Chandrayaan-3, the much-anticipated lunar mission by the Indian Space Research Organisation, successfully completed its orbits around Earth and has now advanced closer to the Moon as of Tuesday.
This ambitious mission is focused on accomplishing a soft landing on the lunar surface, building upon the lessons learned from the previous project, Chandrayaan-2, which unfortunately did not achieve the intended soft landing in 2019.
Vikram Lander’s role of chandrayaan 3
The names of the lander and rover have been derived from the previous mission, Chandrayaan-2. The lander pays homage to the enduring legacy of Dr. Vikram A Sarabhai, who is widely hailed as the visionary pioneer of the Indian Space Programme.Its primary function is designed for one lunar day, equivalent to 14 days on Earth, and it is equipped with multiple sensors to ensure a secure landing.
The total weight of the lander, including the rover, is approximately 1,749 kg. Notably, the lander features side-mounted solar panels with a capacity to generate 738 W of power, making it well-equipped for exploration activities focused on the lunar south pole.
Pragyan Rover’s role of chandrayaan 3
The robotic rover is called 'Pragyan', meaning 'wisdom' in Sanskrit. This six-wheeled vehicle is equipped with specialized instruments and payloads to collect data concerning the Moon's surface. Among its key objectives is to study the elemental composition of the lunar atmosphere. With a weight of 26 kgs, the rover shares a mission lifespan of one lunar day, just like the lander.
Onboard the rover are two vital payloads: the APXS (Alpha Particle X-Ray Spectrometer), responsible for determining the elemental composition of the lunar surface, and the LIBS (Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscope), which will carry out experiments to analyze the chemical elements such as magnesium and aluminum present in the lunar soil and rocks around the lunar landing site.
Chandrayaan-3, launched from Earth on July 14, is poised to make its lunar landing on August 23, marking a significant step in the mission's journey.