on ISRO as they meticulously plan and execute the descent and rover deployment. The world watches in anticipation as India strives to etch its name in lunar exploration history by reaching the Moon’s south pole and unraveling the secrets held within this lunar realm. As this historic mission unfolds, the scientific community and space enthusiasts eagerly await the revelations that lie ahead, fostering the spirit of global collaboration and discovery in the quest for knowledge beyond our planet.
