Moon: India to Study Moon’s Surface and Earth from Orbit
India’s upcoming lunar mission, Chandrayaan-3, is set to embark on an exciting new journey. Unlike its predecessor, Chandrayaan-2, which relied on a Madrid station for tracking, this time India’s own Isro Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (Istrac) station in Bengaluru will monitor the mission. The final landing is scheduled for August 23 and, if successful, will make India the fourth country to achieve a soft landing on the lunar surface.
With Chandrayaan-3, India aims to surpass the achievements of its previous Moon missions. This time, there’s an additional desi twist. The lunar lander, named Vikram, will be tracked by Isro’s Bengaluru station, adding a touch of indigenous excellence to the mission. The expected landing time is 5:47 pm on August 23, although slight variations may occur due to the mission’s profile.
While all of Istrac’s stations will monitor the launch, Brunei and Biak in Indonesia will capture the spacecraft separation. Chandrayaan-3 will carry seven new scientific instruments, which, when combined with the eight payloads from Chandrayaan-2, will provide valuable data about the Moon’s surface and its remote sensing capabilities.
But Chandrayaan-3 is not just about exploring the Moon. It also carries an innovative payload that will allow scientists to observe Earth from the lunar surface. This observation will enable the study of Earth’s habitable features, helping in the future exploration of exoplanets.
Vikram, the lander, will carry four payloads. The first will focus on detecting moonquakes, while the second will study the flow of heat through the lunar surface. The third payload aims to analyze the plasma environment, and the fourth will measure the precise distance between Earth and Moon. Pragyan, the rover, will carry two payloads that will examine the composition of the Moon’s surface using X-ray and laser techniques. The landing site chosen for Chandrayaan-3 is near the south pole, a region of great scientific interest due to its potentially significant water content.
India’s progress in space exploration continues to impress the world. Chandrayaan-3 represents a leap forward in technology and scientific capabilities. By studying the Moon’s surface and observing Earth from space, India is charting new frontiers in space exploration. The success of this mission will not only advance our understanding of celestial bodies but also inspire future generations of Indian scientists and engineers.
As the countdown begins, all eyes are on India as it prepares for yet another momentous achievement. The final landing on the lunar surface will be a milestone for India and a testament to its relentless pursuit of excellence in space exploration. Let us eagerly await the outcome, as India’s tryst with the Moon continues to capture the world’s imagination.
