Today, India’s Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, carrying the hopes and aspirations of an entire nation. The ambitious mission aims to achieve a controlled landing on the moon’s South Pole, a region where water molecules were first discovered during India’s maiden moon mission in 2008. If successful, India will become the fourth country in the world to accomplish this feat, joining the ranks of Russia, the United States, and China.
The awe-inspiring launch was hailed as a “new chapter” in India’s space odyssey by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who expressed his delight and pride in a tweet. He stated, “Chandrayaan-3 scripts a new chapter in India’s space odyssey. It soars high, elevating the dreams and ambitions of every Indian.”
The Chandrayaan-3 mission comprises three crucial components: a lander, a rover, and a propulsion model. Notably, it will utilize the Orbiter from the previous Chandrayaan-2 mission, which is still operational in the lunar atmosphere. The lander, named Vikram, has been carefully mounted on a Mark 3 heavy-lift launch vehicle, affectionately called the Bahubali rocket.
Setting an ambitious timeline, the spacecraft is estimated to reach the moon after approximately one month. The anticipated landing is scheduled for August 23, 2023. Upon touchdown, Vikram will undertake a mission duration of one lunar day, equivalent to about 29 Earth days. During this period, it will release the rover Pragyan, which will explore the moon’s surface and conduct a range of scientific experiments.
The decision to target the moon’s South Pole is significant, as it is a region that holds immense scientific value. The earlier discovery of water molecules in this area captivated the world’s attention and highlighted the potential for future lunar exploration and resource utilization. Vikram’s safe and gentle landing will pave the way for further investigations and expand humanity’s understanding of the moon’s composition and its potential as a future outpost.
This mission follows a previous attempt, Chandrayaan-2, which unfortunately faced challenges during the landing phase in 2019, resulting in loss of communication with the lander just moments before touchdown. However, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has meticulously analyzed the previous mission’s shortcomings and incorporated a series of improvements and safeguards in Chandrayaan-3.
ISRO Chief S Somnath explained, “The main lacuna in the last Chandrayaan-2 mission was that there were off-nominal conditions that were initiated in the system. Everything was not nominal. And the craft was not able to handle the off-nominal condition for a safe landing.” The upcoming mission aims to rectify these issues and increase the probability of a successful landing.
The Chandrayaan-3 mission represents a crucial milestone in India’s space exploration journey and underscores the nation’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of scientific discovery and technological advancement. It demonstrates India’s growing prowess in space research and its determination to contribute to humanity’s understanding of the cosmos.
As the spacecraft embarks on its historic journey, the entire nation stands united in anticipation, hoping for a successful landing and a wealth of scientific insights. The Chandrayaan-3 mission not only symbolizes India’s scientific achievements but also inspires and ignites the dreams and ambitions of every Indian, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi aptly expressed.
Sources By Agencies
