India’s ambitious space program is set to take another leap forward with the countdown beginning for the launch of Chandrayaan-3, the country’s third lunar exploration mission. This mission will make India the fourth country to successfully land its spacecraft on the surface of the moon, demonstrating India’s capabilities for safe and soft landings.
The countdown for the launch began on Thursday at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, with take-off scheduled for Friday. The spacecraft will be launched using a GSLV Mark 3 heavy-lift launch vehicle.
Chandrayaan-3 is a follow-up to the Chandrayaan-2 mission, which faced challenges during its soft landing in 2019. To ensure a successful landing this time, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has conducted a comprehensive Launch Rehearsal simulating the entire launch process.
Ahead of the mission, a team of ISRO scientists visited Tirupathi Venkatachalapathy Temple in Andhra Pradesh to offer prayers with a miniature model of Chandrayaan-3.
If all goes according to plan, Chandrayaan-3 will become the first spacecraft to land on the moon’s South Pole, showcasing India’s technical prowess and spacefaring ambitions. The mission aims to demonstrate a safe and soft landing, as well as conduct in-situ scientific experiments and explore the moon’s geology.
ISRO has invited citizens to witness the launch from the viewing gallery at Sriharikota, allowing them to be part of this significant moment in India’s space exploration journey.
The journey from Earth to the moon is estimated to take around a month, with the expected landing on August 23. Once landed, Chandrayaan-3 will operate for approximately 14 Earth days, equivalent to one lunar day. This mission’s success will boost morale for other ambitious programs like Gaganyan, India’s upcoming manned mission to space.
The development of Chandrayaan-3 began in January 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic caused some delays. However, the ISRO team remained committed to ensuring a successful mission.
The significance of this mission lies in India’s previous achievements in lunar exploration. The Chandrayaan-1 mission, launched in 2008, made a major discovery by detecting water and hydroxyl on the lunar surface. This crucial data revealed enhanced abundance towards the polar region.
By landing successfully on the moon, India aims to acquire landing technology and expand scientific knowledge about the moon’s geology and the origins of Earth.
Mylswamy Annadurai, Mission Director of Chandrayaan-1, emphasized the importance of Chandrayaan-3, stating that it will demonstrate that the success of Chandrayaan-1 was not an isolated achievement. He expressed the international community’s interest in lunar exploration and emphasized the need for India’s continued success in this field.
Chandrayaan-3’s success will pave the way for future missions to explore not only the moon but also the rest of the solar system. It will contribute to enhancing life on Earth and deepening our understanding of the universe.
While challenges and setbacks are expected in any space mission, ISRO’s scientists are confident that they have learned from previous experiences and implemented necessary improvements. The launch of Chandrayaan-3 marks another significant step in India’s space exploration journey, solidifying its position as a major player in the global space community.
