Chandrayaan 3: India’s triumphant lunar landing

On August 23, 2023, India made history by becoming the fourth country ever to land a spacecraft on the moon. The Chandrayaan 3 mission, which is Sanskrit for “moon vehicle”, successfully touched down near the lunar south pole, a region of great scientific and strategic interest. The mission consists of a lander named Vikram and a rover named Pragyan, which are equipped with various instruments to study the lunar surface and its composition. Check the ISRO Mission Chandrayaan 3 important details below:

The Origin and Objectives of the Mission:

The Chandrayaan 3 mission is the third lunar exploration mission under the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) Chandrayaan program. The first mission, Chandrayaan 1, was launched in 2008 and orbited the moon for almost a year, providing valuable data and discovering traces of water on the lunar surface. The second mission, Chandrayaan 2, was launched in 2019 and consisted of an orbiter, a lander, and a rover. However, the lander and rover failed to make a soft landing and crashed on the moon.

The Chandrayaan 3 mission was conceived as a follow-up to Chandrayaan 2, to achieve a successful landing and explore the south pole region of the moon. The South Pole is considered to be rich in water ice deposits, which could be used for future human settlements or as rocket fuel. The mission also aims to demonstrate India’s technological capabilities and enhance its prestige in the global space arena.

The Challenges of the Mission:

The Chandrayaan 3 mission faced several challenges and hurdles during its development and execution. Chandrayaan 3 was initially planned to be launched in 2020 but was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic and technical issues. The mission also had to overcome budget constraints and resource limitations, as it was designed to be cost-effective and reuse some of the components from Chandrayaan 2.

The mission also had to contend with the difficulties of landing on the moon, which is a complex and risky maneuver that requires precise navigation and control. The lander had to decelerate from an orbital speed of about 1.6 km per second to zero within 15 minutes while avoiding obstacles and finding a suitable landing site. The lander also had to communicate with the ISRO ground station and the Chandrayaan 2 orbiter, which acted as a relay satellite.

Achievements of the Chandrayaan 3 Mission:

Despite these challenges, the Chandrayaan 3 mission achieved a remarkable feat by successfully landing on the moon on August 23, 2023, at around 8:15 a.m. EDT. The lander deployed the rover, which rolled out of the ramp and began its exploration of the lunar terrain. The rover has a lifespan of one lunar day (about 14 Earth days) and can travel up to 500 meters from the lander. The rover carries two scientific instruments: an Alpha Particle X-ray spectrometer (APXS) and a Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscope (LIBS), which can analyze the chemical composition of rocks and soil samples.

The lander also carries four scientific instruments: a Radio Anatomy of Moon Bound Hypersensitive Ionosphere and Atmosphere (RAMBHA), a Chandra’s Surface Thermophysical Experiment (ChaSTE), an Instrument for Lunar Seismic Activity (ILSA), and a Laser Retroreflector Array (LRA). These instruments can measure the plasma density, temperature, seismic activity, and reflectivity of the lunar surface. The propulsion module, which carried the lander from Earth to lunar orbit, also carries an instrument called Spectro-polarimetry of HAbitable Planet Earth (SHAPE), which can observe Earth’s atmosphere from space.

The Chandrayaan 3 mission has been hailed as a major achievement for India and its space program. The mission has received congratulations and praise from various world leaders, including Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who lauded India’s success at the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg on August 23. The mission has also generated immense public interest and enthusiasm in India and abroad, as millions of people watched the live broadcast of the landing attempt on various platforms.




The Chandrayaan 3 mission has not only fulfilled India’s long-standing dream of landing on the moon but also opened up new avenues for scientific discovery and exploration. The mission has demonstrated India’s prowess in space technology and innovation, as well as its ambition and vision for future space endeavors. The mission has also inspired countless young minds to pursue their passion for science and space.

Important Points on Chandrayaan 3 Mission:

• Chandrayaan 3 is a follow-up to Chandrayaan 2, which failed to make a soft landing on the moon in 2019. The mission consists of a lander named Vikram and a rover named Pragyan, which are equipped with various instruments to study the lunar surface and its composition.
• Chandrayaan 3 was launched on July 14, 2023, by the Launch Vehicle Mark-III (LVM3), also known as the Bahubali rocket, from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
• Chandrayaan 3 successfully landed on the moon on August 23, 2023, at around 8:15 am EDT, making India the fourth country ever to land a spacecraft on the moon, after the United States, the former Soviet Union, and China.
• Chandrayaan 3 is the first mission to land on the lunar south pole, a region of great scientific and strategic interest. The South Pole is considered to be rich in water ice deposits, which could be used for future human settlements or as rocket fuel.
• The rover Pragyan has a lifespan of one lunar day (about 14 Earth days) and can travel up to 500 meters from the lander. The rover carries two scientific instruments: an Alpha Particle X-ray spectrometer (APXS) and an Induced Breakdown Spectroscope (LIBS), which can analyze the chemical composition of rocks and soil samples.
• The lander Vikram also carries four scientific instruments: a Radio Anatomy of Moon Bound Hypersensitive Ionosphere and Atmosphere (RAMBHA), a Chandra’s Surface Thermophysical Experiment (ChaSTE), an Instrument for Lunar Seismic Activity (ILSA), and a Laser Retroreflector Array (LRA). These instruments can measure the plasma density, temperature, seismic activity, and reflectivity of the lunar surface.
• The propulsion module, which carried the lander from Earth to lunar orbit, also carries an instrument called Spectro-polarimetry of HAbitable Planet Earth (SHAPE), which can observe Earth’s atmosphere from space.
• Chandrayaan 3 is designed to be cost-effective and reuse some of the components from Chandrayaan 2. The mission faced several challenges and hurdles during its development and execution, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, technical issues, and budget constraints.
• Chandrayaan 3 has not only fulfilled India’s long-standing dream of landing on the moon but also opened up new avenues for scientific discovery and exploration. The mission has demonstrated India’s prowess in space technology and innovation, as well as its ambition and vision for future space endeavors.

Question & Answer based on the Chandrayaan 3 Mission:

1. What is the name of the lander and rover configuration of Chandrayaan-3?
   • A) Vikram and Pragyan
   • B) Vikram and Prithvi
   • C) Vikas and Pragyan
   • D) Vikas and Prithvi
   • Answer: A
2. What is the name of the launch vehicle that will carry Chandrayaan-3 to the lunar orbit?
   • A) Launch Vehicle Mark-II (LVM2)
   • B) Launch Vehicle Mark-III (LVM3)
   • C) Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV)
   • D) Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)
   • Answer: B
3. What is the main objective of Chandrayaan-3?
   • A) To demonstrate a safe and soft landing on the surface of the moon
   • B) To demonstrate rover operations on the moon
   • C) To conduct on-site experiments on the lunar surface
   • D) All of the above
   • Answer: D

   
   
   
   

4. Which region of the moon will Chandrayaan-3 explore?
   • A) North pole
   • B) South pole
   • C) Equator
   • D) Far side
   • Answer: B
5. When was Chandrayaan-3 lunched?
   • A) June 14, 2023
   • B) January 14, 2023
   • C) February 14, 2023
   • D) July 14, 2023
   • Answer: D
6. What are the two scientific instruments that the rover Pragyan will carry?
   • A) Alpha Particle X-Ray Spectrometer (APXS) and Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscope (LIBS)
   • B) Radio Anatomy of Moon Bound Hypersensitive ionosphere and Atmosphere (RAMBHA) and Chandra’s Surface Thermophysical Experiment (ChaSTE)
   • C) Instrument for Lunar Seismic Activity (ILSA) and Laser Retroreflector Array (LRA)
   • D) Spectro-polarimetry of HAbitable Planet Earth (SHAPE) and Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscope (LIBS)
   • Answer: A
7. What are the four scientific instruments that the lander Vikram will carry?
   • A) Alpha Particle X-Ray Spectrometer (APXS) and Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscope (LIBS)
   • B) Radio Anatomy of Moon Bound Hypersensitive ionosphere and Atmosphere (RAMBHA) and Chandra’s Surface Thermophysical Experiment (ChaSTE)
   • C) Instrument for Lunar Seismic Activity (ILSA) and Laser Retroreflector Array (LRA)
   • D) Both B and C
   • Answer: D
8. What is the name of the instrument that the propulsion module will carry?
   • A) Alpha Particle X-Ray Spectrometer (APXS)
   • B) Radio Anatomy of Moon Bound Hypersensitive ionosphere and Atmosphere (RAMBHA)
   • C) Instrument for Lunar Seismic Activity (ILSA)
   • D) Spectro-polarimetry of HAbitable Planet Earth (SHAPE)
   • Answer: D
9. Which countries have previously achieved a soft landing on the moon?
   • A) United States, China, and Russia
   • B) United States, China, and Japan
   • C) United States, China, and the former Soviet Union
   • D) United States, China, and India
   • Answer: C
10. What are some of the benefits of Chandrayaan-3 for India’s space program?
    • A) It will provide valuable data and insights into the lunar water exploration
    • B) It will help understand the chemical and mineralogical composition of the lunar soil and rocks
    • C) It will pave the way for future interplanetary missions and human exploration of the moon
    • D) All of the above
    • Answer: D