Chandrayaan-3 - A flight to the Moon

Source:The Hindu

For Prelims: Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3), ChaSTE, RAMBHA, Lunar Seismic Activity (ILSA),LASER Retroreflector Array (LRA), Spectroscope (LIBS), Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS), Spectro-polarimetry of Habitable Planet Earth (SHAPE), Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Indian Academy of Sciences, Astronautical Society of India National, Lunar Mission Study Task Force, Space Applications Centre, Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle,  GSLV,  Vikram lander, ‘Pragyan’ rover.

For Mains: India’s Moon Mission

Highlights of the Article:

• India's third lunar mission, Chandrayaan-3, was launched on Friday from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
• The mission is designed to soft-land a lander and rover on the moon's south pole.
• The lander has four payloads to study the thermal properties of the lunar regolith, near-surface plasma density, seismicity, and the dynamics of the moon.
• The rover has two payloads to study the chemical and mineralogical composition of the lunar surface and the elemental composition of the lunar soil and rocks around the landing site.
• If the mission is successful, India will become only the fourth country to land a spacecraft on the moon.
• The mission is a major milestone for India's space program and a testament to the country's growing technological prowess.

Context: 

The context of the article is the launch and mission of India's third lunar exploration mission, Chandrayaan-3. The article discusses the significance of this mission, its objectives, technical details, and the improvements made over the previous mission, Chandrayaan-2.

UPSC EXAM NOTES EDITORIAL ANALYSIS:

1.Introduction:

• The article discusses India's third lunar mission, Chandrayaan-3, which aims to achieve a successful soft landing on the moon's surface and deploy a rover.
• Chandrayaan-3 is a follow-up mission to Chandrayaan-2, with improvements to overcome the challenges faced during the previous mission's landing attempt in 2019.

2.Mission Overview:

• Chandrayaan-3 was launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
• The mission captures the imagination of the public and marks India's continued progress in space exploration.
• It seeks to become the fourth nation, after the U.S., Russia, and China, to successfully soft-land on the moon.
• The mission holds significance for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) as it prepares for future endeavors like the manned Gaganyaan mission.

3.Design Enhancements for Successful Landing:

• Chairman of ISRO, S. Somanath, states that Chandrayaan-3 is better designed to withstand the challenges of a lunar landing near the moon's south pole.
• The propulsion module carries the lander-rover configuration to a 100-km circular polar orbit around the moon.
• Improvements include stronger landing legs, increased propellant quantity, larger solar panels, and the addition of new sensors.
• These enhancements aim to ensure a safe touchdown and enable the mission to overcome the landing issues faced during Chandrayaan-2.

4.Scientific Payloads:

4.1.The lander carries four payloads:

• ChaSTE: Measures the thermal properties of the lunar regolith near the polar region.
• RAMBHA: A Langmuir Probe that measures near-surface plasma density and changes over time.
• Instrument for Lunar Seismic Activity (ILSA): Measures seismicity on the moon.
• LASER Retroreflector Array (LRA): A passive experiment to understand the dynamics of the moon.

4.2.The rover carries two payloads:

• LIBS (Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscope): Studies the chemical and mineralogical composition of the lunar surface.
• APXS (Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer): Measures the elemental composition of lunar soil and rocks.

4.3.The Propulsion Module:

It carries the SHAPE payload, which studies Earth from lunar orbit using spectro-polarimetry.

5.Importance of a Successful Landing:

• If Chandrayaan-3 successfully lands on the moon in August, India will become the fourth nation to achieve this feat.
• A successful mission would be a significant accomplishment for ISRO and boost confidence for future endeavors, such as the manned Gaganyaan mission.
• Chandrayaan-3 aims to advance our knowledge of Earth's natural satellite and contribute to scientific exploration of the moon.

6.Conclusion:

• Chandrayaan-3 represents India's commitment to space exploration and the application of advanced technologies to address real-world problems.
• The mission's improved design and scientific payloads demonstrate ISRO's dedication to overcoming challenges and advancing lunar exploration.
• The successful execution of Chandrayaan-3 will not only contribute to scientific knowledge but also strengthen India's position in the global space community.