Chandrayaan
“Chandrayaan” refers to the Indian lunar exploration program conducted by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The term “Chandrayaan” translates to “Moon Craft” in Sanskrit. It comprises various missions aimed at exploring the Moon’s surface, studying its composition, and conducting scientific experiments. The program has seen multiple missions, including Chandrayaan-1, which was India’s first mission to the Moon, and Chandrayaan-2, a more comprehensive mission that included an orbiter, lander, and rover, with the goal of furthering lunar exploration and research
Chandrayan – I
Chandrayaan-1 was India’s first lunar exploration mission launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). It was launched on October 22, 2008, and operated until August 29, 2009
Objectives of Chandrayan-I
The primary objectives of Chandrayaan-1, India’s first lunar exploration mission, were multifaceted and aimed at advancing scientific understanding of the Moon.
Here are the key objectives:
- Chandrayaan-1 aimed to create a comprehensive map of the lunar surface, capturing details of its topography and mineralogy at high resolution. This mapping was crucial for scientific analysis and future exploration
- The mission sought to analyze the mineral composition of the Moon’s surface to understand its geological evolution. Instruments onboard were designed to identify and characterize lunar minerals and elements
- Chandrayaan-1 aimed to detect the presence of water molecules or hydroxyl ions (OH-) on the lunar surface. This objective was significant in understanding the Moon’s history and potential resources
- The mission aimed to identify potential resources such as minerals and elements that could be valuable for future lunar exploration and utilization
- Chandrayaan-1 was also a demonstration of India’s technological capabilities in space exploration, including the development and deployment of scientific instruments and spacecraft
- The mission involved collaboration with other space agencies, including NASA, which contributed scientific instruments, enhancing the mission’s capabilities and fostering international cooperation
Components of Chandrayan -I
Orbiter:
- The orbiter was the primary spacecraft that remained in orbit around the Moon.
- It housed various scientific instruments for remote sensing and analysis of the lunar surface.
Moon Impact Probe (MIP):
- The Moon Impact Probe was an auxiliary component of Chandrayaan-1.
- It was released from the orbiter and intentionally crashed onto the lunar surface to conduct experiments and analyze the surface material upon impact.
Scientific Payloads:
- Chandrayaan-1 carried a suite of scientific instruments onboard the orbiter and MIP.
- These instruments included spectrometers, cameras, radar systems, and other tools designed to study the Moon’s surface, mineral composition, and map its topography.
X-Ray Spectrometer (C1XS):
- One of the key scientific instruments aboard Chandrayaan-1, it was designed to analyze the abundance of various elements on the lunar surface using X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy.
Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3):
- M3 was another significant instrument onboard Chandrayaan-1.
- It aimed to map the mineral composition of the lunar surface, particularly to search for water and hydroxyl molecules.
Miniature Synthetic Aperture Radar (Mini-SAR):
- The Mini-SAR was an instrument that used radar to search for water ice in the permanently shadowed regions near the lunar poles.
Terrain Mapping Camera (TMC):
- The Terrain Mapping Camera captured high-resolution images of the lunar surface, aiding in creating detailed maps.
Laser Ranging Instrument (LRI):
- The LRI was designed to precisely measure the distance between the orbiter and the lunar surface
Chandrayan -II
Chandrayaan-2 was India’s second lunar exploration mission, launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). It was a more comprehensive mission compared to Chandrayaan-1 and consisted of an orbiter, lander, and rover.
Objectives of Chandrayan II
The primary objectives of Chandrayaan-2, India’s lunar exploration mission comprising an orbiter, lander, and rover, were diverse and aimed at advancing scientific understanding and technological capabilities related to lunar exploration.
Here are the key objectives:
- Chandrayaan-2 aimed to explore and study the lunar surface, particularly the unexplored southern polar region, to gather detailed information about its topography, mineralogy, and elemental abundance
- One of the main objectives was to analyze the presence and distribution of water molecules or hydroxyl ions (OH-) on the Moon’s surface, especially near the lunar south pole, which holds potential for water ice deposits.
- Chandrayaan-2 sought to demonstrate and test advanced landing and rover technologies for soft landing on the lunar surface, operating a rover, and conducting scientific experiments in the lunar environment
- The mission aimed to conduct scientific experiments using onboard instruments to analyze lunar soil, surface composition, and study the lunar exosphere to understand the Moon’s geological and chemical evolution
- Chandrayaan-2 intended to create high-resolution maps of the lunar surface, providing detailed information on its topography, mineral distribution, and geological features for scientific analysis
- The mission involved collaboration with other space agencies, including NASA, to share data and scientific findings, fostering international cooperation in lunar exploration
- The Pragyan rover carried by the lander aimed to traverse the lunar surface, conducting mobility-based experiments, and analyzing the soil to understand its properties
Components of Chandrayan -II
Chandrayaan-2, India’s lunar exploration mission, consisted of multiple components working together to explore the Moon’s surface and conduct scientific experiments. The mission comprised three main components:
Orbiter:
- The orbiter was designed to orbit the Moon and conduct observations, experiments, and imaging of the lunar surface.
- It carried various scientific instruments for mapping the lunar surface, analyzing minerals, studying the exosphere, and conducting remote sensing.
Vikram Lander:
- The lander was intended for a soft landing on the lunar surface near the south polar region, aiming to explore and conduct scientific experiments on the Moon’s surface.
- It housed scientific payloads and instruments to study the lunar surface and environment.
Pragyan Rover:
- The Pragyan rover was housed within the Vikram lander and was designed to deploy onto the lunar surface upon a successful landing.
- It was equipped with scientific instruments to analyze the lunar soil, conduct mobility-based experiments, and gather data about the Moon’s surface
Chandrayan -III
Chandrayaan-3 is a follow-on mission to Chandrayaan-2 to demonstrate end-to-end capability in safe landing and roving on the lunar surface. It consists of Lander and Rover configuration. It will be launched by LVM3 from SDSC SHAR, Sriharikota. The propulsion module will carry the lander and rover configuration till 100 km lunar orbit. The propulsion module has Spectro-polarimetry of Habitable Planet Earth (SHAPE) payload to study the spectral and Polari metric measurements of Earth from the lunar orbit
Objectives of Chandrayan III
The mission objectives of Chandrayaan-3 are:
- To demonstrate Safe and Soft Landing on Lunar Surface
- To demonstrate Rover roving on the moon and
- To conduct in-situ scientific experiments.
Components of Chandrayan III
Chandrayaan-3, India’s successful lunar mission, consisted of three main components:
1. Propulsion Module:
- Responsible for carrying the lander and rover towards the Moon.
- Comprised of three stages:
- Solid Motor – provided initial thrust at liftoff.
- Liquid Engines – powered the spacecraft into Earth orbit.
- High Thrust Engine – performed orbit insertion around the Moon and lowered the payload towards the lunar surface.
2. Lander Module:
- Named “Vikram,” after Vikram Sarabhai, the father of India’s space program.
- Designed to soft-land on the lunar surface and deploy the rover.
- Equipped with:
- Landing gear: absorbed the impact of landing.
- Thrusters: maneuvered the lander during descent.
- Scientific instruments: studied the lunar environment and analyzed surface composition.
- Camera: captured high-resolution images of the landing site.
3. Rover Module:
- Named “Pragyan,” meaning “wisdom” in Sanskrit.
- Designed to explore the lunar surface after landing.
- Equipped with:
- Wheels: traversed the lunar terrain.
- Scientific instruments: analyzed the lunar surface composition, searched for water ice, and studied the lunar atmosphere.
- Robotic arm: collected samples and deployed experiments.
- Navigation system: ensured safe and efficient movement on the Moon
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