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The Chandrayaan-3 moon mission of the Indian Space Research Organisation successfully soft-landed today at 6:04 p.m. India made history by landing the Indian Space Research Organization’s Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft on the Moon’s south pole just days after a Russian probe, Luna-25, crashed in the same location.
Chandrayaan-3 Moon Landing: India has made history by being the first country to arrive on the lunar surface’s South Pole. Prime Minister Modi thanked Indians and space scientists for their accomplishments. ‘India will remember this day forever,’ declared Prime Minister Modi.
The mission’s true test began with the final leg of the landing. ISRO activated the Automatic Landing Sequence (ALS) 20 minutes before landing. It allowed Vikram LM to take command and use its onboard computers and logic to choose a suitable landing site on the lunar surface.
Experts believe that the final 15 to 20 minutes of the mission when Chandrayaan-3’s Vikram lander came to a smooth landing, were critical to the mission’s success. Today, Indians all throughout the country and the world are praying for the successful landing of Chandrayaan-3.
Given the failure of India’s second lunar mission in the final 20 minutes before landing, ISRO was extra careful this time around. Many refer to the duration as “20 or 17 minutes of terror” due to the tremendous risk to the spacecraft minutes before the moon landing. During this stage, the entire procedure became autonomous, with the Vikram lander activating its own engines at the appropriate times and altitudes.
The cosmos has long captivated human imagination, and the moon, Earth’s closest celestial companion, has remained a source of wonder and intrigue. Chandrayaan, India’s lunar exploration missions, have brought this celestial body closer to us than ever before. In this article, we embark on a journey through the Chandrayaan missions, uncovering their significance, accomplishments, and their role in expanding our understanding of the moon’s enigmatic realm.
Live Updates on Chandrayaan-3 Mission
Launch and Trajectory: Chandrayaan 3
The Chandrayaan-3 mission commenced with a successful launch, propelled by the indomitable spirit of India’s space scientists. The spacecraft embarked on its trajectory, with experts closely monitoring its journey towards the Moon. The intricate dance of gravitational forces and precision manoeuvres marks the initial steps of this ambitious mission.
Precision Landing: Chandrayaan 3
A pivotal aspect of Chandrayaan-3 is its precision landing. The mission’s technology and engineering prowess are showcased as it navigates the challenges of descending onto the lunar surface with utmost accuracy. This intricate ballet of sensors, thrusters, and calculations is a testament to the dedication of ISRO’s scientists and engineers.
Lunar Exploration: Chandrayaan 3
As Chandrayaan-3 nears the Moon’s surface, anticipation grows for the mission’s exploration phase. The rover, armed with state-of-the-art instruments, is poised to traverse uncharted lunar terrains. Its wheels will imprint on the Moon’s dusty surface, collecting data that promises to unveil geological secrets and unravel the history of our celestial neighbour.
Scientific Discoveries : Chandrayaan 3
The data acquired by Chandrayaan-3 holds the potential to reshape our understanding of the Moon’s composition and evolution. Analyzing lunar samples, surface features, and mineral distribution can offer crucial insights into the Moon’s past and its role in the solar system’s formation. These discoveries contribute to a broader understanding of planetary science.
NASA Chief’s Congratulatory Message: Chandrayaan 3
Global Recognition : Chandrayaan 3
The significance of Chandrayaan-3’s mission has transcended borders, garnering international recognition. The NASA chief’s congratulatory message serves as a testament to the collaboration and mutual respect that characterize global space exploration. This recognition underscores the importance of Chandrayaan-3’s achievements in advancing our collective understanding of space.
A Message of Inspiration :Chandrayaan 3
The NASA chief’s message not only congratulates ISRO on its successful endeavours but also serves as an inspiration to the next generation of space explorers. The journey of scientific discovery and technological advancement knows no boundaries, and Chandrayaan-3’s achievements inspire us all to push the limits of human knowledge and exploration.
ISRO chief S Somanath said that the upgrades to the mission are “failure-based,” meaning that scientists looked at what went wrong with the Chandrayaan-2 mission to improve its successor. Here are some of the upgrades.
- Strengthened legs: The legs of the new Vikram lander have been strengthened to ensure that it can land safely up to a speed of 10.8 kilometres per hour. Of course, this might not really be useful if a situation like Chandrayaan-2 arises, when the lander was going at a speed of around 580 kilometres per hour when crashing.
- Bigger fuel tank: The Chandrayaan-3 mission carries more fuel than its predecessor to make sure that it can make last-minute changes if necessary.
- More solar panels: The new Vikram lander has solar panels on all four of its faces instead of just two, as seen with its predecessor.
- Additional instruments and improved software: More crucial, the Chandrayaan-3 mission has additional instruments and improvements to its software to aid the soft-landing effort. This includes the Laser Doppler Velocimeter, which will fire laser beams to the lunar surface to calculate the Lander’s speed. The updated software features multiple redundancies that will help it cope with different scenarios.
Chandrayaan Missions: A Brief Overview
India’s Chandrayaan missions are a testament to the nation’s growing prowess in space exploration. These missions reflect ISRO’s commitment to unravelling the mysteries of the moon, advancing our scientific knowledge, and inspiring generations to dream beyond the sky.
Chandrayaan-1: India’s First Lunar Probe
Launched in 2008, Chandrayaan-1 marked India’s maiden voyage to the moon. Equipped with scientific instruments, the mission’s primary objective was to explore the moon’s surface, analyze its mineral composition, and map its topography. Chandrayaan-1’s most significant discovery was the presence of water molecules on the moon’s surface, challenging the conventional understanding of its arid nature.
Chandrayaan-2: Unveiling Lunar Mysteries
Building on the success of its predecessor, Chandrayaan-2 aimed for greater heights. Launched in 2019, this mission comprised an orbiter, a lander named Vikram, and a rover named Pragyan. While Vikram’s landing didn’t go as planned, the orbiter continued to orbit the moon, transmitting valuable data. Chandrayaan-2 expanded our knowledge of lunar geology, surface features, and potential water ice deposits.
Chandrayaan-3: Paving the Path for Future Exploration
Chandrayaan-3, India’s upcoming lunar mission, aims to achieve a precision landing on the moon’s surface. This mission underscores ISRO’s determination to overcome challenges and continue advancing lunar exploration. Chandrayaan-3’s success would signify India’s capabilities in achieving complex space missions, contributing to global lunar research.
Scientific Insights and Discoveries: Chandrayaan 3
The Chandrayaan missions have yielded remarkable scientific insights. The discovery of water molecules on the moon’s surface holds implications for future space exploration and potential resource utilization. These missions have also provided data on lunar geology, surface temperatures, and mineral distribution, contributing to our understanding of the moon’s history and formation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is Chandrayaan?
Chandrayaan is India’s series of lunar exploration missions conducted by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
Q: What was the significance of Chandrayaan-1’s discovery of water molecules on the moon?
The discovery challenged the belief that the moon is dry and indicated the possibility of water ice in lunar polar regions.
Q: What was the objective of Chandrayaan-2’s lander and rover?
Chandrayaan-2’s lander, Vikram, and rover, Pragyan, were designed to explore the moon’s surface, study its geology, and analyze potential water ice deposits.
Q: What is the purpose of Chandrayaan-3?
Chandrayaan-3 aims to achieve a successful precision landing on the moon’s surface, furthering our knowledge of lunar terrain and composition.
Conclusion
The Chandrayaan 3 missions have not only propelled India’s space exploration endeavours but also contributed significantly to global lunar research. With each mission, ISRO has overcome challenges and expanded our understanding of the moon’s surface, geology, and potential resources. As India continues its journey to explore the cosmos, the legacy of Chandrayaan missions will continue to inspire and enrich humanity’s quest for knowledge about our celestial neighbours.