The Indian Space Research Organisation is working to land a spacecraft on the Moon, a mission crucial to the country's position in space.
The Chandrayaan-3 mission launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre. Video: Space
The LVM3 rocket carrying the Chandrayaan-3 mission's Vikram lander lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Center at 4:05 p.m. on July 14 (Hanoi time). The lander gradually gained altitude, then fired its engines on July 31 to head toward the Moon. It entered lunar orbit on August 5.
Vikram continued to move closer to the Moon on August 20, after completing its final de-boosting maneuver. With this maneuver, the lander reached an orbit with the closest point to the Moon being 25 km and the farthest point being 134 km. It is expected to land on the Moon's surface at 7:34 pm on August 23 (Hanoi time).
Vikram is headed for the Moon's south pole, where water ice may be useful for making propellants or sustaining life. Vikram is carrying a small robot called Pragyan.
Vikram is about 2 meters tall and weighs more than 1,700 kg, including the 26 kg Pragyan rover. A large part of Vikram's mass is propellant. If the landing is successful, the duo is expected to operate for about two weeks, performing a series of experiments such as spectroscopy analysis of the mineral composition of the lunar surface.
Past efforts
Chandrayaan-1, the first lunar mission in India's Chandrayaan programme, was launched in 2008. The mission consisted of an orbiter orbiting the Moon at an altitude of 100 km to map the lunar geology, mineralogy and chemistry. After the orbiter completed all its primary mission objectives, it was raised to 200 km in May 2009. The mission ended when contact with it was lost in late August 2009.
In 2019, India attempted to land a spacecraft on the Moon but failed. The orbiter for the Chandrayaan-2 mission deployed successfully, but the lander and its robot were destroyed when they crashed into the Moon near the planned landing site for Chandrayaan-3.
Simulation of the Chandrayaan-2 spacecraft operating in lunar orbit. Photo: Space
The rugged terrain is a challenge for spacecraft aiming to land on the lunar south pole. ISRO scientists said they have made adjustments to increase the chances of a successful landing for Chandrayaan-3, including adding a system that expands the potential landing area. The lander also carries more fuel and has a stronger, crash-proof base.
Another mission aimed at the lunar south pole was Russia’s Luna-25, which failed when its spacecraft crashed into the lunar surface and failed to land on August 21 as planned. ispace, a private Japanese space startup, also failed in its attempt to land on the moon in April.
Mission to enhance status
If successful, the Chandrayaan-3 mission will make India the fourth country in the world to land on the Moon, after the Soviet Union, the United States and China. The mission will also mark India’s emergence as a space power, just ahead of the country’s elections next year.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government is also looking to boost investment in private space launches and satellite-related businesses. India wants its private space companies to increase their share of the international launch market fivefold over the next decade.
As Chandrayaan-3 lifted off, Modi shared that ISRO is writing a new chapter in India’s space epic, fueling the dreams and ambitions of every Indian. ISRO plans to televise the landing of the mission live, starting at 6:50 pm on August 23 (Hanoi time).
Thu Thao (According to Reuters, Space )
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