Chandrayaan-3 Mission Scheduled for Launch on July 13

Isro awaited Chandrayaan 3 to be launched on July 13 ahead of manned space mission

India is gearing up for its third lunar exploration mission, Chandrayaan 3, which is scheduled to launch on July 13, 2023, at 2:30 pm IST¹. The mission aims to demonstrate a soft landing on the Moon and deploy a rover to explore the lunar surface. Chandrayaan 3 will also pave the way for India's first manned space mission, Gaganyaan, which is planned for 2024.

What is Chandrayaan 3?

Chandrayaan 3 is a follow-up mission to Chandrayaan 2, which was launched in July 2019 but failed to achieve a soft landing on the Moon due to a software glitch in the lander's guidance system. Chandrayaan 2's orbiter, however, is still operational and has been providing valuable data and images of the Moon.

Chandrayaan 3 will consist of a lander and a rover similar to Chandrayaan 2, but will not have an orbiter. Instead, it will use a propulsion module as a communications relay satellite between the lander and the Earth. The propulsion module will also carry a payload called Spectro-polarimetry of Habitable Planet Earth (SHAPE), which will study the spectral and polarimetric measurements of Earth from the lunar orbit.

The lander, named Vikram after the father of India's space programme, Dr Vikram Sarabhai, will carry four scientific instruments: Radio Anatomy of Moon Bound Hypersensitive ionosphere and Atmosphere (RAMBHA), Chandra’s Surface Thermo physical Experiment (ChaSTE), Instrument for Lunar Seismic Activity (ILSA), and Laser Retroreflector Array (LRA). The rover, named Pragyan, meaning wisdom in Sanskrit, will carry two instruments: Alpha Particle X-Ray Spectrometer (APXS) and Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscope (LIBS). The lander and rover will have a mission life of one lunar day (about 14 Earth days).

Where will Chandrayaan 3 land?

Chandrayaan 3 will target the same landing site as Chandrayaan 2, which is near the south pole of the Moon. The landing site is located in a high plain between two craters, Manzinus C and Simpelius N, at about 70 degrees south latitude and 32 degrees east longitude. The site has been chosen for its scientific potential and safety considerations. The site is expected to have high solar illumination for most of the lunar day and low temperature variations. It is also likely to have access to water ice deposits that are believed to exist in the permanently shadowed regions of the lunar poles.

What are the objectives of Chandrayaan 3?

Chandrayaan 3 has three main objectives:

- To demonstrate a safe and soft landing on the lunar surface

- To conduct in-situ analysis of the lunar regolith using the rover

- To test key technologies for future lunar missions

The mission will also contribute to the scientific understanding of the origin and evolution of the Moon, its geology and mineralogy, its surface environment and plasma interactions, and its potential for future exploration and utilization.

How will Chandrayaan 3 launch?

Chandrayaan 3 will be launched by India's most powerful rocket, Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3), from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. The LVM3 is a three-stage rocket that can carry up to eight tonnes of payload to low Earth orbit or four tonnes to geostationary transfer orbit. The LVM3 has been used twice before: for an experimental suborbital flight in December 2014 and for launching Chandrayaan 2 in July 2019.

The LVM3 will inject Chandrayaan 3 into an elliptical Earth parking orbit with an apogee (farthest point) of about 40,000 km and a perigee (closest point) of about 170 km. From there, Chandrayaan 3 will use its propulsion module to perform several orbit-raising manoeuvres over several days to reach a highly elliptical lunar transfer orbit with an apolune (farthest point from the Moon) of about 400,000 km and a perilune (closest point to the Moon) of about 30,000 km. Then, Chandrayaan 3 will perform a lunar orbit insertion manoeuvre to enter a circular orbit around the Moon at an altitude of about 100 km. After checking all the systems and parameters, Chandrayaan 3 will separate from its propulsion module and initiate the powered descent phase to land on the lunar surface.

What are the challenges and opportunities of Chandrayaan 3?

Chandrayaan 3 is a challenging mission that requires precise navigation, guidance and control, as well as robust communication and thermal management. The mission will also face the harsh environment of the lunar surface, which has extreme temperature variations, high radiation, low gravity, and dust. Moreover, Chandrayaan 3 will have to overcome the lessons learned from Chandrayaan 2's landing failure and ensure a successful touchdown.

On the other hand, Chandrayaan 3 is also an opportunity for India to showcase its technological prowess and scientific ambition in the field of space exploration. The mission will enhance India's reputation as a space-faring nation and inspire future generations of scientists and engineers. The mission will also provide valuable data and insights for future lunar missions, such as the Lunar Polar Exploration Mission (LPEM), which is a joint venture between India and Japan to explore the lunar south pole in 2025.

Chandrayaan 3 is a testament to India's resilience and determination to achieve its lunar dreams. The mission will not only advance India's space capabilities but also contribute to the global understanding and appreciation of the Moon. Chandrayaan 3 is a step towards fulfilling India's vision of becoming a leading space power and a partner in the peaceful exploration and utilization of outer space.

Source: 

(1) Chandrayaan-3 launch scheduled for mid July: Isro chief. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/science/chandrayaan-3-launch-scheduled-for-july-13-isro/articleshow/101342875.cms.

(2) Chandrayaan-3 - Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). https://www.isro.gov.in/ISRO_EN/Chandrayaan3_New.html.

(3) India’s ambitious moon mission ready to go! Chandrayaan - 3 launch date revealed by ISRO Chief. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videos/news/indias-ambitious-moon-mission-ready-to-go-chandrayaan-3-launch-date-revealed-by-isro-chief/videoshow/101374189.cms.

(4) Chandrayaan 3 Launch: The time has come for Chandrayaan-3 launching! History will be created in the second week of July. https://www.msn.com/en-in/video/watch/chandrayaan-3-launch-the-time-has-come-for-chandrayaan-3-launching-history-will-be-created-in-the-second-week-of-july/vi-AA1dc7cp.

(5) Chandrayaan-3 - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chandrayaan-3.

FAQ's

When was Chandrayaan 3 launched?

The launch of Chandrayaan-3 has been scheduled for July 13 at 2:30 pm, PTI reported quoting officials on Wednesday.

In which year Chandrayaan mission was launched?

Chandrayaan-1, India's first mission to Moon, was launched successfully on October 22, 2008 from SDSC SHAR, Sriharikota.

What is the name of the lander of Chandrayaan 2 launched by ISRO on 22 July?

Lander — Vikram The Lander of Chandrayaan-2 was named Vikram after Dr Vikram A Sarabhai, the Father of the Indian Space Programme. It was designed to function for one lunar day, which is equivalent to about 14 Earth days.

Which mission will be launched by ISRO?

Sl No. ⇅ Name ⇅ Launch Date ⇅ 90 PSLV-C55/TeLEOS-2 Mission Apr 22, 2023 89 LVM3 M3 / OneWeb India-2 Mission Mar 26, 2023 88 SSLV-D2/EOS-07 Mission Feb 10, 2023 87 PSLV-C54/EOS-06 Mission Nov 26, 2022