Chandrayaan-3: India's Lunar Mission to Explore the Moon's South Pole

 Unveiling the Next Chapter in Lunar Exploration and Scientific Discoveries

The Chandrayaan-3 mission, launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), aims to achieve a soft landing on the moon's south pole on August 23. Following the Chandrayaan-2 mission, which encountered a software glitch causing the Vikram lander to deviate off-course, Chandrayaan-3 seeks to demonstrate the successful landing and exploration of the lunar surface.

The mission commenced with a launch on July 14, utilizing India's LVM3 rocket, which has the capacity to carry approximately 8 metric tons into low-Earth orbit. The spacecraft and attached propulsion module were placed into an elongated Earth orbit, gradually raising its orbit several times before transferring into lunar orbit.

Upon reaching the Moon, the propulsion module will lower Chandrayaan-3 to a circular orbit about 100 kilometers above the surface. At this point, the lander and the propulsion module will separate, allowing the lander to deorbit and touch down gently at the Moon's south polar region. The lander will have a vertical velocity of less than 2 meters per second and a horizontal velocity of 0.5 meters per second at the moment of contact.

Once successfully landed, the Chandrayaan-3 lander will unfold a side panel, creating a ramp for the rover to emerge. The rover will then begin its exploration of the lunar environment, with approximately two weeks of study time. It is important to note that the lander and rover are not designed to withstand the extremely cold lunar nights. The rover will be able to communicate with the lander, which will establish direct communication with Earth. Additionally, the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter can serve as a backup communications relay if needed.

The rover is equipped with a Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscope (LIBS) to determine the chemical and mineralogical composition of the lunar surface. It also has an Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS) to identify the elemental composition, targeting elements such as magnesium, aluminum, silicon, potassium, calcium, titanium, and iron.

On the other hand, the lander carries four payloads: the Radio Anatomy of Moon Bound Hypersensitive ionosphere and Atmosphere (RAMBHA), which measures changes in the local gas and plasma environment; Chandra’s Surface Thermophysical Experiment (ChaSTE), which studies the thermal properties of the lunar surface; the Instrument for Lunar Seismic Activity (ILSA), which measures seismic activity to understand the subsurface crust and mantle; and the Laser Retroreflector Array (LRA), a retroreflector provided by NASA that allows for lunar ranging studies.

The successful touchdown and subsequent exploration of the Moon's surface will be a significant achievement for ISRO, placing them among the few nations to have landed spacecraft on other worlds. In addition to this milestone, Chandrayaan-3 will demonstrate various technologies and conduct scientific investigations, paving the way for future lunar and exoplanet studies.