India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, expressed his excitement and well wishes just hours before the launch of Chandrayaan-3, India’s third lunar mission. PM Modi tweeted that this mission carries the hopes and dreams of the entire nation. The launch is set to take place from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, at 2:35 pm.
Best wishes for Chandrayaan-3 mission! I urge you all to know more about this Mission and the strides we have made in space, science and innovation. It will make you all very proud. https://t.co/NKiuxS0QaE
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 14, 2023
The GSLV Mark 3 (LVM 3) heavy-lift launch vehicle will release the moon lander and rover into space. The spacecraft will then embark on a month-long journey from Earth to the moon, with an expected landing date of August 23. Once landed, the mission will operate for approximately 14 Earth days, which is equivalent to one lunar day.
The key scientific outcomes from Chandrayaan 2 include the first ever global map for lunar sodium, enhancing knowledge on crater size distribution, unambiguous detection of lunar surface water ice with IIRS instrument and more. This Mission has featured in almost 50 publications.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 14, 2023
This launch is significant for India’s space sector as it follows the challenges faced by the Chandrayaan-2 mission during its soft landing on the lunar surface in 2019. Despite not achieving all its objectives, Chandrayaan-2 did confirm the presence of water molecules on the moon and provided valuable insights into lunar magmatic evolution.
Chandrayaan-3 will make India the fourth country, after the US, China, and Russia, to successfully land a spacecraft on the moon. Equipped with a lander, a rover, and a propulsion module, the mission weighs around 3,900 kilograms. Its main objective is to enhance our understanding of the moon’s surface through scientific instruments onboard.
PM Modi highlighted the significance of previous lunar missions, such as Chandrayaan-1 and Chandrayaan-2, in expanding our knowledge of the moon. Chandrayaan-1 confirmed the presence of water molecules and overturned the belief that the moon was geologically inactive and uninhabitable. Chandrayaan-2’s orbiter detected the presence of chromium, manganese, and sodium, contributing to a better understanding of lunar magmatic evolution.
As Chandrayaan-3 sets off on its mission, PM Modi encouraged citizens to learn more about this lunar exploration and India’s advancements in space, science, and innovation. He believes that the success of Chandrayaan-3 will boost morale for future space missions, including Gaganyan, India’s first manned mission to space.
The development of Chandrayaan-3 began in January 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic caused delays. K Sivan, former director of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), expressed his confidence that the mission’s success will have a positive impact on other space programs, such as Gaganyan.
With the launch of Chandrayaan-3, India aims to not only enhance our understanding of the moon but also pave the way for future exploration of the solar system and beyond. This historic mission marks another milestone for India’s space sector, strengthening the country’s position on the global stage.
