New Delhi (Agency): India marked a momentous achievement on Wednesday evening as its Chandrayaan-3 moon lander successfully touched down on the lunar surface, making it the fourth nation in the world to complete this challenging feat. The lander settled near the South Pole of the moon after traveling around 3.84 lakh km over a span of 40 days.
The Chandrayaan-3 mission, worth Rs 600 crore, consists of a propulsion module weighing 2,148 kg, a lander weighing 1,723.89 kg, and a rover weighing 26 kg. The success of the landing marks the realization of a significant portion of the mission, with the remaining part involving the moon rover’s explorations and programmed experiments.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has equipped the moon rover with advanced instruments such as the Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS) and Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscope (LIBS) to derive the elemental composition near the landing site.
The lander will also carry out specific tasks with payloads including Chandra’s Surface Thermophysical Experiment (ChaSTE) to gauge thermal conductivity and temperature, Instrument for Lunar Seismic Activity (ILSA) to measure seismicity, and Langmuir Probe (LP) for plasma density estimation. Additionally, NASA’s passive Laser Retroreflector Array has been integrated for lunar laser ranging studies.
The mission’s life for the lander and rover is projected to be 1 Lunar day or 14 Earth days. Meanwhile, the propulsion module will continue to function for three to six months after the ejection of the lander, featuring the Spectro-polarimetry of Habitable Planet Earth (SHAPE) payload to study Earth’s spectral and Polari metric measurements from the lunar orbit.
The much-anticipated landing commenced with a 19-minute sequence that started at 5.45 p.m. and concluded at 6.05 p.m. The powered descent involved intricate maneuvers including rough and fine braking, horizontal positioning, and vertical alignment. Images of the landing site were captured to identify safe zones, and the landing was executed using two out of the four engines.
The event brought back memories of the Chandrayaan-2 mission, where the Vikram lander had crashed during its landing phase. This time, the soft landing was achieved, showcasing India’s technological advancements.
The Mission Operations Complex at ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) in Bengaluru was the primary communication channel, monitoring every stage of the process. The moon lander has also established communication links with the Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter, providing a backup channel.
Launched on July 14 by India’s heavy lift rocket LVM3, Chandrayaan-3 completed orbiting Earth and headed towards the moon on August 1. The propulsion module continues to orbit the moon, performing its tasks with the SHAPE payload.
This historic achievement symbolizes India’s growing prowess in space exploration and represents a significant step in understanding our celestial neighbor. The successful landing and the upcoming explorations of the rover will provide valuable insights into the moon’s composition and conditions, solidifying India’s place among the elite space-faring nations.
