Exploring New Frontiers: India's Chandrayaan-3 Sets its Sights on Lunar Landing and Roving

India's space program continues to push boundaries with the upcoming Chandrayaan-3 mission, which aims to demonstrate India's end-to-end capability in safe lunar landing and roving. As a follow-on mission to Chandrayaan-2, Chandrayaan-3 consists of a Lander and Rover configuration. It will be launched by the LVM3 (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III) from SDSC SHAR, Sriharikota. The mission's propulsion module will carry the lander and rover configuration to a 100 km lunar orbit and will also host the Spectro-polarimetry of Habitable Planet Earth (SHAPE) payload to study spectral and polarimetric measurements of Earth from the lunar orbit.

The Lander module of Chandrayaan-3 carries several scientific payloads to conduct experiments on the lunar surface:

• Chandra’s Surface Thermophysical Experiment (ChaSTE): This payload is designed to measure the thermal conductivity and temperature of the lunar surface near the polar region.
• Instrument for Lunar Seismic Activity (ILSA): ILSA is dedicated to measuring the seismicity around the landing site and providing insights into the structure of the lunar crust and mantle.
• Langmuir Probe (LP): The LP payload is tasked with estimating the plasma density and its variations in the lunar environment.

Additionally, a passive Laser Retroreflector Array (LRA) provided by NASA is accommodated for lunar laser ranging studies, contributing to our understanding of lunar dynamics.

The Rover module of Chandrayaan-3 also carries significant scientific payloads:

• Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS): APXS is designed to determine the elemental composition of lunar soil and rocks in the vicinity of the landing site. It enables quantitative analysis and provides insights into the presence of key elements like magnesium, aluminium, silicon, potassium, calcium, titanium, and iron.
• Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscope (LIBS): LIBS is utilized to derive the chemical composition and infer the mineralogical composition of the lunar surface. It aids in furthering our understanding of lunar geology and surface characteristics.

The Propulsion Module (PM) of Chandrayaan-3 is responsible for carrying the Lander module from the launch vehicle injection till the final lunar orbit of approximately 100 km. It also hosts the Spectro-polarimetry of Habitable Planet Earth (SHAPE) payload, which aims to study the spectral and polarimetric measurements of Earth from the lunar orbit. This scientific payload adds value to the mission by contributing to the understanding of exoplanets and their potential habitability.

The overall specifications of Chandrayaan-3 are as follows:

• Mission Life (Lander & Rover): Approximately one lunar day, equivalent to about 14 Earth days.
• Landing Site (Prime): Located at approximately 69.367621°S latitude and 32.348126°E longitude, covering an area of 4 km x 2.4 km.
• Two-Module Configuration: Propulsion Module (PM) and Lander Module (LM) with the Rover inside.
• Total Mass: The Propulsion Module weighs around 2148 kg, while the Lander Module, including the Rover, weighs approximately 1752 kg, making a combined total of 3900 kg.
• Power Generation: The Propulsion Module generates 758 W of power, the Lander Module generates 738 W with solar panels and battery biasing, and the Rover requires 50 W.
• Communication: The Propulsion Module communicates with the Indian Deep Space Network (IDSN), while the Lander Module communicates with both the IDSN and the Rover. The Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter is also planned for a contingency link.
• Lander Sensors: The Lander carries various sensors, including laser-based altimeters, velocimeters, inertial measurement units, hazard detection and avoidance cameras, and touchdown sensors, among others.
• Lander Actuators: The Lander is equipped with four reaction wheels for attitude control.
• Lander Propulsion System: The Lander utilizes a bi-propellant propulsion system with four 800 N throttleable engines and eight 58 N throttleable engines, along with throttleable engine control electronics.
• Lander Mechanisms: The Lander features landing legs, rover ramps, and several mechanisms for payload deployment and protection.

Chandrayaan-3 aims to achieve several mission objectives, including demonstrating a safe and soft landing on the lunar surface, showcasing the rover's capability for lunar roving, and conducting in-situ scientific experiments. By developing and demonstrating new technologies required for interplanetary missions, India's space program is set to further its understanding of the Moon's geology, conduct chemical analysis of the lunar surface, and pave the way for future lunar exploration endeavours.

India is all set to launch its 3rd moon mission, 'Chandrayaan-3,' tomorrow at 2:35 PM. This highly anticipated mission holds immense promise as it aims to demonstrate India's capabilities in lunar landing and roving. With a comprehensive suite of scientific payloads onboard, including ChaSTE, ILSA, LP, APXS, and LIBS, Chandrayaan-3 will conduct in-depth experiments and analysis on the lunar surface. The mission's success will further enhance India's understanding of the Moon's geology, contribute to chemical analysis, and pave the way for future lunar exploration endeavours. As the launch approaches, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) continues to work diligently to ensure a smooth and successful mission. Let us eagerly await the landing on the Moon, expected to take place on August 23 or any day thereafter, and hope for the mission's resounding success.

The Chandrayaan-3 mission represents India's relentless pursuit of scientific and technological excellence in space exploration. With its advanced Lander and Rover configuration, the mission aims to achieve crucial objectives such as safe lunar landing, lunar roving, and conducting in-situ scientific experiments. By carrying a range of scientific payloads, including those for thermal measurement, seismic activity analysis, plasma density estimation, elemental composition determination, and chemical analysis, Chandrayaan-3 will significantly contribute to our understanding of the Moon's geology and surface characteristics. The mission's success will not only strengthen India's space program but also pave the way for future lunar exploration endeavours. As India eagerly awaits the launch of Chandrayaan-3, we anticipate a remarkable milestone in the nation's space journey and the attainment of valuable scientific knowledge about our celestial neighbour.