The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is all set to launch its ambitious Chandrayaan-3 mission from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota on July 14. This eagerly awaited mission aims to land a lander and rover in the highlands of the Moon near its south pole to show off its sophisticated landing and roving capabilities. Chandrayaan-3 is the successor to the 2008-launched Chandrayaan-1 lunar orbiter, which was successful, and the 2019-launched Chandrayaan-2, which was partially successful. Eight functional instruments were successfully launched into space by the second mission’s lunar orbiter, but in September 2019, the lander carrying the rover crashed into the Moon as it was making its final descent.
However, hoping for the best, Chandrayaan-3’s launch rehearsal, which simulated a 24-hour preparation time frame, was completed by ISRO on July 11. Chandrayaan-3 aims to show off India’s prowess in lunar roving and soft landing. Launch Vehicle Mark-3, created by ISRO, will be used to launch the spacecraft. To learn more about the latest moon lander mission Chandrayaan-3, including the launch time, goals, and design, as well as how to watch live, continue reading the article.
Chandrayaan 3 Mission Objective
ISRO has 3 main objectives for its Chandrayaan-3 mission, which include:
- Making a safe and soft landing on the Moon’s surface.
- Observing and demonstrating the rover’s ability to loiter on the Moon.
- Scientific experiments on the chemical and natural elements, soil, water, and so on are conducted on the Moon’s surface to better understand and practice the Moon’s composition.
Chandrayaan-3 Launch date & Time
According to the country’s space agency, Chandrayaan-3, India’s most recent moon lander mission, will be launched on July 14 almost four years after the failure of Chandrayaan-2 in 2019. Chandrayaan-3 will launch from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, according to an announcement made by ISRO last week. The launch of Chandrayaan-3 will take place on July 14 at 2.35 p.m. (IST), with the lander expected to soft-land on the Moon’s surface on August 23 or 24.
If successful, India will join the former Soviet Union, the United States, and China as the fourth nation in the world to perform a soft landing on the moon.
“LVM3-M4/Chandrayaan-3 Mission: The launch is now scheduled for July 14, 2023, at 2:35 pm IST from SDSC, Sriharikota,” ISRO tweeted.
| Chandrayaan 3 launch Date | 14 July 2023, 2:35PM (IST) |
| Rocket | LVM3 M4 |
| Launch Site | Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota |
| Agency | Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) |
| Landing date | 23 or 24 August 2023 |
How to watch Chandrayaan-3’s launch live?
The ISRO will be providing an opportunity for those who are interested in viewing the Chandrayaan 3 launch live to register for the Launch View Gallery at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre via the website Ivg.shar.gov.in. Additionally, you can also watch this magnificent event online on ISRO’s official YouTube channel or via a Doordarshan channel.
About Chandrayaan 3
ISRO’s Chandrayaan-3 mission is India’s third planned lunar exploration mission. It is a follow-up mission to Candrayaan-2 that aims to show off end-to-end capability for safe landing and roving on the lunar surface. The 3,900-kilogram spacecraft consists of a lander, rover, and propulsion module. The rover is similar to the one used in Chandrayaan-2. But ISRO claims improvements have been made to increase landing safety.
The lander and rover will be carried to a 100 km lunar orbit by the propulsion module. It is a box-like structure with one sizable solar panel mounted on one side. And a sizable cylinder serving as the lander’s mounting structure on top. The Spectro-polarimetry of Habitable Planet Earth (SHAPE) payload, which will be used to study the spectral and polarimetric measurements of Earth from the lunar orbit, is also carried by the module in addition to the lander.
The Lander is designed for a soft landing at a specified lunar site. Additionally, it has a box-like shape and four landing legs, and four 800 Newton landing thrusters. It will transport the rover and several scientific tools for on-site analysis. The rover is a portable lab that will travel across the lunar surface, gather samples, and examine the Moon’s geology and chemical composition. It has a rectangular chassis attached to a six-wheel rocker-bogie wheel drive assembly.
The lander for Chandrayaan-3 will only have four throttle-able engines. As opposed to Chandrayaan-2’s five 800 Newtons engines, one of which was centrally mounted with a fixed thrust. An LDV, or Laser Doppler Velocimeter, will also be mounted on the lander. In comparison to Chandrayaan-2, the impact legs have been strengthened, and instrument redundancy has been increased.
What happens after Chandrayaan 3 Makes successful landing on the moon?
The Moon landing is the main objective of India’s third Moon mission. A successful landing could pave the way for additional Moon missions and highlight the nation’s rising geopolitical ambition. Chandrayaan-3 will launch a lander and rover to a location close to the Moon’s south pole from the spaceport of Sriharikota, off the east coast of India. ISRO scientists intend to deploy the rover to explore the Moon’s features after the craft touches down.
Earlier the Union Minister of State for Science and Technology, Jitendra Singh said “After the successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the surface of the Moon, the rover, which has six wheels, will come out and is expected to work for 14 days on the Moon. With the support of multiple cameras on the rover, we will be able to receive images,”
According to ISRO, the lunar south pole is of particular interest because parts of it are permanently in shadow, raising the possibility of sampling Moon ice for the first time. Large craters close to the lunar south pole may also hold information about the early Solar System’s composition. If the mission is successful, it will be the first to make a landing close to the south pole. As earlier Moon missions have done so at lower latitudes.
Chandrayaan 3 Funding
According to a report from December 2019, ISRO requested ₹75 crore for the project’s initial funding. Out of which ₹60 crore will be used to cover costs for machinery, equipment, and other capital expenditures. The remaining ₹15 crore is being requested under the heading of revenue expenditures. The project’s existence was confirmed by former ISRO chairman K. Sivan, who also estimated that it would cost about 615 crores.
Bottom Line
With Chandrayaan-3, India continues its interest in space exploration and seeks to advance both its technological and scientific knowledge. In addition to Chandrayaan, ISRO is working on the eagerly anticipated Gaganyaan mission. It will send three people into a low-Earth orbit for three days at a distance of about 250 miles. The expected completion of the project is in 2024.
FAQ’s
Chandrayaan-3 will launch from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, on July 14 at 2.35 p.m. (IST).
Chandrayaan-3 is scheduled to land softly on the Moon’s surface on August 23 or 24.
To experience this memorable event, you can register for the Launch View Gallery at Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Ivg.shar.gov.in. Additionally, you can also watch this magnificent event online on ISRO’s official YouTube channel or via a Doordarshan channel.