Chandrayaan-3: India’s historic landing on the moon’s south pole
How India became the first country to land a spacecraft on the lunar south pole and what it means for science, technology, diplomacy, and strategy.
India has achieved the remarkable feat of exploring the south pole of the moon, which is a region of great scientific interest and potential resources. On August 23, 2023, at 6:04 pm IST, the lander module of Chandrayaan-3, India’s third lunar mission, successfully made a soft landing on the moon’s surface near the south polar region. This is the first time that any country has landed a spacecraft on the lunar south pole, which is also the most challenging part of the moon to reach.
What is Chandrayaan-3 and why is it important?
Chandrayaan-3 is a follow-up mission to Chandrayaan-2, which was launched in 2019 but failed to make a soft landing on the moon due to a technical glitch. However, Chandrayaan-2’s orbiter is still functioning and providing valuable data about the moon. Chandrayaan-2’s orbiter also helped in locating the landing site for Chandrayaan-3’s lander.
Chandrayaan-3 consists of a lander module, a rover module, and a propulsion module, which carry seven scientific instruments to conduct experiments on the lunar surface. The mission was launched on July 14, 2023, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
The mission objectives of Chandrayaan-3 are to demonstrate a safe and soft landing on the lunar surface, to demonstrate a rover roving on the moon, and to conduct in-situ scientific experiments. The lander will deploy the rover, which will rove on the moon and perform chemical analysis of the lunar soil. The lander and the rover have a mission life of one lunar day, which is equivalent to 14 Earth days. The propulsion module will remain in orbit around the moon and relay signals between the lander, rover and Earth.
Chandrayaan-3 is important for India and the world because it is the first mission to explore the south pole of the moon, which is a region of great scientific interest and potential resources. The south pole of the moon may contain water ice, minerals and other volatiles that could be useful for future human exploration and colonization. The south pole region features craters that are permanently shadowed from sunlight and could preserve ancient water ice and other materials dating from the early solar system. The South Pole also has areas with near-constant sunlight that could provide solar power for instruments and equipment.
The presence of water ice on the moon is important for scientists because it could provide a record of lunar volcanoes, material that comets and asteroids delivered to Earth, and the origin of oceans. If water ice exists in sufficient quantities, it could be a source of drinking water for moon exploration and could help cool equipment. It could also be broken down to produce hydrogen for fuel and oxygen to breathe, supporting missions to Mars or lunar mining.
The lunar south pole also offers an ideal location for radio astronomy, as it has mountains and basins that are not facing Earth and would be able to receive astronomical radio signals without interference from terrestrial sources.
Chandrayaan-3 is also important because it demonstrates India’s technological prowess and scientific curiosity in space exploration. India has joined an elite club of nations that have landed spacecraft on the moon, after the former Soviet Union, the U.S., and China. India has also become the first country to land on the lunar south pole, which is a region of great scientific interest and potential resources. India has shown its commitment and capability to explore space for peaceful purposes and for the benefit of humanity.
How did Chandrayaan-3 land on the moon’s south pole?
Landing on the moon’s south pole is not easy, as it is far from the equatorial region targeted by previous missions, including the crewed Apollo landings. The South Pole is full of craters and deep trenches that pose challenges to navigation and communication. The temperature at the south pole can vary from -173°C to 127°C, which can affect the performance of the spacecraft and its instruments.
To overcome these difficulties, Chandrayaan-3 used a complex manoeuvre called “15 minutes of terror” to make a soft landing on the moon. This manoeuvre involved reducing the speed of the spacecraft from about 6 km/s to zero in about 15 minutes using thrusters. The spacecraft had to autonomously adjust its trajectory and orientation based on sensor data and avoid obstacles on the lunar surface. The spacecraft also had to maintain communication with Earth through an antenna mounted on its top.
The manoeuvre was executed successfully by Chandrayaan-3’s lander module on August 23, 2023, at 6:04 pm IST (12:34 pm GMT). The lander module made a soft landing on the moon at a site called “Shakti”, which is located near the south polar region. The landing site was chosen based on the availability of sunlight, flatness, and communication visibility. The landing site is also close to a crater called “Shoemaker”, which is believed to contain water ice and other volatiles.
The lander module will deploy the rover module, which will rove on the moon and perform in-situ chemical analysis of the lunar soil. The rover module is named “Pragyan”, which means “wisdom” in Sanskrit. The rover module weighs about 27 kg and can travel up to 500 m from the lander module. The rover module carries two scientific instruments: a laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) instrument and an alpha particle X-ray spectrometer (APXS) instrument. These instruments will help determine the elemental composition of the lunar soil and identify the presence of water ice and other volatiles.
The lander module and the rover module have a mission life of one lunar day, which is equivalent to 14 Earth days. During this period, they will conduct scientific experiments and send data and images to Earth through the propulsion module, which will remain in orbit around the moon. The propulsion module carries two scientific instruments: a terrain mapping camera (TMC) and a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) instrument. These instruments will help map the lunar surface and subsurface and study the lunar topography and geology.
What are the challenges and opportunities for Chandrayaan-3?
Chandrayaan-3 faces many challenges and opportunities in its mission to explore the south pole of the moon. Some of the challenges are:
- Surviving the harsh environment of the South Pole, which has extreme temperature variations, high radiation, and low gravity.
- Communicating with Earth requires a high-gain antenna and a relay satellite.
- Operating in the dark regions of the south pole, which require illumination and thermal control.
- Avoiding collisions with other spacecraft or debris orbiting or landing on the moon.
Some of the opportunities are:
- Discovering new information about the origin and evolution of the moon and the solar system by studying the water ice and other volatiles preserved in the South Pole region.
- Developing new technologies and capabilities for future human exploration and colonization of the moon by testing methods of extracting and utilizing resources from the lunar soil.
- Enhancing international collaboration and cooperation in space exploration by sharing data and payloads with other countries.
- Inspiring future generations of scientists, engineers, and explorers by showcasing India’s achievements in space.
What are the implications of Chandrayaan-3 for India and the world?
Chandrayaan-3 has significant implications for India and the world in terms of science, technology, diplomacy, and strategy. Some of the implications are:
- Science: Chandrayaan-3 will advance our understanding of lunar science by exploring a new frontier of space that has never been visited before. Chandrayaan-3 will provide new insights into the origin and evolution of the moon and the solar system by studying the water ice and other volatiles preserved in the south pole region. Chandrayaan-3 will also contribute to global efforts to establish a lunar science network by collaborating with other countries.
- Technology: Chandrayaan-3 will demonstrate India’s technological prowess and innovation in space exploration by achieving a safe and soft landing on the lunar south pole, which is a difficult feat that no other country has accomplished before. Chandrayaan-3 will also test new technologies and capabilities for future human exploration and colonization of the moon by extracting and utilizing resources from the lunar soil.
- Diplomacy: Chandrayaan-3 will enhance India’s image and reputation as a responsible and reliable partner in space exploration by sharing data and payloads with other countries. Chandrayaan-3 will also foster international collaboration and cooperation in space exploration by joining global initiatives such as the International Lunar Exploration Working Group (ILEWG) and the International Space Exploration Coordination Group (ISECG).
- Strategy: Chandrayaan-3 will strengthen India’s position and influence in space affairs by establishing its presence on the moon, which is a strategic asset for future missions to Mars or beyond. Chandrayaan-3 will also assert India’s interests and values in space by promoting peaceful and sustainable use of space for humanity’s benefit.
India’s triumph on the moon
Chandrayaan-3 is a historic achievement for India and the world, as it is the first mission to explore the south pole of the moon, which is a region of great scientific interest and potential resources. Chandrayaan-3 demonstrates India’s technological prowess and scientific curiosity in space exploration. Chandrayaan-3 also opens new avenues for international collaboration and exploration of the moon. Chandrayaan-3 is a milestone in India’s space program and a source of inspiration for future generations. Chandrayaan-3 is a new flight of new India, which has shown its vision and courage to reach for the stars.
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